A TURBULENT Person was brought before a Judge to be tried for an
assault with intent to commit murder, and it was proved that he had
been variously obstreperous1 without apparent provocation2, had
affected3 the peripheries4 of several luckless fellow-citizens with
the trunk of a small tree, and subsequently cleaned out the town.
While trying to palliate these misdeeds, the defendant's Attorney
turned suddenly to the Judge, saying:
"Did your Honour ever lose your temper?"
"I fine you twenty-five dollars for contempt of court!" roared the
Judge, in wrath5. "How dare you mention the loss of my temper in
connection with this case?"
After a moment's silence the Attorney said, meekly:
"I thought my client might perhaps have found it."
