The great legal luminary then opened the case for the defence: My lord I do not mean to waste the valuable time of the court, already so mercilessly squandered by the plaintiff. My client, acting on my advice, has considerately refused to appear in the witness-box, or to call any witnesses. I shall not soil myself by attempting to set aside any of the evidence the plaintiff has thought fit so tediously to inflict upon the patience of the court. The fact that a man is obliged to call such evidence to his personal character is, I should hope, sufficiently significant to all right-thinking and unprejudiced minds. The law of libel is happily clear and concise, and is known to all. That the position occupied by the defendant’s family could in any way influence the judgment of the court, which, monstrous as it may seem, the plaintiff has not hesitated to imply, is a supposition I need not even repudiate. My lord, I have done. Mr. Justice Manifest: I cannot sufficiently express my admiration for the moderation with which the counsel for the defence has expressed himself, or my regret that such a case should have been brought into court at all. The jury must now consider carefully whether such a letter, written confidentially by one member of a family to another, can in any sense of the word be rightly called a libel, or whether the whole thing is not a base conspiracy to annoy a family of high position, and degrade the law. For my own part my mind is quite made up, and though I have the highest opinion of juries and their decisions, I must warn the jury that in the extremely improbable event of their disagreeing with me, I shall reserve to myself the right of setting aside their decision. The jury, without retiring, consulted for a few moments, when the foreman said, My lord, we are unanimously agreed. Mr. Justice Manifest: I was sure you would be; and your verdict is? The Foreman: We find unhesitatingly for the plaintiff. Mr. Justice Manifest (with withering sarcasm): Oh, do you? Then may I ask at what you fix the damages? The Foreman (after a brief consultation with the other jurors): At £2,000, my lord. Mr. Justice Manifest: I have no hesitation in overruling the decision of the jury, and have much pleasure in deciding that the court finds for the defendant with costs. ―――――――― THE VILLAGE PET. Around their panting captain The village clubmen stand; A presentation “pot” he bears In his large and sinewy hand; For he just has won the mile “cham,” To the music of the band!