TALES OF A FAMOUS COUNSEL.
There are a good many intorustinj; stories told of llie famous Daniei O'C on--110)1. Once lie wis dciending a prisoner indicated for murder. The principal witness against tlie defendant swore that the prisoner's hut had been found near the place of the murder. The hat was then produced in couri, and the witness swore positively that it was t/ie 'same one tiiat was iouml, and that it belonged to the prisoner, i -'liv vinure of your Oath, are you ! positive that this is the same hat ?" | "Yes.-'' | ''Did. yoli examine it carefully before 'you swore that it was the prisoners';" I ''Yes." "Now, let me see,'' said O'C'onnell, as lie took up the hat and began carefully to examine the inside of it. lie paused 'with a curious expression on his laflo, |and then spelled aloud, '•J-n-m-o-s. . I Now, do you mean to say that Uiat name was in (lie hat when you found it f he asked, turning to the witness. , do." '■Did vou see it there "I did." "And this i- the same hat ?" "Yes." "Now., my lord," said the lawyer, turning to the .ludge, "there's ail end to this case. There is no name whatever within this hat."
The prisoner was instantly acquit Led.
An amusing incident i- told of a victory by a witness whom he was cross-examining. The witness was for the Crown, and the case was a riot committed by a crowd of beggars. o'Connell was at that time well known, and it was after he had received his so'briqnet of "the big beggar man." The witness finished, ami O'Connell began the cros-examination. "Now, tell the Court just how many beggars there were," he said.
' ''lndeed, I did not stop to count them, but there was a great tribe of them., your Honour." "A whole tribe of them, eh ? Will you tell us to what tribe they belonged ?"
"Imh'c.l. vour llinour, that is move than T can do, for I never heard, but 1 think it must have been to the tribe of
"You may go down, sir !" said O'Connell, in a rage, amid the laughter of t'.ie Court.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 8 May 1907, Page 4
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360TALES OF A FAMOUS COUNSEL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 8 May 1907, Page 4
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