a of murder and manslaughter confound
you. Murder is one thing; manslaughter is quite another. Consequently,
if there has been a murder, and it is not manslaughter, then it must be
murder. Don't let this point escape you."

"Self-murder has nothing to do with this case. According to Blackstone
and other legal writers, one man cannot commit _felo-de-se_ upon
another; and this is my opinion. Gentlemen, murder is murder. The murder
of a brother is called fratricide; the murder of a father is called
parricide, but that don't enter into this case. As I have said before,
murder is emphatically murder."

"You will consider your verdict, gentlemen, and make up your minds
according to the law and the evidence, not forgetting the explanation I
have given you."

* * * * *

There is a delightful frankness about the address submitted to the
electors by a candidate who solicited their support for the position of
sheriff in one of the provinces of the United States, but its honesty
cannot be questioned:

"Gentlemen, I offer myself a candidate for sheriff; I have been a
revolutionary officer; fought many bloody battles, suffered hunger,
toil, heat; got honourable scars, but little pay. I will tell you
plainly how I shall discharge my duty should I be so happy as to obtain
a majority of your suffrages. If writs are put into my hands against any
of you, I will take you if I can, and, unless you can get bail, I will
deliver you over to the keeper of the gaol. Secondly, if judgments are
found against you, and executions directed to me, I will sell your
property as the law directs, without favour or affection; if there be
any surplus money, I will punctually remit it. Thirdly, if any of you
should commit a crime (which God forbid!) that requires capital
punishment, according to law, I will hang you up by the neck till you
are dead."

* * * * *

[Illustration: RUFUS CHOATE, LEADER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAR.]

Rufus Choate was designated _the_ leader of the Massachusetts Bar--a
distinctive title which long outlived him and marked the sense of esteem
in which he was held by his brother lawyers, as well as indicating his
outstanding ability and success.

In 1841 a divorce case was tried in America, and a young woman named
Abigail Bell was the chief witness of the adultery of the wife. Sumner,
for the defence, cross-examined Abigail. "Are you married?"--"No."--"Any
children