The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-05-25
Wit and Humor.
From Cyclopedia of Anecdotes

THE TRIAL AND ACoUITTAL OF JOHN BOYLE
One of the most remarkable personages in ;
Cork, for series of years, was sharp-wit-
ted little fellow named John Boyle, who pub
lished periodical called the F:eeholder. As
Boyle did not see that any peculiar dignity
hedged the corporation of Cork, his Free
holder was remarkable for severe and satiri-
cal remarks upon its members, collectively
and personally. Owing to the very great
precautions as to the mode Of publication. i,
was next to impossible for the corporation to
proceed against him for libel: if they could
have done so, his punishment was certain
for in those days there were none but corpo-
ration juries, and the fact that Boyle was
hostile to the municipal clique was quite E.
nough for these worthy administrators of
justice. 1t happened that on the occasion of
crowded benefit, that Boyc and one Of the
sheritfs were coming out of the pit OF the
1 theatre at the same moment. A sudden
crash drove the scribe against the shorthand .
/ the conclusion was such that the latter had
,wo of his ribs broken. There could be no
doubt that the whole was accidental but it |
was too lucky not to be taken advantage of. !
Mr. BOYLE was prosecuted for assault. o.
Connell (who was personally inimicai to the .
corporaton) &, rcely cross-examined wit
ness and called none in defense. He pro-
cceded to reply. After some hyperholical
compliments on the "well-known impartiali-
y. Independence, and justice ofa Cork jury"
lie proceeded to address them thus:
Il had 20 notion that the case is wtat it is;
therefore call no witnesses. As have re-
ceived a brief, and its accompaniment, a fee.
must ad!res, YOU. am not in vein for
making long speech; so, gentlemen, instead
Of it. | shall tell you story. Some years
ago, went specially to Clonmell and
accidentally wilnesSc! trial which never
shall forget. y wretcl.ed man, a native of
that county, was charged with the murder Of
his neighbour 1t seemed that an ancien,
;cud existed between them. They had met
at a fair and exchanged blows: again that
evening, the! met at low pot-hou,e, and
lie bodily interference Of friends alone pre-
vented ii; ;hi between them. The prisoner
was heard 10 vow Vengeance against his IL
val. Tnc wrctched victim. .,!t Il" house, fo
lowed soon after hy the prisoner, and was
found next day on the roadside, mul u,rcd,
and his face so harbarouslv beaten in by 4
stone. that lie could only be identified by his
dress. The facts were strong againS, the
prisoner; in fact, it was the strongest case
ct crcumstant:al evidence ! ever me, with.
AS a torm,-of his guilt there Yas no doubt,
the prisoner was called on for his defense.
. He caed-to the surprise of every one-the
murdered man. And the murdered man came
, forward. 1t seemed that another man had
been murdered-that the identification by
dress was vague, for all the peasantry of Tip
perary wear the same description of clothes,
. that the presumed victim had got Il hin,
that lie would be arrested under the White
Boy ac,-had fed, and only returned with a
noble and lIl>h feeling OF Justice, when he
r. found that his ancient foe was in jeopardy on
his account The case was clear; the pris-
;, oner was innocent. The Judge told the jury
that it was unnecessary TO charge them
-. They requested permission to retire; they're
turned in about two hours, when the fore
. man, with long face, handed him the YER
y, dict guilty Every one was as,onished.-
!, Good Gud' said the Judge, of what is he
;s guilty? Not Of murder, surely" NO, my
lord said the foreman, but if he did not
murder that man, sure he stole my gray mare
three years ago.
-. The Cork Jurors laughed heartily at this
anecdnte ere the mir,h had time to cool, o.
i, Conneli continued, with marked emphasis
"a $50. gentlemen Of the jury. if Mr.. 30! lie did
>. not wi.iuly assault the sheriff, he has ibcled
~ the corporation; find him guilty by al
-. means The application was so vere,tha,
the jury, shar.ed i"to justice, instantly &C
-. quilted Mr. Boyle.
III BROW NED IN A MEDICINE CHEST.
- The surgeon Of ar English ship of wal
& used TO prescribe salt water tor his patients
lis in all disorders. Having sailed one cvenin;
he on party ofpleasarc, he happened, by some
~ mischancc, to be drowned. The captainw h,
IS lad not heard of the disaster, asked one of
W the tars if he hadhea,d anything of tn
doctor. "I.s," answered Jack, she wa
e. drowned, last night, in his own medicin
Ia chest."
~ ZIMMERMAN AND FREDERIC TIE GREAT.
)at
Zimmerman, the eminent physician, wa
sent fer from Hanover to attend Frederic tn
>, Great in his last illness One day the kin
said to him, You nave, presume, sir, help
ed many man into the other world Thi
was rather bitter pill for the doctor, bu
-, the dose he gave the king in return was
judlcous mixture of truth and hatterv: "NC
SO ma.,y as Your majesty, nor with SO muc
honor to myself
TIE PRINCE AND THE IDLE ARTIST
h.. A French prince had sent an aide-de-caa,
,b.. to painter, remarkable for his love of JOKE
y and his idleness, commanding his presenc