The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-08-11
HUMORS OF THE IRISH LAW
 COURTS.

COURTS.
 The Irish law courts supply many humorous illustrations of the life and
 character of the Irish people, of the quaint manner in which they often ex-
 press themselves, and of the humor and
 ingenuity oc counsel and judges. A short time since at the Dublin assizes,
 a man was convicted of bigamy. He
 had married four wives. The judge,
 in passing sentence, expressed his won-
 der how the prisoner could be such a hardened villain as to delude so many women. "Plaze, yer lordship,' said the man. interrupting, T was tryin' to get good wan"
 | Jeremiah O'Leary was indicted at | Cork Assizes For stealing a cow. He was found guilty, and, on being asked by the judge whether he had anything to say before sentence, he exclaimed, ''The divil a word, your Honor and it's 1 my opinion grate dale too much has been said as it is." In one of the Dublin police courts a laborer was sentenced to a fine of twenty shillings or seven days Imprisonment for being drunk and dis orderly. Begorra, your Worship, you fiatter me intoirely," he replied Sure, I never knew before my time was worth so much"
 The late MT. Isaac Butt, e. C., M. F., was fond of relating two stories of re- plies given by children when asked, be- fore being sworn, whether they under stood the nature of an oath and the consequence of perjury. In case in which he was defending a prisoner, an f1, ,t.n q l~a cerned in a party riot, a little boy was called as witness for the defence. If you do not tell the truth" said the judge, where will you go when you die?" Where the Papists go, sir" was the prompt reply. In another case, tried at Limerick, little girl was asked what would happen to her if she told a lie in her evidence. I suppose, sir" she replied, "1 wouldn't get my expinses."
 Many good stories are also told in legal circles. ip Ireland of encounters between lawyers and judges in court John Philpot Curran, In the early days of his struggles at the bar, appeared in a case before Mr. Justice Robinson the author of several law books, and, in
 
 nent, said that he had consulted all his | law books, and could not find a single | case in which the principle contended | fer was established. q suspect sir" said the judge, that your law library is | rather limited" Tt is very true, | my lord, that owing to my circum- stances my labrary is rather small" | replied Curran. But I have pre- pared myself for this high pro- fession rather by the study of a few good law books than by the composition of great many bad ones" On another occasion, before Lord Chancellor Clare, he laid down some points of law which | did not find favor in the mind of the | judge. If that be law. I may as well burn my books" said Lord Clare. Better read them, my lord" replied Curran.
 Some years ago the County Court | Judge of Clare was a Mr. William Major, who was not liked by popular Ennis solicitor named Greene, In an action between the neighborng farmers, tried at Quarter Sessions, for damages f for the loss of a sheep, which had been killed by dog, Greene, who appeared for the plaintiff, thus examined his client: What sort is defendants dog that killed your sheep? Is he a bull dog or terrer?" "Troth, he is, sir wicked and bad enough.' He is a cur, suppose, and shows his teeth when he cannot bite?' You may say that, sir" Now, tell me. O'Bren, what's the dogs name?" added Greene. Here the witness scratched his head, and hesitated to answer. Don't be delaying the court, sir, cried the judge, 'or I protest, I'll dismiss your case" 'Oh, then, your Honor as I must tell 1t, replied the witness Ines a name. sake of your own, for his name is Major" This papable hit at the bench,