SINCE the death of Frederic R. Coudert any number of anecdotes showing his wit and brilliancy in repartee have come to light. Here is a pair of the best: On one occasion, a decade ago, he was trying an admiralty case before a judge whose attainment he did not hold in the highest esteem. At a critical stage of the proceedings his opponent sought to sustain his own contention by citing the dictum of a British judge, Lord Chancellor Fitzgibbon. "I am astonished," retorted Mr. Coudert, "that my friend should seek to influence your Honor's mind by quoting the views of Lord Chancellor Fitzgibbon. He ought to know, and I don't doubt he does know, that Fitzgibbon was a man of no erudition. The decisions of Fitzgibbon have never had any status to speak of with the British judiciary for a century. He was a political appointee, a mere accident. He knew very little law." "Excuse me, Mr. Coudert," interrupted the trial judge, deferentially, "but are you not in error as to Lord Chancellor FitzgibЪоп? I have read his opinions and have often wished I knew as much law as he did." Coudert arose to his full height and looked the judge square in the eyes: "I wish to God you did," he said. The other story is told by a Columbia con frère, who went skating with Coudert when they were university students together. "I noticed," said the raconteur, "that Coudert's skates were new, but I thought nothing of that. I was under the impression that he could skate admirably. This impres sion, however, was soon corrected. Cou dert no sooner got his skates on than he sat down on the ice hard. I hurried to help him to his feet, but he would not get up. He sat where he had fallen, taking his skates off. •' 'Is this your first experience at skating?' I asked, as I assisted him. "'No,' he said, 'no, it's my last.'" PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: "Was the prisoner in the habit of singing when he was alone?" Witness : "Sure, and Oi can't say. Oi was nivir wid him whin he wor alone."
A SCOTCHMAN went to a solicitor, laid be fore him a case in dispute, and then asked him if he would undertake to win the suit. "Certainly," replied the solicitor, "I will readily undertake the case. We are sure to win." "Ay. Sae ye really think it's a guid case?" "Undoubtedly, my dear sir. I am prepared to guarantee you will secure a ver dict in your favor." "Aweel, I'm much obleeged to ye, but I dinna think I'll gae tae law this time, for, ye ken, the case I've laid afore ye is ma opponents."— 1'ictoria Cross. IN a native irregular force raised by an Afghan chieftain the following amusing in cident took place. A man was brought be fore the chief for stealing a shirt, and this is how the case proceeded: Chief (to prisoner)—You are charged with stealing a shirt. First Witness—Your honor, it was my shirt. Second Witness—I saw him steal the shirt, your honor. Result—Prisoner ten days for stealing the shirt; first witness ten days for not looking after the shirt better; and second witness ten days for not minding his own business.— The Regiment. Apropos of examination to the credit of witnesses, a story is told of Mr. Justice Darl ing. A King's Counsel, cross-examining a witness, says, "You compel me to test your credibility. This is not the first time we have met." The witness did not seem to remember. "Surely it must have occurred to you during this trial that we are not un known to one another," continued the crossexaminer. Then the judge, in his artless manner, takes up the running thus, "Do you want the jury to believe, Mr. , that the witness is discredited because he knows you?" One could forgive many things to Mr. Justice Darling for such a perfect bit of judicial joking.— The Scottish Law Revinv. "YES, my work is rather confining." "What is its nature, may I ask?" "O, I'm a jail warden."
