Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/572

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Published Monthly, at $4.00 per Annum.

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Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, Horace W. Fuller, 15^ Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. The Editor will be glad to receive contributions of articles of moderate length upon subjects of inter est to the profession; also anything in the ■way of legal antiquities or curiosities, facetice, anec dotes, etc. "THE GREEN BAG." To the Editor of the " Green Bag." As a contribution to the curiosities of legal prac tice in the '• wild and woolly West," I send you the following two incidents which have happened within my knowledge and which I can vouch for as true. A few years ago, a thriving city of the second class in Kansas found it necessary to raise a loan of $50,000. At a meeting of the council to arrange details, the question was discussed as to the rate of interest the bonds should draw. Some were in favor of five per cent, while others urged that the rate should be five and a half, in order to secure bigger money on the sale of the bonds. During the pro ceedings the city attorney advised the council that the proposed bonds must bear not less than six per cent, and gave as his reason that such was the legal rate of interest prescribed by statute. The same attorney, in defending a case against his city, demurred to the petition as follows : — Plaintiff vs. In the District Court of The City of County, Kansas. Defendant. And now comes saiil defendant and demurs to the pe tition of plaintiff, herein filed, on the ground that said pe tition does not set forth facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. ■ City Attorney Jor Defendant, the City of. 1'itate of Kansas, County of, SS. The City of by its attorney being duly sworn, says that the statements made in the foregoing de murrer are true as he verily believes. City Aitorncy for Defendant, the City of. Sworn and subscribed, etc.'' There are as many good lawyers in Kansas to the square inch as in any other State in the Union, but — there are others. N.

LEGAL, ANTIQUITIES. The Court of Star Chamber seems to have been, or pretended to be, a careful guardian of private morals; for it desired the principals of the Inns of Court and Chancer)' not to suffer the gentle man students to be out of their houses after six o'clock at night " without very great and neces sary causes, nor to wear any kind of weapon." And we read of the Earl of Surrey, Thomas Wyatt, and young Pickering, beinj summoned for breaking windows, and eating flesh in Lent; all were committed to the Tower, but soon dis charged. FACETIÆ. Sir Henry Hawkins has a reputation as a witty judge. Recently a prisoner pleaded guilty of lar ceny, and then withdrew the plea, and declared himself to be innocent. The case was tried, and the jury acquitted him. Then said Sir Henry Hawkins : — "Prisoner, a few minutes ago you said you were a thief. Now the jury say you are a liar. Conse quently, you are discharged." A LAWYER, residing in the North of England, and noted for his laconic style of expression, sent the following terse and witty note to a refractory client, who would not succumb to his reiterated demands for the payment of his bill. " Sir, if you pay the enclosed you will oblige me. If you do not, I shall oblige you." A certain lawyer in Mobile, Alabama, always identifies himself squarely with his clients, in stating a damage case lately he said : " We got on the Dauphin Street car down town and when we reached Bayou Street signalled to the conductor to let us off, as we lived near there. He paid no attention to us and we attempted to get off. It so happened that we slipped and our leg was caught by a wheel and crushed. The fact is we were somewhat drunk at the time." 53'