AMUSING INCIDENT AT AN ASSIZES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12403, 19 November 1908, Page 4

AMUSING INCIDENT AT AN ASSIZES.

<3» The following anecdote of an eminent lawyer is said, by an Irish newspaper, 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, ho was very desirous to obtain a postponment. As, however, the Court had already protracted its sitting boyond the usual period, in consequence of an unusual amount of business, and, of course, tho jury were impatient to bo released from the box, he was well aware that it would bo impossible to procure such a postponment unless he could-allego some extraordinary cause. Fortunately, or unfortunately, as tho result proved, ho had a lively imagination, and had quickly formed a plan which ho was sure would bo successful. With his handkerchief to his eyes, ho addressed tho Court, m greafc. apparent emotion : — . "May it please the Court, I havo just heard of tho dangerous illness of my venerable mother, who is lying at the point of death. Under such circumstances, much as I regret protracting an already lengthened sitting, I must request that this case bo postponed. My feelings aro so powerfully asdtnted that I should bo unable to do justico to the case, feeling, as I do, that my pro Der place is at the bedside of my mother." Tho pathetic appeal was completely successful. The judge, who was a tender hearted man, had risen, and was about to grant tho request of the counsel when tho deep hush was broken by a shrill voice, which proceeded from a lady who was bending over the railing of tho gallery. It was the mother of the eloquent counsel, who, so far from being at tho point of death, came without her son's knowledge to hear him plead. 'James, James!" she exclaimed in a voico which could "be distinctly hoard all over tho court— "James James! how often have I chastised you for lying?" It is heedless to say that tho court room fairly shook with laughter and the eloquent counsel sat down completely nonplussed. The case was not postponed.