THE LIGHTER SIDE By the Way. — The crier had a bad cold, so that the duty of making the opening procla mation fell to another court-officer who, as it happened, had never acted as crier. This officer had heard the proclamation often enough and knew it by heart, but this is what happened. The deputy-sheriff opened the door and announced "Court!" The sub stitute crier rapped on his desk, and, within and without the bar, those present arose and stood in silence while the judge passed to his place. Then the substitute began, — " Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! " His voice seemed to him horribly loud, and all recollection of the words to follow suddenly left him, but he pulled himself together and went on bravely. "All persons having anything to do before the Honorable the Justices of the Supreme Court in the Jury Session thereof now sitting at Boston within and for the County of Suf folk may draw near and give their attendance and they shall be heard." At this point he sat down, but seeing the judge looking up in surprise, he saw his mis take and springing to his feet, he added: "By the way, gentlemen, God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Over Examination. — It was at the trial of a heavy damage suit in a Worcester court. A boy of about fifteen years, gave impor tant testimony for the plaintiff, and when the lawyer for the defendant, a prominent Boston man, arose to cross-examine, the case looked bad. After a few preliminary questions, the lawyer pounced upon his witness, and asked with whom he had discussed the case before the trial. The witness answered that he had talked with no one. "Do you mean to tell me that you have not talked with the plaintiff's attorney? " the lawyer asked. "Oh, yes, I talked with him," was the reply. "What did he tell you to say? " thun dered the questioner. "He told me to tell the truth, and I have told it," was the reply. The plaintiff got a good verdict. — Boston Record.
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Choate Went too Deep for Him. — Rufus Choate was once counsel in a suit on trial in Nantucket in which a large amount of ship property was involved. The opposition had as a witness Capt. Stephen Bailey, a local celebrity, whose every sentence told that he was sailor born and bred. Mr. Choate questioned him politely, but in a way that the old sailor didn't quite relish, because he didn't understand what it led to. Finally the captain said, in reply to a ques tion: " Mr. Choate, you remind me of an old right whale!" Mr. Choate was, of course, astonished, and rebuked the witness for his impertinence. In defense Captain Bailey answered: " I don't mean any impertinence at all, Mr. Choate; but when you go down there's no telling when you are coming upl" Mr. Choate excused the witness. — Boston Herald. He Forgot His Creed. — At the conclusion of a murder trial before the late Judge K , holding a central New York circuit a few years ago, the citizens filled the court-room to hear the verdict. A prominent attorney from another county, who was also a prominent official in the Presbyterian Church, and was well known to the judge, was retained in the following case. He entered the room just before the jury returned, and was directed by the sheriff to a vacant space behind the judge's chair. The throng, seeing his move ment, followed him and crowded him against the chair. The verdict was guilty. The solemn duty of imposing the death sentence devolved upon the judge, but when he at tempted to rise he was pinned fast. Annoyed, he cast an angry glance around to ascertain the cause of the obstruction. The attorney, disconcerted by the annoyance of the judge, pleaded the authority of the sheriff, saying: "I am here by grace,", whereupon the judge retorted: " But I am here by election." — Case and Comment. Naturally Dom Smart. — An Irishman with no education, having found that he had a natural gift of gab, had become something of a pettyfogger in a country " deestrict." One day he was engaged against a lawyer of
