A CASE FOR COUNSEL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 119, 20 May 1879, Page 4

A CASE FOR COUNSEL.

A well-known barrister, who makes a point of keeping the conceit of bis pupils down by language more forcible than elegant, recent'y came (says the " Examiner,") into his pupil room with a " case ior opinion " which had given him macb trouble, aad occupied much of bis valuable time. He proceeded to jread it out in order that such of the young gentlemen who were not too lazy might look up precedents in poiiif. The case, be pai J, came from a solicitor whose name was nuknown to him, but it was endorsed witb a respectably fat fee, and djspatch wos requested. It ran as folldwa ; — "A seaman in the merchant service, wbo had long suffered from a severe complaint, flading himself in a sjtate of great weakness at a time. when bis ship was many hundred miles from land, requested the captain to provide him wiih pen, ink, and paper, in order that he might make a will, .disposing of his savings, which amounted to about £300. The coptaiD who is alleged to have been a brutal fellow, and under the icfluence of . drink, ref used this request, and ordered the poor man (o hia berth. There he was surrounded by bia shipmates, who took counsel together as to the best .nj^ns of gratifying the desire cf their fast-sin^iog. comrade. In the end they .turned the aick man gently on bis face, as bo lay in his bei tb, and one tattooed ihe dying man's intentions on bis back, in the manner common to seafaring men, by a few words rubbed in with gunpowder. This will wos attested in the same fashion, and soon after the testator died. By sacrificing their ellowance of spirits the men managed to preserve the remains of their messmate in , an, improvised coffin, and they bave now been landed in England. Counsel is requested to advise as to tbe proper method of obtaining probate of the above-mentioned instrument, and his attention is particularly directed to the fact, which must be admitted, tbat the will was made behind the man's back. The pupils gravely promised to search the authorities on tbe subjeot ; but bardly had tbe learned counsel left the room wben the peals of laughter which arose informed him tbat he had been hoaxed."