Scene in Court.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 87

Scene in Court.

The following anecdote of an eminent lawyer is said to be literally true. The gentleman in question, who was then quite young, was retained as advocate in a case for which, not feeling himself sufficiently, prepared to plead, he was 'very desirous of obtaining a postponement. As, however, the court had already protracted its sitting-, beyond the usual period, in consequence ofi an unusual amount of business, and, ofi' course, the jury were impatient to be re-^ leased from the box, he was well aware?; that it would be impossible to procure- sucb/\ a postponement unless he could allege some extraordinary cause. . Fortunately, or unfortunately as the result! j proved, he had a lively imagination, andtj had quickly formed a plan which he wa?j sure would be successful. With his han<J-tJj kerchief to his eyes, he addressed the courip in great apparent emotion: — "May it please the courts I have justh heard of the dangerous illness of myu venerable mother, who is lying at the poinTO of death. Under such circumstances, mucaj as I regret protracting an already^ lengthened sitting, I must request that this case be .postponed. My feelings are sot. powerfully agitated that I should be unable' to do justice to the case, feeling, -as Il'I 1' do, that my proper place is at the bedside of my mother." The pathetic appeal was completely sue"-' cessful. A feeling" of earnest sympathy far the afflicted counsel pervaded all heart*, i and the jutots, though anxious to return to their families were not so hard of heart as to insist on the business of the court proceeding at such a sacrifice of personal " feelings. The judge, who was a tender-hearted • man, h*d 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 who was bending, over the railing of the gallery. • It 'was the . mother of the eloquent counsel, who, «* - far from being at the point of death, camw without her son's knowledge to hear him plead. "James. James!" sue exclaimed, in *J voice which could be distinctly heard all • over the house: "James, James! howj often have I chastised you for lying?" It is needless to say that the court: room fairly shook with laughter, and the eloquent counsel sat down completely nonplussed The case was not postponed.