LEGAL STORIES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 107, 12 November 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEGAL STORIES.

An excellent story is told of Lord Chief-Justice Coleridge. For the benefit of non-sportmg readers, it should be explained that a dog when exhibited is said to be "on the bench" or "benched." At the trial of an action for damages for running oyer a sheepdog, a u inner of many prizes, counsel for the defendant was nnxious to prote that the dog had had its day, and thai damages should be nominal. Unfortunately, Lord Coleridge, win was trying the case, had dropped on to sleep, and the evidence was being wasted. Counsel's one chance was to cause such a laugh in court as would wako the judge; so, gradually raising his voice, he asked one of the plaintiff's witnesses: "Is it not your experience as an exhibitor that when an old dog has taken his place regularly on the bench for many years, he gets sleepy and past his work?"

Amid the roars of laughte" wh'ch ensued Lord Coleridge woke up with i sta-t, and judgment was eventually given for the defendant. On one occasion Mr. Justice Hawkin»f, who always wore his hair closocropped was on circuit in the South of England, and went for a country walk with a brother judge. Being thirsty, the two judges entered a wayside inn in the rear of which were two labourers playing skttles. They decided to join in the game, and each takng one of the players as a partner, entered into the game with spirit. Getting hot, Mr. Justice Hawkins took off Its coat; getting hotter, liu removed his hat. His lordship's partner at once stopped playing, "Go on, my friend," sa : d Hawkns; "why do voj stop?" "I don't mind bein' neighbourly," replied the man. looking it Hawkins's close-cropped head, "but I'm hajjgod if I be a-goin' t-» play settles with a ticket-of-leave man!" Sir Frank Lock wood was once reexamining a client in regard to varous companies, a good many of which had been Wound up. The Automatic Musical Instruments Company came up for notice—a company for utilizing a kind of street-organ piano. "That," said Sir Frank, genially, "had to be wound up, .umvay."