Subjects:

Biographies and Legal Humour, General Interest, Wildy, Simmonds and Hill

Contents:

Foreward by Lord Birkett, P.C.

Stick to a Stuff-Gown by Herbert Picarda 1982

Table of Statutes

Table of Cases Cited

1. The Common Law Leader and The Promising Equity Junior

2. The Inexperienced Advocat and The Holder in Due Course

3. The Youthfull Barrister and The Exceedingly Painful Case

4. The Circuiteer and The Nice Old Buffer

5. The Tactful Magistrate and The Much-Respected Colleague

6. The Double-First and The Old Hand

7. The Two Aged Conveyancers and The Good Story

8. The Zelous Clerk who Overdid it

9. The Judge who Closed his Eyes

10. The Elderly Junior and The Lady Pupil

11. The Enthusiastic Beginner who Thought Better of it

12. The Witty Judge and The Bronchial Usher

13. Irene, her Young Man and The Necklace

14. The Defeated Litigant and The Rash Attendant

15. The Society Suit and The Unexpected Settlement

16. The Traveller who Suffered from Shock and The Railway Company's Physician

17. Adolphus Brown, Mr Justice Gump and The Interesting Case

18. Mr Blowhard, K.C. and Mr Footle, K.C.

19. The Blushing Beginner and The Bearded Juryman

20. The Utter Barrister and The Important Treatise

21. The Common Law Junior and The Originating Summons

22. The Sarcastic Counsel and Mr MacIntosh, the Moneylender

23. The Ambitious Youth who wanted Eligible Chambers

24. The White-Haired Trustee and The Highly-Placed Official 25. The Real Property Lawyer and The Surley Gamekeeper

26. The Industrious Youth and The Stout Stranger

27. Mr Whitewig and The Rash Question

28. The K.C,M.P. and The Bill for the Supression of Night Clubs

29. Mr Justice Cattemall and Mr Justice Dearlove

30. The Sound Lawyer who Made a Good Resolution

Forensic Fables appeared first in the Law Journal and then in book form between 1926 and 1932. They were published anonymously, but their authorship was quickly guessed. The literary style and the pictorial delineation were alike unmistakable. They were the work of Theo Mathew composed in his study on the ground floor at the back of 31 Cornwall Gardens. They show his wit in all its maturity

Theo Mathew was born in 1866, the elder son of Lord Justice Mathew. Educated at the Oratory School and Trinity College, Oxford he was called to the bar in 189O and practiced in the South-Eastern Circuit and in London. He established a substantial common law practice and was frequently briefed in commercial cases. In later years he specialised increasingly in libel. He was the author of The Practice of the Commercial Court and for some years was Editor of Commercial Cases. Recorder of Margate from 1913 to 1927 and of Maidstone from 1927 to 1936, Theo Mathew was a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn and was due to become Treasurer when he died in the summer of 1939.

Throughout his life, in addition to his legal work, he found time to write articles literary and historical, mainly with a legal flavour. He was widely recognised as the wittiest member of the Bar, his style lighter than his father's and with a perfect spontaneity He had a delightful sense of the ridiculous and had a merciless eye for the pretentious. Nor was his wit limited to legal subjects; he admitted once, very reluctantly, that he was responsible for the famous ‘Dr. Livingstone, I presume?’ story.

Theo Mathew had a deep respect for the traditions of his profession and great affection for so many of those who practised it. This book is evidence of both.