Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/222

 Bag* PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT $4.00 PER ANNUM.

SINGLE NUMBERS, 50 CENTS.

Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, HORACE W. FULLER, 15)^ Heacon Street, Boston, Mass. The Kditor 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, facetUe, anec dotes, etc.

THE GREEN BAG. WE have given up a large portion of this number to an interesting description of the "Bram Trial," written by one who was present «luring all the proceedings and has drawn his deductions from personal observation of the wit nesses and a careful analysis of the evidence. No trial since that of " Prof. Webster " has aroused greater general interest or excited more comment, and we are glad to be able to give our readers an accurate and unprejudiced account of it. LEGAL ANTIQUITIES.

THERE is a curious case in Fortescue's Reports relating to the privilege of peers, in which the bailiff who arrested a lord was fo^ed by the Court to kneel down and ask his pardon, though he alleged that he had acted by mistake; for that his lordship had a dirty shirt, a worn-out suit of clothes, and only sixpence in his pocket, so that he could not believe that he was a peer, and arrested him through inadvertence.

FACETIÆ.

"I REMEMBER the time," said a Maine attorney, "in the days when Col. Littlefield was sheriff, that Judge Walton was presiding, and the jury were out on a rum case. "They had been out a long time, and Judge Walton was rather nervous and wanted a verdict. To his clear and far-seeing mind, the most re markable, in many ways, that ever held juris diction in New England, there was no excuse for any prolonged consideration of the case by any jury. "Leaning back, seemingly lost in thought, he

suddenly sat bolt upright and beckoned to Col. Littlefield, and the sheriff walked up in that quiet way of his. "' Colonel,' said Judge Walton, ' Mr. Sheriff, I should say, see if that respondent won't plead guilty provided his fine is put at §50.' . ."Col. Littlefield smiled, and went over and talked with the prisoner. It took but a few minutes, and in less time than it could be told, he had retracted his plea, pleaded guilty, and had been fined. "Then the Court sent out for the jury. "' Gentlemen,' said he, ' it seems that some of you are not yet satisfied in your minds that the prisoner is guilty? ' "The jury looked at each other. "' Is that a fact, gentlemen? ' "' It is, may it please the Court,' said the foreman. "' Well, then, for your edification I will say that the prisoner himself is quite well satisfied that he is guilty, for he has pleaded guilty and has been fined. You are excused from further considera tion of the case.'"

DANIEL WEBSTER was once sued by his butcher, and the man did not call upon him afterward to trade with him. Webster met him in the course of a few days, and asked him why he didn't call. "Because, said the man, " I supposed that you would be offended, and wouldn't trade with me any more." To which Webster replied : "Oh, sue me as many times as you like, but, for heaven's sake, don't starve me to death."

VISITOR. — " Johnnie, what do you want to be when you grow up?" JOHNNIE. — "A man on a jury." VISITOR. — " And why do you want to be a man on a jury?" JOHNNIE. — "'Cause papa says that the lawyers give the jury taffy at almost every trial." '95