THE LAWYER'S DOG

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 15

THE LAWYER'S DOG

An appeal court for dogs condemned to death by lesser tribunals, such as is suggested by Sir Robert Gower, M.P., might have found a sympathetic presiding Judge in the great Lord Chancellor Erskine, says the "Manchester Guardian." While still at the Bar Erskine taught his Newfoundland dog Toss .to sit at table, with a wig' on.his head and paws folded before him, and pretend to read a book, and this spectacle of "my consultant" greeted many of the clients who visited his chambers. Such buffoonery might have ruined a lesser man, but as Erskine almost always won his case'clients were, indulgent towards the suggestion that Toss's opinion contributed to the result. Another, judicial dog-lover, Lord Clare, often had one of his favourites on the bench with him when presiding in the Irish Court of Chancery. On \ one occasion when Curran, whom he strongly disliked, was pleading before him Clare kept turnings aside to fondle and whisper to his dog, :a magnificent Newfoundland, which, sat beside him. At one of these asides Curran stopped abruptly. "Go.on, go on, Mr. Curran,"" said Clare. , "I beg, your .pardon," replied Curran. "I took, it for granted your Lordship was employed in consultation."