NOT AN AUTHORITY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2746, 4 December 1894, Page 3

NOT AN AUTHORITY.

Dan Wilson was once engaged oq a case before a Missouri justice of the peace, when the opening counsel cited <‘Greeuleaf on Evidence” so decidedly against him that a bold push must be made. Wilson asked him for the book, opened it, rose, and with a look of solemn surprise, said he was amazedrthat so good a lawyer should bring such, a book as that into court. /■ “ Why,” said he, “ the author himself never thought of its being used as an authority in any case/' Just hear what he says in the preface «* Doubtless a -happier selection of these principles might be made, and the work might have been much better executed by andther hand; for, now it is finished, I find it but an approximation towards what was originally desired. But, in the hope that it may still be found not useless as the germ of a better treatise, it is submitted to the candour of a liberal profession.’ “ Now,” continued Wilson, “ an author who admits that his work is as bad as this certainly never expected it to be brought into court to govern the opinions of a gentleman who has sat on the bench, as your Honor has, for eighteen months.” The justice was perfectly satisfied. He ruled the “ authority ” out as no account whatever, and gave his judgment for Wilson and his client.—San Francisco Argonaut