Brief Tales From The Bench (17 page)
 | Sober as a Judge Roger Thursby, the hero of Brothers in Law and Friends at Court, continues his career as a High Court judge. He presides over a series of unusual cases, including a professional debtor and an action about a consignment of oranges which turned to juice before delivery. There is a delightful succession of eccentric witnesses as the reader views proceedings from the bench.. |
 | Tell You What I’ll Do Harry Woodstock is a lazy but amiable criminal who would rather live by fraud than by working. He is very comfortable in Albany Prison, Isle of Wight where a clergyman visits him in an attempt to reform his character. When he is out of prison he stays with a friend in Albany, Piccadilly and tries to avoid a violent criminal who is convinced Harry defrauded him out of £60,000. Understandably, Harry feels safer in prison so, when not dodging his enemy, he spends his time thinking up ways to get himself inside again. His amusing story ends with an ingenious solution for them all. |
 | Truth with Her Boots On Judge Julian Whitehall is a man of the highest moral integrity. He is approaching retirement age but still has a little time to serve. Suddenly, to the enormous surprise of everybody, he retires early. It transpires that an old friend has asked him to lie on his behalf. Deciding that loyalty to a friend is more important than loyalty to the public, he helps his friend but immediately resigns. The judge cannot get used to retirement so he spends his time studying cases of possible miscarriages of justice. The drama which then unfolds makes a formidable and fascinating adventure which has twists and turns right to the very last page. |
 | Unlawful Occasions Mrs Vernay and her husband live in a flat above the Chambers of Brian Culsworth Q. in the Temple. One day Mrs Vernay receives a visit from a Mr Sampson and she gets the impression that he is a blackmailer. She immediately seeks advice from Mr Culsworth in his chambers below. Mr Culsworth’s client, a Mr Baker, is bringing an action to recover his share on a win on the pools. The story of these people becomes inextricably linked in a brilliant novel of suspense and humour. |
 | Wanted Man When Norman Partridge moves to Little Bacon, a pretty country village, he proves to be a kind and helpful neighbour and is liked by everyone. Initially it didn’t seem to matter that no one knew anything about his past or how he managed to live so comfortably without having to work. Six months before, John Gladstone, a wealthy bank-robber had escaped from custody. Gradually, however Partridge’s neighbours begin to ask themselves questions. Was it mere coincidence that Norman Partridge had the build and features of the escaped convict? While some villagers are suspicious but reluctant to report their concerns to the police, others decide to take matters into their own hands… |
 | Ways and Means When Basil Merridew and his‘nephew’, Nicholas Drewe, arrive in the prosperous village of Tapworth Magna their neighbours are unprepared for the upheaval that is to follow. The new arrivals’ short period of residence in the village ends when Basil takes out a slander action against twenty-two of his neighbours and pockets £10,000 as a settlement. This is just the first episode in a fascinating plot which has our two heroes using the subtleties of the law to plan ever more convoluted and intricate ways to make their way in the world. In this brilliantly worked legal drama, see how they find‘ways and means’ of supporting their attractive wives and comfortable standard of living without actually having to do a single day’s real work. |
 | A Woman Named Anne Anne, beautiful and intelligent, stands in the dock accused of adultery. Utterly humiliated by hearing the evidence against her, she is determined to put the record straight. But the prosecution does not play the game she had been expecting and she is forced to change her approach. This duel between a brilliant barrister and a very determined and astute young woman has an unexpected twist which keeps you guessing right to the end. |
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