Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/818

 Rh "Arrested? What have you been doing?" asked the great lawyer. "They say I have been stealing gas," was the reply. "But you haven't, have you?" "Veil, I don't know; 1 dug out under the street and connected up der pipe; und I have been burning the gas for a year." "If that's all I will clear you," said the counselor, seating himself in the chair. "Don't cut me and I'll get you off." At lo o'clock of that day everybody in the police court was surprised to see Counselor Brady walk in. When the barber's case was called, he stepped forward as his attorney. The testimony of the gas men was heard at length. Mr. Brady did not interpose an objection. When the prosecution had its evidence in, Brady turned to the justice and said: "I ask for the production here before you of the corpus delecti.'' The gas could not be produced and the evidence of the crime being absent the prisoner was discharged. Mr. Brady had hardly got to his office be fore the gas company had an official there to ask Brady to draw a bill for the Legisla ture that would cover the stealing of an in tangible thing. His fee was $10,000. This is a true tale because Mr. Brady told it to me himself. This murder is of the same character.— Brooklyn Eagle. '•THE practice of law in the country may not be so lucrative as in the big city, but it is vastly more amusing," said a lawyer of prominence up in Senator Platt's home town, Oswego. "One experience rewarded me for all the trouble I had in getting to the scene of the trial. "The case was going along smoothly and I was examining an important witness, when from the rear of the crowded court-room this remark was interjected in a loud voice: "'That man's a liar.' "I hesitated a moment, expecting the judge, a bluff country jurist, to take some action. He said nothing, so I continued to question the man on the stand.

759

"Presently came another outburst from the voice in the crowd. It was to the effect that the witness had no truth in his make-up and his story was an offence against justice. Still the court said not a word. "Feeling that it was up to me to do some thing, I asked the judge to have the person who dared to interrupt the proceedings com mitted for contempt. The Judge leaned over to me and whispered: "'I'd do it, counsellor, but I don't know how to draw the papers.' "The court may have been weak on law, but he was strong on human nature. He pondered a moment and then turned to the witness, who was a big chap. "'Do you know who it was that called you a liar?' he asked. "'I do, your Honor,' said the witness. "'Can you lick him?' the court queried. "'That's what I can.' "'Then you go and do it,' ordered his Honor. 'This court is adjourned for fifteen minutes until this little matter of court eti quette is adjusted.' "The witness left the chair, singled out a pugnacious looking but under-sized man in the crowd, grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out into the sunlight. In five minutes the witness was back, slightly ruf fled in his appearance, but smiling broadly. He resumed his place on the stand, the judge rapped for order, and the trial of the case went on. "There were no more interruptions."— New York Sun.

AN instance of legal courtesy occurred not long ago in a Western court room. A lawyer with Mac prefaced to his name and a brother lawyer engaged in a heated dis cussion. The latter maintained his position claiming he could find his authority and be gan to turn over the pages of the statute book when quick as a flash Mac said, "You will find what you want on page —,. sec tion —." Mac's opponent looked up the reference and found the law governing idiots.