Flooring A Lawyer

Bufus Choate, in un important marine ussault and battery at sea case, had Dick Barton, chief mate of the clipper snip "Challenge," on the stand, and badgered him so for about an hour that at last Dick trot his salt-water up and hauled by the wind to bring the keen Boston lawyer under his batteries. At the beginning of the testimony Dick had said that the night was as "dark as the devil and raining like seven bells." "Was there a moon that night?" "Yes, sir." "Ah, yes! A moon?" "Yes a f uil moon." "Did you see it?" "Not a mite." "Then liow did you know there was a moon ?" "Nautical Almanae said so, and l'll believe that Sóoner tlian any lawyer in the world." "What was the principal iuminary that night, sir?" "Binical light on board the "Challenge." "Ah, you are growing sharp, Mr. Barton." "What in blazes have you been grindme tl ds hour for - to make me dull ?" "Be civil, sir. And now teil me what latitude and longitude you crossed the equator." "Shol you're joking." "No, sir! I am in earnest, and I desire you to answer me." "I shan't." "Ah you refuse to answer, do you?" "Yes - I can't," "Indeed ! You are chief mate of a clipper-ship and unable to answer so simple a question ?" "Yes, it's the simplest question I was ever asked in my life. Why, I thought that every fooi of a lawyer knew there ain't no latitude on the equator!" That shot floored Iluf us Choate. The following story is told of Judge Parsons, of Massachusetts : Being about to try a mercantile case, he ordered a jury to be summoned, and among the names was that of Mr. Thomas H. Perkins, a leading merchant of Boston, and a personal friend of Judge Parsons. When the offlcer made his returns he laid down a $50 bilí before the judge. "What i3 that for?" said the judge. "Mr. Perkins says he is very busy to-dav, and prefers to pay his fine." "Take that back to Mr. Perkins," said the judge, "and teil him to come at once ; and if he ref uses, bring him by f orce." When Mr. Perkins appeared, the judge looked sternly at him and said: "What do you mean, sir, by sending money when you are summoned to sit on this jury ?" Mr. Perkins replied, "I meant no disrespect to the Court, your Honor ; but I was extremely busy fitting out a ship for the East Indies, and I thought i f I paid my fine I would be excused." "Fitting out a ship for the East Indies, sir?" shouted the judge; "and how happens it you are able to fit out a ship for the East Indies ?" "Your Honor, I do not understand you." "I repeat, then, my question ; how is it that you are able to fit out a ship for the East Indies ? If you do not know I will teil you. It is because the laws of your country are properly administered. If they were not you would have no ships. Take your seat, sir, with the jury."