§ 7 And Worth the Money, Too!
Reading edition
A noted lawyer down in Texas, who labored under the defects of having a high temper and of being deaf, was trying a case in a courtroom presided over by a younger man, for whom the older practitioner had a poor opinion.
Presently in an argument over a motion there was a clash between the lawyer and the judge. The judge ordered the lawyer to sit down, and as the lawyer, being deaf, didn’t hear him and went on talking, the judge fined him $10.
The lawyer leaned toward the clerk and cupped his hand behind his ear.
“What did he say?” he inquired.
“He fined you $10,” explained the clerk.
“For what?”
“For contempt of this court,” said the clerk.
The lawyer shot a poisonous look toward the bench and reached a hand into his pocket.
“I’ll pay it now,” he said. “It’s a just debt!”