, but that it skinned itself and then buried its body, or what,
was left of it after giving a portion to the prisoner to eat, in the
prisoner's garden, and covered itself up in its own grave. You must go
as far as that to make a complete defence of it. I don't say the jury
may not believe you; we shall see. Gentlemen, what do you say--is the
sheep or the prisoner guilty?" The sheep was instantly acquitted.

There was another display of forensic ingenuity by the same counsel in
the next case, where he was once again the "friend" of the prisoner.

A man was charged with stealing a number of gold and silver
coins which had been buried a few hours previously under the
foundation-stone of a new public edifice.

The prisoner was one of the workmen, and had seen them deposited for
the historical curiosity of future ages. Antiquity, of course, would
be the essence of the value of the coins, except to the thief. The
royal hand had covered them with the stone, duly tapped by the silver
trowel amidst the hurrahs of the loyal populace, in which the prisoner
heartily joined. But in the night he stole forth, and then stole the
coins.

They were found at his cottage secreted in a very private locality,
as though his conscience smote him or his fear sought to prevent
discovery. His legal friend, however, driven from the mere outwork of
facts, had taken refuge in the citadel of law; he was equal to the
occasion. Alas! Alderson knew the way into this impregnable retreat.

Counsel suggested that it was never intended by those who placed the
coins where they were found that they should remain there till the end
of time; they were intended, said he, to be taken away by somebody,
but by whom was not indicated by the depositors, and as no time or
person was mentioned, they must belong to the first finder. It was all
a mere chance as to the time of their resurrection. Further, it was
certain they were not intended to be taken by their owners who had
placed them there--they never expected to see them again--but by any
one who happened to come upon them. Those who deposited them where
they were found parted not only with the possession, but with all
claims of ownership. Nor could any one representing him make any
claim.

All this was excellent reasoning as far as it went, and the only thing
the prosecution alleged by way of answer was that they were intended
to be brought to light as antiquities.

"Very well," said the prisoner's counsel