And Mr. Justice Wills once made a rather cutting remark to a barrister. The barrister was, in the judge's private opinion, simply wasting the time of the Court, and, in the course of a long-winded speech, he dwelt at quite unnecessary length on the appearance of certain bags connected with the case. "They might," he went on pompously, "they might have been full bags, or they might have been half-filled bags, or they might even have been empty bags, or--."--"Or perhaps," dryly interpolated the judge, "they might have been wind-bags!"
[Illustration: HENRY BROUGHAM, BARON BROUGHAM AND VAUX, LORD CHANCELLOR.]
When Lord Brougham attained the position of Lord Chancellor he was greatly addicted to the habit of writing during the course of counsel's argument of the case being heard before him. On one occasion this practice so annoyed Sir Edward Sugden, whenever he noticed it, that he paused in the course of his argument, expecting his lordship to stop writing; but the Chancellor, without even looking up, remarked, "Go on, Sir Edward; I am listening to you."--"I observe that your lordship is engaged in writing, and not favouring me with your attention," replied Sir Edward. "I am signing papers of mere form," warmly retorted the Chancellor. "You may as well say that I am not to blow my nose or take snuff while you speak."
When counsel at the Bar, a witness named John Labron was thus cross-examined by Brougham at York Assizes:
"Upon your oath, sir, are you not generally known by the name of Dick Strother?"
"That has nothing to do with this business."
"I insist upon hearing an answer. Have you not obtained that name?"
"Now, Dick, as you admit you are so called, do you know the story of the hare and the ball of wax?"
"Then pray have the goodness to relate it to the judge and the jury."
"Then I will refresh your memory by relating it myself. Dick Strother was a cobbler, and being in want of a hare for a friend, he put in his pocket a ball of wax and took a walk into the fields, where he soon espied one. Dick then very dexterously threw the ball of wax at her head, where it stuck, which so alarmed poor puss that in the violence of her haste she ran in contact with the head of another; both stuck fast together, and Dick, lucky Dick! caught both. Dick obtained great celebrity by telling this wondrous feat, which he always affirmed as a truth, and from that every notorious liar in Thorner bears the title of Dick Strother. Now, Dick--I mean John--is not that the reason why you are called Dick Strother?"