[Ads-l] (One for QI, perhaps) "Is your client aware of [legal maxim]" "In [location] they speak of little else"

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

This anecdote came up today in an internet forum I frequent.

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Judge: “Mr Marshall Hall, is your client familiar with the doctrine
res ipsa loquitur?

Marshall: “My Lord, in the remote hills of County Donegal from
where my client hails they speak of little else.”
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Anyone know the origin of this?

Researching, I've seen it attributed to Marshall Hall, F.E. Smith and
Gilbert Grey,  with a variety of legal maxims, and locations including
Barnsley, Scotland, Ireland and East Texas.

Earliest cite I can find is 1968
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Denver_Law_Journal/-2ZNAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=judge+%22they+speak+of+little+else%22&dq=judge+%22they+speak+of+little+else%22&printsec=frontcover

And here's one from 1975.
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Organized_Bar/QncHGP0O-7gC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22speak+of+little+else%22&pg=PA50&printsec=frontcover

And 1982
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Mountain/Jm8jAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22legal+maxim%22+%22speak+of+little+else%22&dq=%22legal+maxim%22+%22speak+of+little+else%22&printsec=frontcover

Some discussion of it on Law Stack Exchange.
https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/21562/what-is-the-origin-of-this-legal-quote-in-barnsley-mlud-they-speak-of-l


Can ADS and QI locate earlier cites ?






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