Cases - Commonwealth V. Marzynski

(21 New England Reports, 228 [Massachusetts, 1893])

    [On a complaint for keeping open a tobacconist's shop on Sunday, contrary to the law of Massachusetts, it was held that the court will take judicial notice that tobacco and cigars are not drugs and medicines, and will exclude the testimony of a witness who offers evidence that they are.]

    Against the statutes of the Old Bay State
        Marzynski on a Sunday stood behind
        His counter, well content his gain to find
        In pipes not pills, cigars not carbonate.
    From breakfast till 'twas dusk at half-past eight
        Tobacco cheered this hardened sinner's mind,
        The price of it his pockets, disinclined
        To add their dime to the collection plate.
    The State Attorney claimed the penalty;
        "Cigars are no cigars," said the defence,
        "But drugs, and we have witnesses to prove it."
    "Cigars to be cigars judicially
        We notice, and reject the evidence."
        So said the Court, and spat, and nought could move it.

James Williams

No biography available

James Williams

Com[oe]dia Juris

James Williams, Simple Poetry

The Spinning-House of the Future

James Williams, Simple Poetry

A Greek Libel

James Williams, Simple Poetry

How We Found Our Verdict

James Williams, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Cases - Ex Parte Jones

(18 Chancery Division, 109)

    Oh for the wily infant who married the widow and made
    Profit of coke and of breeze, and never a penny he paid!
    Oh for the Corporation of Birmingham cheated and snared,
    Taking orders for coke that the widow and infant prepared!
    Oh for the Court of Appeal, and oh for Lords Justices three!
    Oh for the Act that infants from contracts may shake themselves free!
    Oh for the common law with its store of things old and new!
    Birmingham coke is good and good Coke upon Littleton too.

James Williams

Cases - Hampden V. Walsh

(1 Queen's Bench Division, 189)

    "Five hundred pounds as stake I'll lay,"
    Says Hampden, "that by such a day
    No man of science proves to me
    That earth not flat but round must be;
    The earth is flat, and flats are they."
    The sum Walsh holds right willingly;
    But Wallace by philosophy
    Proves roundness, and would take away
                    Five hundred pounds.

    "Proof me no proofs," quoth Hampden, "Nay,
    Let Wallace get it if he may,
    I'll sue Walsh for it." So sues he.
    "Let Wallace," hold the judges three,
    "Take nought, let Walsh to Hampden pay
                    Five hundred pounds."

James Williams

Cases - Dashwood V. Jermyn

(12 Chancery Division, 776)

    Captain Dashwood, who had been
    In the service of the Queen,
    Sick of "Eyes front" and "Attention,"
    Came to London on his pension.
    At the "Portland" as he stayed,
    Firm the friendship that he made
    With one William Richards, who
    Put up at the "Portland" too.
    Passed six years, then he was wrapped in
    Love's embraces, vanquished captain!
    "Yes," he cried, "I will; no bar shall
    Stop my wedding Edith Marshall."
    But there was a bar, 'twas that
    He was poorer than a rat;
    Indian pensions do not run
    More than just enough for one.
    Edith, too, had not a cent,
    Who would pay the rates and rent?
    Two more years, and Richards moved
    (He perchance had ...

James Williams

Cases - Pollard V. Photographic Company

(40 Chancery Division, 345)

    "Shall I take your photograph, my pretty maid?"
    "You may if you like, kind sir," she said.

    "Do you like your photograph, my pretty maid?"
    "It is more than flattering, sir," she said.

    "I'll publish your photograph, my pretty maid."
    "Indeed but you won't, kind sir," she said.

    "As a Christmas card, my pretty maid."
    "The very idea, kind sir!" she said.

    "But what if I've done it, my pretty maid?"
    "I'll get an injunction, sir," she said.

    "The law is with you, my pretty maid,"
    The learned judge of the Chancery said.

    "You have proved the negative, my pretty maid,
    A difficult thing in law," he said.

James Williams

Cases - Mylward V. Weldon

    [The plaintiff was committed to the Fleet Prison on Feb. 8, 1596, by order of the Lord Keeper, for drawing a replication of sixscore sheets containing much impertinent matter which might well have been contained in sixteen. On Feb. 10 the Lord Keeper ordered that on the following Saturday the Warden of the Fleet should cut a hole through the replication, and put the plaintiff's head through the hole and let it hang about his shoulders with the written side outwards, and lead the plaintiff bareheaded and barefaced round about Westminster Hall, and show him at the bar of all the courts, and so back to the Fleet.--Abridged from Spence's Equitable Jurisdiction, vol. i. p. 376.]

    'Gainst Weldon Mylward files a bill,
    But doth his replication fill
    With scandalous and idle matter,
    That would dis...

James Williams

The Minneapolis Case

(Tried in Minnesota in 1892)

    Kind reader, tarry here, nor miss
    The law of Minneapolis.
    There was a carpenter called Brown,
    A citizen of that great town,
    Who stood his "inexpressive she"
    A dollar's worth of comedy.
    Was it a Gaiety burlesque,
    Or labour of Norwegian desk?
    Or did they spout in stagey tones
    Morality by H. A. Jones?
    Or tear romance to rags and set it
    In heavy platitudes by Pettit?
    I know not, and it matters not,
    The subject I have clean forgot.
    Sufficient that the pair did sit
    In expectation in the pit,
    An expectation not fulfilled,
    'Twas otherwise by fortune willed.
    Before this loving couple sat
    In solitary state a hat--
    A hat, I say, ...

James Williams