Leaves from my library

This post comes with the TWO anecdotes of the BAR. Men of law is always blessed with Immense Humour.

CHIEF BARON WOULFE was once asked why a particular person, never noted for gallantry, had now provided himself with two mistresses. "I suppose," said he, "that he may be able at all times to excuse his absence from both by pretending to each of them that he is with the other."

Note: Stephen Woulfe (1787 – 2 Jul 1840) was an Irish barrister and Liberal politician. He served as Solicitor-General for Ireland, 1836 and as Attorney-General for Ireland in 1838; he became first Catholic to be Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

Second one is much more funny. This shows that how much inseverable is wit and law.Unimaginable sense of humour from the Bench:

IN a case tried before Baron Dowse a refractory witness refused to answer a question put by counsel, and said : "If you ask me that question again, I'll give you my shoe on your poll."

"Does your lordship hear that language?" said the counsel, appealing to the judge.

"The answer to my question is essential to my client's case. What does your lordship advise me to do?”

"If you are resolved to repeat the question," said Baron Dowse," I'd advise you to move a little farther from the witness."

Note: Richard Dowse PC (1824 – 14 March 1890) was an Irish politician and barrister. He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Londonderry at the 1868 general election. He was appointed a Baron of the Court of the Exchequer. He was Attorney-General and Solicitor-General for Ireland in the 1870's. He was considered one of the finest and wittiest Parliamentary speakers of the age; by comparison his judgement are generally considered dull. On the death of this great Lawman, obituary notice in The Times of 15 March 1890, read as:

“Mr. Baron Dowse was a self-made man, who, without social advantages; forced his way by his own merit to the eminent position which he occupied . . . He gave at all times free and vivid utterance to his thoughts, without waiting to examine critically the terms in which he should mould them. These were often quaint and graphic, with a dash of wit and humour, which, if a little wanting in dignity,.. gave emphasis and force to an argument or comment”.