A JUDGE'S GRIM JOKE.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1609, 5 October 1885, Page 2

A JUDGE'S GRIM JOKE.

A friend repe&ted rather a good story to me, which ;t ?eenas was wont to be a stand-by of Justice Porter, the wsll-kuown legal boa vlvtnt of Dub'ie. It was concerning a rare old Irish judge on the North-west Circuit, who loved the hnntingsfield mere than he did the stapid sleepy courtroom. His cievk was like-minded, and a joyous pair they made. One fine morning the clerk whispered to ths Judge : " Yer Honor, old Billy Duane's meet's to-day at BailykillmuHigan an' they've a fine dog-fox." " How niany's in the docket T asked the Judge excitedly. " Twenty, for rioVlng and breach; of j peace, yer Honor." "Tim," said tho Judgs, M do yon chink you can get the first felloe to plead guilty without a jury t*-i»l f ar:d rnc'tc let him off with ft jail?" " " The Gkries'i thing in l he Torid, 1 " answered Lhe faithful clsrk. " Hake hasle, then, acd bring the whole gang j and I say, l^ll Jerry to saddle the mare nseaarlulo." The twenty '/eaiacs were brought into cocrt — a dftfieut p*»:g, nineteen of them prspr.red to 3gut with ccnnsel and jury to the bitter end. The twentieth hai been interviewed by t!ie clevk. He was* called of by the olerk. i " Giiiitj or not guilty of the crimes charged T demanded the Jo.dgo with a propitious 3mile. " Guilty, yer honor • God help me," fiaicUhe craf y prisoner. " Well," said the glancing I heuoTolently about the rootn. "I I fancy I can let you off with a week." T.'ie man thanked the Judge ar t d stepnec down to the bailiff. There m& t terrible sensation anong the other prisonera Why, none of them expected to get off wiiii lesfe than fT2 years in -irabo. . Hsre ras r. chance to profit by '■ his Honor's" peasant mooo. Oreaud aU manifested an earnast desire to fol'ow the dxample of their comrade and acknowledge the crimes in a batck "Do yoa *»-!! p!ead g'.ilty V o^aiand,ed the Jad^e eagerly. '' V/e do"" shouted the enthusiastic nineteen in chorus. " Fourteen years' transporation apiece,' excleimed the Judge, T *:th a click of his jaw — " Jerry, is the mare saddled yet "? — Eastern papei . I