fcceiie in a CjiLt.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 214, 14 August 1883, Page 3

fcceiie m a CjiLt.

The following anecdote is sa : d to be literally true to an eminent lawyer : Ihe gentleman m question, * w)i 6 was then quite young, was retained as ad* rotate m a caßein which, not feeling himself sufficiently prepared to plead, he was very desirous of obtaining! a postponement. As, however j the Court bad already protracted its session beyond the usual period m consequence of an unusual amount ef business, and, of course, the jury were getting impatient to be released from their duress, he was well aware that it would be impossible to procuresuch a postponement unless he could allege some extraordinary cause. Fortunately, or unfortunately 88 the result proved, he had a lively imagination, and had quickly formed a plan which he w»s sure would be sue* cessful.^ Rising w.th bis handkerchief to his eyes, he addressed the Court m great apparent emolioa: "May it please the Court, I have just heard of the dangerous illnes of my venerable mother, who is lying at the point of death. Under such circumstances, much as I regret protracting an already lengthened session 1 must request that this case be post* roned. My feelings are ao powerfully agitated that I should be unable to do justice to the case, fee;iug as I do that my proper place is at the bedside o( my mother," The pathetic appeal was completely successfol. A .feeling of earnest sympathy for the afflicted counsel pervaded all hearts, and the jurors, though anxious to return to their families, were not sufficiently hsrd of heart to wish to have the business of the Court proceed at such . a sacrifice of peisonal feelings. Ihe judge who was a tender-hearted ( man, had risen, and was about to grant the request of the counsel, when the deep hush was broken by a shrill voice which proceeded from a lady m a quaker bonnet, who was bending over the railing Vf the gallery. It was the mother of the eloquent counsel-, who so far from being at the point of death, came without her son's knowledge, to hear him plead. " Timothy, Timothy 1" she exclaimed, m a voice that could be heard all over the house, •• Timothy ; Timothy, how often have I chastised tbee for lying !" It is needless to say thac the court-room fairly shook with laughter, and the eloquent counsel, the late Timothy Coffin, sat down completely non-plussed. 'the case wasn't postponed. v