A BAR STORY.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 61, 14 March 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

A BAR STORY.

When Mr. (now Baron) Huddleston, was at the bar, be was generally, on one side or the other in important horse cases. At Gloucester he was invariably retained in cases of equine dispute ; and it was said that he not only knew a great deal about the quadruped in question, but even more about the bipeds who had to deal with it. He had a hard nut, however, to crack in a Mr. Frederick Jacobs, who carried on a very lucrative business at Cheltenham as a horse dealer. Mr. Jacobs was, if not fond of law, not. afraid of it ; and he more than once fought a touch and go case out, and got a verdict too, although the leader of the circuit — Mr. Huddleston himself — was against him. The latter, therefore, began to look upon Mr Jacobs as a foeman worthy of his steel ; and haviug once got him as a plaintiff in the witness-box for cross-examination, the learned counsel deliberately prepared, after his examination in chief, to administer a chastisement which should not be soon forgotten either by the victim or the spectators. He began by saying, in a sharp, harsh tone, " Now Jacobs ! " Mr. Jacobs calmly retorted, " Well, Huddleston ! " Hereupon an impressive poso was made by the astonished and indignant counsel, and the judge (Baron Martjaj sternly rebuked the witness. " Sir," he observed," you must treat the learned cousel with more respect." "My lord," answered the impertuble dealer, " I am sure you would not be so forgetful of etiquette as to call me ' Jacobs ' upon so brief an introduction. His lordship, amid much laughter, nodded his acquiescence in this undoubted rule of etiquette, and intimated as much to Mr. Huddleston, who, not noticing that the witness was respectftilly addressing the judge, somewhat testily cried out, "Come, Mr. Jacobs," emphasizing the prefix. The witness, with the most perfect but irritating sang froid, turned and remarked, " Wait a minute Mr. Huddleston. At present lam addressing a gentleman. When he has done with me I will give you every attention." This hot rejoinder drew from all the young barristers present, and from the public in Court, a roar of laughter, and even the grave seniors could not restrain expressions of satisfaction at the spectacle of the biter bitten. But the b9st was yet to come. Feeling that' the laugh was against him, Mr. Huddleston changed his tactics, and, smiling in return with a blandness which displayed his excellent teeth togreat advantage, recommenced his attack by sayiug, "Well, Mr. Jacobs, let me ask you, Are you good at accounts, or do you employ a bookkeeper,?" Mr. Jacobs — " My head is not good at accounts." Mr. Huddleston : " I thought not. Your head is much too good-looking to be good for much." Air. Jacobs : " Well, Mr. Huddleston, in that particular attribute, I Certainly have the advantage of you" There was such a roar of merriment at this sudden turning of the tables that it was impossible for the discomfited counsel to recover his temper and coolness, and Mr. Jacobs was very soon dismissed from the pillory, without receiving the rough handling which had been intended for him ; and, to crown all, lie got a ver diet and came off with flying colours all round.