The San Francisco call., 1909-11-18
FAMOUS DIGIT Is
LEGALLY LICENSED
Court 0verruIes the Objection
Against Samuel Shortridge's
Expressive Finger

The famous forefnger of Samuel NJ.
Shortridge, attorney and counselor at
law, received judicial sanction in Judge
Cofey's court yesterday. BY a wise
ruling it was given legal license to wag
its bony eIoquence. shake whitening
scorn or crook itself in satisfaction
over justice attained.
1t became an issue at law during the
hearing of the De Laveaga viii contest.
T. J. lie Breton was on the witness
stand and Shortridge and his fore
finger were conducting the cross exam
ination. The witness was suave but
unsatisfying. The voice of Samuel NJ.
Shortridge rose to that tone of indig
nant surprise peculiar to lawyers when
they want to swear but dare not, and
his forefinger waved, wagged and
crooked itself in abandon OF. irritation
and anger. 1t pointed its accusing
length at the heart of the witness. 1t
cut circles in the air. 1t raised itself
upward as if calling TO the heavens to
Judge Of the iniquity being practiced
below 1t went through every gyra-
ton, twist and turn to which forefinger
was ever subjected
The forehnger annoyed PilIsbury. He
sauirmed at its pointed mannerisms.
He tried to look out of the window.
but the forefinger held him fascinated.
He wriggled in his seat in discomfort
and finally in a voice of extreme petu
lance remarked:
Your honor-T-I-wish to raise a
mild protest against-against the fore
finger of counsel 1t is annoying not
alone to the witness, but to"
SHORTRIDGE Is HORRIFIED
Shortridge swung in his seat, the
forefnger aimed at the ceiling, eye
brows lifted in dumb surprise. The
courtroom was breathless. The sus-
pense was awful-harrowing The
same horrible thought flashed through
every mind. Was that forefinger TO
be stricken from the rolls? Was it
henceforth TO repose mute. inglorious,
infiexible within the prosaic depths of
vest pocket? Then at the crucial
moment its worth was recognized. Then
came the realization that it was an in
stitution Of the Pacific slope.
Judge Coffey gazed al it as it held
selves on the knuckles at the base
travelled to the second joint and then
slowly and judicially lifted themselves
TO the tip Of the polished nail.
The forefnger of Mr.. Shortridge,"
he said. lis irreproachable.
sigh of relief passed through the
room. The forefinger bent itself in
regal condescension. 1t Strengthened
itself again and seemed visibly to en-
that Attorney Oscar Sutro, counsel for
the other side. in a spirit of impotent
chagrin, sneered and remarked:
-'Irreproach chable. yes. 1t is silent
FoREFINGER TRIUMPHANT
The forehnger Strengthened itself. 1t
filled the courtroom. Judex reus
actor and populace felt the might of
its dignity. 1t lifted itself triumphant
ly above the bowed heads and then
like a lance swung itself against the
very nose of lie Breton. and the voice
of Shortridge doomed with the undis-
guised JOY of victory as he commenced
his rasping:
And now. SIR
During the cross examination of lie
Breton the foreAnger succeeded in max
ing him admit that he had never seen
Miss Maria de Laveaga do anything
which might be deemed rational or
peculiar. The question of her going
on his bond was once again taken up
and he explained that when he was ap-
pointed receiver J. V. de Iaveaga was
his attorney and that if was through
the latter that Miguel de Laveaga got
Mrs Cebrian and her sister Maria to
90 on his bond. Miguel and myself
were not on speaking terms them said
lie Breton, but inasmuch as his son
was acting as my attorney and his
nephew, Louis Cebrian, was given a
position in the bank. it was considered
fair that the members of the family
should go on my bond
The case will be continued this
morning.