632
THE GREEN BAG
THE
LIGHTER SIDE
Premonitory Damages.— Not long ago two cars of a passenger train left the rails while entering one of the local stations, and gave the occupants a great shock and a big scare. Before the report of the accident had reached the officials, a man rushed into the office of the claim agent and excitedly shouted that he wished to file notice that he intended to bring action for damages; that he had been .hurt internally by a car leaving the tracks, and that while he was not suffering much at the time, yet he had a premonition that he was going to be laid up for some weeks. Got What They Wanted. — Over in the mosquito country an old farmer died. He was reputed to be rich. After his death, however, it was found that he died penniless. His will was very brief. It ran as follows: "In the name of God, Amen. There's only one thing I leave. I leave the earth. My relatives have always wanted that. They can have it." — Lippincott's.
Q. Do I understand that you never heard — A. (Interrupting.) No, sir. Q. (Continuing.) — of Mr. Sutherland being connected with this case? A. No, sir. Q. In any way at all? A. No, sir. Q. Until you went to his office this morn ing? A. That is all. Q That is the first time you ever knew of his being connected with the case? A. Yes, sir. Q. Has your husband ever told you any thing about Mr. Sutherland being connected with this case? Mr. Barclay: We object to that. The Court: On what grounds? Mr. Barclay: On the ground it calls for a confidential communication between her self and her husband. The Court: The objection is sustained. (Bil Exp., pp. 178-9.)
Justice Deaf as Well as Blind. —■ A member of the Philadelphia bar tells of a queer old character in Altoona who for a long time was the judge of a police court in that town. On one occasion during a session of his court there was such an amount of conversa tion and laughter in the court room that his Honor became very angry and confused. Suddenly, in great wrath, he shouted: "Silence here! We have decided above a dozen cases this morning and I haven't heard a word of one of them!" — Harper's Weekly.
Where They were Best. — In the course of a recent case before Mr. Justice Darling the Judge declined to make a requested ruling, saying that if he did so the Court of Appeals would say he was wrong. Counsel having expressed disagreement with this view, the Judge said: "Well, you know the Court of Appeals as well as I do, perhaps better, for you see them at work, while I only meet them at luncheon. " To which the barrister dryly replied: "Your Lordship sees them at their best. " — Law Notes.
In Missouri. — A St. Louis judge the other day tried the English method of interfering in the examination and must have been somewhat discomfited when former Chief Justice Shepard Barclay made him overrule one of his own questions. By the Court (addressing the witness): Do you know how Mr. Sutherland is to be paid for his services in the case? A. No, sir, I do not.
Not Law. — In a jury trial in New York recently the attorney for the defendant started in to read to the jury from a certain volume of the Supreme Courts reports. He was inter rupted by the Court, who said: "Colonel -, it is not admissible, you know, to read law to the jury." "Yes, I understand, your Honor; I am only reading to the jury a decision of the Supreme Court. " — Philadelphia Ledger.
