he defence, however, dwelt so
impressively on the risk of accepting such evidence that the jury
brought in a verdict of "not proven," and the prisoner was discharged.
Before leaving the dock he turned to the judge, and pointing to the
hat in Court, said, "My lord, may I 'ave my 'at."

* * * * *

Some amusing scenes have occurred in suits brought by tailors and
dressmakers to recover the price of garments for which their customers
have declined to pay on the ground of misfit. Serjeant Ballantine, in
his _Experiences of a Barrister_, relates the case of a tailor in which
the defendant was the famous Sir Edwin Landseer. It was tried in the
Exchequer Court, before Baron Martin. "The coat was produced," says the
serjeant, "and the judge suggested that Sir Edwin should try it on; he
made a wry face, but consented, and took off his own upper garment. He
then put an arm into one of the sleeves of that in dispute, and made an
apparently ineffectual endeavour to reach the other, following it round
amidst roars of laughter from all parts of the Court. It was a common
jury, and I was told that there was a tailor upon it, upon which I
suggested that there was a gentleman of the same profession as the
plaintiff in Court who might assist Sir Edwin. This was acceded to, and
out hopped a little Hebrew slop-seller from the Minories, to whom the
defendant submitted his body. With difficulty he got into the coat, and
then stood as if spitted, his back one mass of wrinkles. The tableau was
truly amusing; the indignant plaintiff looking at the performance with
mingled horror and disgust; Sir Edwin, as if he were choking; whilst the
juryman, with the air of a connoisseur, was examining him and the coat
with profound gravity. At last the judge, when able to stifle his
laughter, addressing the little Hebrew, said, 'Well, Mr. Moses, what do
you say?'--'Oh,' cried he, holding up a pair of hands not over clean,
and very different from those encased in lavender gloves which graced
the plaintiff, 'it ish poshitively shocking, my lord; I should have been
ashamed to turn out such a thing from my establishment.' The rest of the
jury accepted his view, and Sir Edwin, apparently relieved from
suffocation, entered his own coat with a look of relief, which again
convulsed the Court, bowed, and departed."

* * * * *

Financial prosecutions are as a rule very dreary, and any little joke
perpet