Show sir walter scotta first brief sir walter scott had his share of the usual curious experiences shortly after being called to the bar his first appearance as counsel in a criminal court was at jedburgh Jed burgh assizes in 1793 when he successfully defended a veteran poacher youre a lacky scoundrel scott whispered to his client when the verdict was given im just 0 your mind returned the latter and ill send you a baukin i e a hare the mom man lockhart who narrates the incident omits to add whether the baukin duly reached scott but no doubt it did on another occasion scott was less successful in his defense of a housebreaker but the culprit grateful for his counsels exertions gave him in lien of the orthodox fee which he was unable to pay this piece of advice to the value of which he the housebreaker could professionally attest first never to have a large watchdog out of doors but to keep a little yelping terrier within and secondly to put no trust in nice clever gimcrack locks but to pin his faith to a huge old heavy one with a rusty key scott long remembered this incident and 30 years later at a judges dinner at jedburgh Jed burgh he recalled it in this impromptu rhyme yelping terrier rusty key was walter scotts best fee westminster gazette |