Hard On The Counsel

Tho following experienceof a Mississippi lawyer was related by hiniself to the writer many years ago. He suid: "I was defending a prisoner for horse-stealing, and seeing no other means of defending him, under the circumstances, I set up the plea of insanity. I argued it at length, read many extracta from wortca on medical jurisprudence, and had the patiënt attention of the court. The prosecuting attorney did not attempt to reply to my argument or controvert my authorities; I seemed to have things niy own way, and whispered to the prisoner that he needn't be uneasy. Then carne the Judoe's charge, in which he reminded the jury that there was no dispute betweer. counsel as to the facts of the case. Indeed, there could not have been, for several witnesses had sworti positively that they saw my cliënt steal the norse. 'But,' concluded the court, 'the plea of insanity has been set up, and I charge you, gentleman of the jury, that it should receivi' your very grave and serious deliberation; but I must be allowed to saj, centiemen, that for myse'f, upon a review of the whole case, I can discover no evidence of insanity on the part of the prisoner, except perhaps, in the selection of his counsel.' " - Editor's Drawer, in Harper's Magazine foi September.