A HAWKINS STORY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 27

A HAWKINS STORY.

Lord Brampton was on one occasion presiding over a case in which the plaintiff, a Jew, was giving evidence against a man who had stolen a pair of trousers from his shop. “How much were the trousers ?” queried Hawkins. “Well,” replied the plaintiff, “it depends who wants to buy them. I sell them to one man for thirty shillings, to another for twenty-five,; but you can have them for twenty-three and six!” “Sir!” cried Hawkins, angirly, “I want you to tell me how much those trousers are worth, I’ll send you to goal for fourteen days for contempt of court.” “Well, well,” replied the frightened plaintiff, conciliatmgly, “you may have them for a guinea. I’m giving them away; still, you may have them at that price.” Even the stern aspect of Justice Haw-

kins could not stop the roar of laughter which broke out on hearing the replv, a roar in which Hawkins, after a few minutes, joined himself.

Underground London contains 34,000 miles of telegraph wires, 3,003 miles of sewers, 4530 miles of water mains, and 3200 miles of gas pipes. Two thieves, for a wager, audaciously broke into a jail at Delaware, and stole considerable clothing and other valuables, and, strange to say, got off with their plunder. It is a popular belief in certain parts of England that a holly bush, planted near a dwelling, protects the house from lightning. The heaviest projectile thrown by a first-class battle ship is from a 13-inch gun, and weighs 1150 pounds. The Gatling gun discharges bullets weighing about three-tenths of an ounce.