Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/228

 Rh "Plough Monday" was given to this particular day as being the day on which a return was made to the duties of agriculture after enjoying the festivities of Christmas. Another writer states that on Plough Monday, the ploughman of the north country used to draw a plough from door to door and beg plough money to drink.

A Judicial Drama. — Lord Coleridge recently wished to be informed what was the meaning of the phrase, "coming to grief," Mr. Justice Lawrence had never heard the expression " Going Tommy Dodd," whilst Lord Halsbury asked, "Who is Pigott?" This ignorance of what, outside the judicial world, is common knowledge, has suggested the following drama to the Ref eree : — Scene. — A Court of Justice. Witness. — I noticed that she had a black eye. Lord Coleridge. — One moment, I don't quite follow you. What was the color of her other eye? Witness. — I mean her husband had blackened her eye. Lord Coleridge, — What an extraordinary thing to do! Did he use paint or burnt cork or soot, or what? Witness. — No; I mean he fetched her one and that made her eye black. Lord Coleridge. — Fetched her one! I presume you mean he fetched her. a black glass eye from a dealer in such articles? Counsel. — No, your Lordship. The witness means that the woman was struck in the eye, and that the result was discoloration of the adjacent flesh. Lord Coleridge. — O! Now I understand. Witness. — She went out, and said, " I'll be back in half a jiffy." L'rd Coleridge. — I don't know what kind of conveyance that is, but why didn't she come back in a whole one? Witness. — It isn't a conveyance, my Lord. Lord Coleridge. — O, is it a — er — garment? Counsel. — No, your lordship. It is a common expression for a short space of time. Ij-rd Coleridge. — Dear me! How very confus ing! Co on. Witness. — She gave me a bob. Lord Coleridge. — Dropped you a curtsey, you mean, eh? Witness. — No, a shilling. L.ord Coleridge. — I never heard a shilling called a bob before. Go on. Witness. — And I took mv hook.

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Lord Coleridge. — You had brought a hook with you, then? Counsel. — He means he took his departure. Go on. Witness. — When I saw her again she'd been on the booze. Lord Coleridge. — Is that a river? Witness. — 1 mean she'd been drinking. Lord Coleridge. — Then why didn't you say so? Witness. — I saw a policeman, and I went up to him and said. " I say, bobby —" Iu1rd Coleridge. — You knew the policeman in timately, then? Witness. — Never saw him before in my life. Lord Coleridge. — And yet you knew his Christian name and addressed him by it in its most familiar form. Counsel. — A policeman is frequently called a bobby, my lord. Lord Coleridge. — Dear me! I was not aware of it, I never heard the expression before. Counsel. — Great Scott! Lord Coleridge (looking inquiringly round the court). — Where? I have heard so much of him, I should like to see him. Counsel (to witness). — And you gave her in charge? Witness. — Yes; but the policeman, he said, "What's your game?" Lord Coleridge. — What had you in your hand, then — a brace of pheasants, or a hare, or what? Counsel. — O, skittles J Lord Coleridge. — O, that was the game! But how could the witness be playing skittles in the street? 714* Witness (to counsel). — O Lor'! Ain't he a treat! Counsel. — Yes. You'd better stand down till I can get a sworn interpreter. It's not my business. Ourselves.— At the time our reporter left Lord Coleridge was asking a witness, who said he had told the lady to go to Bath, what the lady was suffering from to make him recommend that wellknown health resort.

The following is an extract from a complaint in a late North Carolina action for malicious prosecution : — "5. That the said defendants employed some seven or eight law firms or individual attorneys to prosecute said action from September Term, 1885, until Fall Term, 1889, when dismissed finally. That by the employment of so vast an array of legal talent of this and other States, by their technical pleadings, perseverance, delays, obstructions, caused the plaintiff