At Large - One Temper


  A TURBULENT Person was brought before a Judge to be tried for an 
assault with intent to commit murder, and it was proved that he had 
been variously obstreperous without apparent provocation, had 
affected the peripheries of several luckless fellow-citizens with 
the trunk of a small tree, and subsequently cleaned out the town.  
While trying to palliate these misdeeds, the defendant's Attorney 
turned suddenly to the Judge, saying:

  "Did your Honour ever lose your temper?"

  "I fine you twenty-five dollars for contempt of court!" roared the 
Judge, in wrath.  "How dare you mention the loss of my temper in 
connection with this case?"

  After a moment's silence the Attorney said, meekly:

  "I thought my client might perhaps have found it."