Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-03-29
WitmCOurt.

Keen and cutting words, or even tn
fling incivilities, INDUCED In at the ex-
pense of counsel, have some times met
with swift retribution. Plunket was once
engaged IN case, when toward the end
of the afternoon it became a question
whether the Court should proceed OF ad-
journ till the next day. Plunket ex-
pressed his willingness to 90 on ifthe
jury would "set."
''Sit, sir, sit, said the presiding Judge,
mot set hens sci"
Il thank you, my Lord, !" said Plunket
The case proceeded, and presently the
Judge had occasion to observe that if
that were the case he feared the action
would not '1ay"
Lie, my lord, lie" exclaimed the bar
rister, mot lay hens lay"
"If you don't stop your coughing, sir,"
said hasty and irritable Judge, "I'll fine
you hundred pounds" 'I'li give your
lordship two hundred if you can stop it
for me" was the ready reply.
CuTran was once addressing a Jury,
when the Judge, who was thought to be
antagonistic to his client, intimated his
dissent from the arguments advanced by
shake of the head. 'I see, gentlemen"
6<AA0 OA4AaAAs GCC llC A4ONAOA VI LIS
lordship's head. Persons unacquainted
with his lordship would be apt to think
this implied difference of opinion, but
be assured, gentlemen, this is not the
case. When you know his lordship as
well as do, it will be unnecessary to
tell you that when he shakes his head
there really is nothing in it"
On another occasion Curran was plead
txr.fo ~ n
lor, with whom he was on terms of any
thing but friendship. The Chancellor,
with the distinct purpose, as it would
seem, of insulting the advocate, brought
with him on the bench a large New
foundland dog, to which he devoted a
great deal of his attention while Curran
was addressing very elaborate argu-
ment to him. AT a very material point
in the speech the Judge turned quite
away, and seemed to be wholly engros-
sed with his dog. Curran ceased to
speak. go on, go on, Mr.. Curran," said
the Chancellor. 4Oh, 1 beg thousand
pardons, my lord, ," said the witty barris-
ter, II really was under. the impression
that your lordships were in consulta-
ton"
But, perhaps, the most crushing re-
joinder ever flung back in return for an
insult from the bench was that which
this same advocate hurled at Judge Rob
inson.
Judge Robinson is described as a man
of sour and cynical disposition, who had
been raised to the bench-so, at least, it
was commonly believed-simply because
he had written in favor of the Govern
ment of his day number of pamphlets
remarkable for nothing but their servile
and rancorous scurrility. At the time
when Curran was only Just raising into
notice, and while he was yet poor and
struggling man, this Judge ventured upon
a sneering joke, which, small though it
was, but for Curran's ready wit and
searching eloquence, might have done
him irreparable injury:
Speaking of some opinion of counsel
on the opposite side, Curran said he had
consulted all his books and could not
find single case in which the principle
in dispute was thus established.
This may be, Mr.. Curran," sneered
the Judge; 'but I suspect your law Ii
brary is rather limited"
Curran eyed the heartless toady for
moment, and then broke forth with this
noble retaliation.
at is very true, my lord, that I am
poor, and this circumstance has certain
ly rather curtailed my library. My books
are not numerous, but they are select,
and / hope have been perused with prop
er dispositions. I have prepared myself
for this high profession rather by the
study of few good books than by COM
position of great many bad ones. / am
not ashamed of my poverty, but should
be ashamed of my wealth if / should
stoop to acquire it by servility and cor
ruption. If l rise not to rank, / shall at
least be honest; and should ever cease
to be so, many an example shows me
that an ill-acquired elevation, by making
me the more conspicuous, would only
make me the more universally and no
toriously contemptible."