Judged By Own Words
IllustrationStory★★★★A certain Scottish lawyer who was said to be a wicked man, rented a horse and by an accident or ill use, killed him. The owner, of course, demanded payment not only for the time of the horse was used but also for the loss of the horse.
The lawyer said that he was perfectly willing to pay and wished to know whether the owner would accept a promissory note for the amount. He said that he would. Then the lawyer said that he would have to have a distant date for the payment.
This was also agreed upon. “Take as much time as you wish,” said the owner. In his unscrupulousness the wicked man made the note payable at the “Day of Judgment.” The creditor was finally compelled to take him to court.
When the note was presented to the judge, he looked at it and said that it was a perfectly good note. Then he added, “Since this is the Day of Judgment, I decree that the note be paid tomorrow.”
And so it was that this lawyer was judged out of his own mouth. His own words were the basis of his condemnation.
The point
A corrupt lawyer tries to evade payment of a debt by making a note due at the 'Day of Judgment,' but a wise judge catches the deception and orders it paid tomorrow, trapping him in his own words.