JUROR AND HIS SICK HEN.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12498, 26 March 1909, Page 4

JUROR AND HIS SICK HEN.

Much amusement was caused in the King's Bench Division (London) the other day, when Mr Justice Darling, finding that the case before him was not likely to conclude immediately, decided to release jurors in waiting for the next case until two o'clock. His Lordship : Are there any waiting jurymen who have important du--ties to attend to-day ? There was an immediate response. A juror rose. "Sir," he said, "I am an -artist, and have illness ih the house, and many things to do." His Lordship (sympathetically): It is a relative? The Juror: No, sir, it id an animal. (Laughter.) It is a bird. (Renewed laughter.) Do you have to nurse to it ? (Laughter). I am the only one in the house capable of attending to it. (Laughter) What sort of bird is it— a cage bird? — No, it is of the poultry kind. Do, you keep it simply as poultry or as a model? (Laughter)— It is not a.' model ; I am a landscape~and portrait artist. . You keep it to put in your landscapes? (Laughter.)^rl cannot say that I do. " ' . • ••' What is it worth? Is it an ordinary hen? — I keep poultry for my family. Th% artist paused.) It is a prize hen. (Much laughter.) - His Lordship : That is not good onough. The associate then called twelve names, and the jurors came, to the front of the court — among them was the artist. ■*