THE RETORT COURTEOUS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1929, Page 5

THE RETORT COURTEOUS

THE JUDGE OUTWITS THE BISHOP

A Chester Cup story which appears in In and Out of- Court shows how a sporting judge of the Supreme Court adroitly turned aside an awkward question and caused it to rebound upon the questioner. Twenty years ago Sir Harry Brampton, then a judge, was due to dine with a local magnate somewhere near Chester. It was the commission day of the assizes, and a large party had been invited to meet him, including the bishop of the dioceses. Now it happened that Sir Harry arrived at ’•he house nearly an hour late, and it also happened that one of the party had earlier in the day seen the judge leave the London train at Chester. Therefore it was generally agreed that the Chester Cup, which was being run that day, was not altogether unconnected with the lateness of the arrival of the distinguished guest. “Do you know what won the Cup,” the host asked the judge, by way of imparting a pleasant tone to the hungerstricken assembly.* Sir Harry looked surprised. “The Chester Cup! Ah, yes! I saw a number of people in a field near the railway, and I heard the newspaper boys call out ‘Winner of the Cup,’ so I concluded this was the Cup day.” “And you did not buy a paper?” said the bishop. “No; I thought it unnecessary,” replied Sir Harry, without blinking an eye-lid; “I had been told that.l should have the honour of meeting Your Lordship this evening.” \ ’