Omaha daily bee., 1898-04-03

pose, suggested the Justice.
Mr.. Justice Robinson's encounter with John
Philpot Curran, says Law Notes. has been
stated by Lord Brougham to dave been the
most successful instance of repartee on rec
ord Judge RoblGson was known to be ttie
author of some anonymous pamphlets, a cir
, cumstdnce which gave Curran an opportunity
of retort when the Judge made brutal at
tempt to crush him when young and in
experienced man at the bar II have searched
all my law books" said Curran, land can
find no precedent on the point" "Your law
library" said the Judge, "is rather con-
tracted." my books" replied Curran, may
be few. but the title pages give me the
writer's names. Ny shelf is not disgraced by
any Of such rank absucdity that their very
owners are ashamed to own them" III you
say another word. sir" said the Judge. "Pll
commit YOU" Then, my lord" replied Cur
ran, ut will be the best thing you have COM
mitted this term" The Judge endeavored to
get Curran disbarred, but failed.
A few lawyers were sitting In one Of the
city restaurants a few days ago, relates the
Sioux City Journal. eating lunch and dis
cussing different subjects, when one of them
told the following story: :
This occurred some years ago In the office
OF former justice OF the peace. An attor-
ney, who has since left Sioux City, had been
engaged to defend a man for the crime Of
petty larceny. The lawyer knew that the
case against his client was a pretty strong
one, and he decided to beard the lion in his
den. AS he entered the room he told the
Justice Of the case, the name Of his client,
and added he did not think there was any evil
dence to convict. At the same time he
slipped a 500 gold piece in the hand of the
justice, and gave him a knowing wink. The
court said nothing, but pulling open the cash
! drawer, slipped the money in. The case went
to trial, and after the evidence had all been
| introduced there appeared to be no question
| Of the guilt Of the defendant. But his coun-
sci was confident, thinking the gold piece
had done the work. The court then summed
| up the case, and. to the astonishment Of the
| defendants counsel, said:
1.-THE court finds the defendant guilty as
| charged In the information, and fines him
$1OO, Of which amount $50 has bean paid
| The defendant will be committed to the
county Jail until the remainder is paid into
| this court"
| Nothing more was said. and the Justice
\ settled back in his chair, satisfied that the
laws of the state had been upheld and a
dishonest attorney had been left in the lurch
The following true stories, vouched for by
| q member OF the Madison bar, have lately
caused considerable merriment among the
lawyers OF Dane county, Wisconsin:
young man who was preparing to take
| the state lar examination confdei to a friend
| to pass. 'Why," he said, II have CONNER
sal Paper and Domestic Relations down to
point, and Real Property will be regular
snap, for you know was brought up on a
farm"
Another aspirant, who was being examined
by the state board. classified estoppels under
two heads viz. estoppels in pals and es-
tOppes in transatu When asked to name the
several pleadings in their order he replied.
"The complaint, demurrer, amended COM
plant and answer" Upon being asked ia
reconsider his answer he said: well, in
the office where / have been studying that
was the order Of pleadings in every case they
let me begin"
An attorney. who is also justice of the
peace. was arguing case before the Dane
circuit court. and, reaching point OF law
concerning which the judge expressed him
self as desirous Of more extended citation OF
authorities. said: why. your honor. l long
ago satisfied myself as TO the soundness OF
that pr!nciple-in fact have repeatedly held
so In my court" 1t Is needless to add that
the precedent was followed without further
question.