penalty was, through some egregious mistake, rein serted, so that, as the act stood as amended, one half the penalty was to be given to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the parish; that is, seven years' transportation each.
Rufus Choate, brilliant in so many ways, was fond of humorous exaggeration. Going late one evening to hear a famous singer, he was obliged to take a seat near the door of the large concerthall, and as far as possible from the performer, where he was soon joined by a friend. Toward the end of the concert the great singer came on, and behaved in so singular a manner that the friend remarked, " I think the man is drunk." " I smelt his breath the moment he came on the stage," said Mr. Choate. She was a large, resolute-looking woman, and she sat in the attorney's consultation-room and stated the case to him without any emotion. "The thing for you to do, madam," said the lawyer, " is to sue the woman for alienating the affections of your husband." "Can't I have her put in the penitentiary?" she demanded. "Urn — no. You can sue her for damages, though, and make the figures as large as you please." "Damages! What for?" '• For robbing you of your husband, madam. It amounts to that in reality." "And do you advise me to sue her for money?" "I do." "Then I 'll do it! " she exclaimed vindictively. "I 'U make her pay his full value. Sue her as quick as you please!" "What damages will you claim?" "I am an abused and insulted woman," she replied with dignity, " but I am a conscientious one. Make the damages about $1.50."
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particulars, madam," interposed the judge, stiffly. "Gentlemen, have you any further use for this witness? You may step down, madam." Judge Q , who once presided over a crimi nal court Down East, was famous as one of the most compassionate men who ever sat upon the bench. His softness of heart, however, did not prevent him from doing his duty as a judge. A man who had been convicted of stealing a small amount was brought into court for sentence. He looked very sad and hopeless, and the court was much moved by his contrite appearance. "Have you ever been sentenced to imprison ment?" the judge asked. "Never, never 1 " exclaimed the prisoner, burst ing into tears. "Don't cry," said the judge, consolingly; " you're going to be now." In a trial before Mr. Justice Maule, the evidence against the accused was overwhelming; and Maule proceeded, in no uncertain language, to sum up for a conviction. On the conclusion of the learned judge's re marks, the prisoner's counsel jumped up and said, — "I crave your lordship's pardon, but you have not referred to the prisoner's good character, as proved by a number of witnesses." "You are right, sir," said his lordship; and then, addressing the jury, he continued : " Gentlemen, I am requested to draw your attention to the pris oner's character, which has been testified to by gentlemen I doubt not of the greatest respecta bility and veracity. If you believe them and also the witnesses for the prosecution, it appears to me they have established what to many persons may appear incredible; namely, that even a man of piety and virtue, occupying the position of Bible-reader and Sunday-school teacher, may be guilty of com mitting a heinous and grossly immoral crime."
NOTES. "Madam," said the judge, sternly, " you must answer the question. What is your age?" .' I was born the same year your honor was. That would make me about —" "It is n't necessary that you should go into
The jolly jokers, who are always ringing the changes in matters humorous, direct attention to the fact that the Supreme Court now has two colors, — a Gray and a Brown. Some years since the Chief-justice was Taney. It has had one
