[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]

A chap named Gareth Rees on another forum has  found several  cites,
including  one from April 1949. I think that's the earliest so far.

He also  provided evidence that the story probably didn't come from
Doyle's Ballygullion stories.

https://literature.stackexchange.com/questions/26803/does-this-ballygullion-anecdote-published-as-true-in-a-law-journal-originall/26805#26805


------ Original Message ------
From "mr_peter_morris at outlook.com" <mr_peter_morris at OUTLOOK.COM>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 24/04/2024 12:46:04
Subject (One for QI, perhaps) "Is your client aware of [legal maxim]" 
"In [location] they speak of little else"

>This anecdote came up today in an internet forum I frequent.
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>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.”
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>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 ?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org