The fact is," turning suddenly to the unfortunate assistant district attorney--"my client has a license." He drew from his pocket a folded paper and handed it to the paralyzed young attorney with the harsh demand: "What do you say to that ?" The assistant took the paper in trembling fingers and perused it as well as he could in his unnerved condition.
"Mr.District Attorney," remarked the presiding justice dryly (which did not lessen the confusion of the young lawyer), "is this a fact?
Has the defendant a license ?" "Yes, your Honors," replied the assistant; "this paper seems to be a license." "Defendant discharged!" remarked the court briefly.
The prisoner stepped from the bar and rapidly disappeared though the door of the court-room.

After enough time had elapsed to give him a good start and while another case was being called, the old lawyer leaned over to the assistant and remarked with a chuckle "I am always glad to give the boys a chance--help 'em along--teach 'em a little.

That license was a beer license!" BEFORE TRIAL To begin at the beginning, whenever a person has been arrested, charged with crime, and has secured a criminal lawyer to defend him, the first move of the latter is naturally to try and nip the case in the bud by inducing the complaining witness to abandon the prosecution.

In a vast number of cases he is successful.

He appeals to the charity of the injured party, quotes a little of the Scriptures and the "Golden Rule," pictures the destitute condition of the defendant's family should he be cast into prison, and the dragging of an honored name in the gutter if he should be convicted.