GOOD ADVICE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1219, 19 August 1884, Page 3

GOOD ADVICE.

Mr M——and Judge 0 were intimate friends, and each were fond of a joke ,at the expense of the other. Among the cases to bo tried at the Court over which Judge C ——presided was one for theft. On being called, the prisoner, aware that the proof was too positive to admit of any doubt of conviction, and intending to plead guilty and throw himself upon the mercy of the Court, appeared without ♦'counsel. In such cases it waa customary for the judge to appoint counsel, ' always selecting from the younger members of the Bar. Here was an op-

portunity too good to be lost for jokes standing to hia debit on bis account with Mr M— . So the judge appointed him to defend the prisoner. Mr M——■—thanked him for the compliment and accepted the appointment, ■remarking that as the case was new to him he should like to have a few minutes' private conversation with his client. “ Certainly,” replied the Judge, immediately directing a sheriff to conduct •Mr M - and the prisoner to a private room. On leaving, the Judge, with a peculiar .smile which Mr M well understbocl, expressed the hope that he would give bis friend, some good advice. Locking the door of the room to which the sheriff had conducted them. Mr Jd— —i asked the prisoner if he was guilty. “Guilty, guilty,” was the frank reply. “bo you see the woods yonder? “ Yes.” Well, beyond them is a small brook, the dividing line between the'two counties ; once over that brook you are out of the jurisdiction of

. this court ; and if. you are as guilty as you say you are, I advise you to loose no turn in passing that line.” No gooner gaid than done ; out of the opened window he jumped, and ran for. dear life. - The Court, getting impatient, sent the J ' Sheriff for them. Returning without the prisoner, the Judge asked Mr M_—_. where he was. ' “ May it please your Honor,” he replied, “as we were leaving ’ this room for a private consultation you kindly expressed the hope that I would give my cheat some good advice, and learning from him that he , ' wais guilty, and acting in accordance with your suggestion, I advised him to cut and run ; and the la»t I saw of him he was hurrying towards the adjoining country as though the very eyil due WM him.” The Judge concluded that h* bad not made much progress towards squaring accounts,