Show first wan man of straw the phrase a man of straw hd had HB ts origin in england itt at a time when men might easily be procured to furnish evidence upon oath in almost any emergency it appears that persons of this description were to walk openly in westminster hall with a straw projecting from their shoes t thus hus signifying they sought employment as witnesses hence the th expression expresion ion an advocate who desired a conte witness knew by this sign where to find one and the colloquy between the two was brief dont you remember the advocate would ask the party would glance at the tee fee and nd give no sign but when the tee fee was increased his hl powers of memory increased with it find and straw shoes went into ourt and swore as desired |