I have a surprise for you all—within one minute, the person presumed dead will walk into this courtroom.”
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, stunned, all looked eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Finally the lawyer said, “Actually, I made up the business about the dead man walking in. But you all looked at the door with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed, and I must insist that you return a verdict of ‘not guilty.’”
The jury retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, they returned and pronounced a verdict of “guilty.”
“But how could you do that?” bellowed the lawyer. “You must have had some doubt. I saw all of you stare at the door.”
The jury foreman replied, “Oh, we looked, but your client didn’t.”
