From F.E.: The Life of F.E. Smith, the First Earl of Birkenhead . Our hero is defending a tram company being sued by the family of a boy injured on the tracks:
It was alleged that this boy could no longer work and was unable to raise his arm above the level of his shoulder. Smith was sympathetic and took pains to put the boy at his ease. ‘Will you please show us how high you can lift your arm now?’ he asked. With a face contorted with pain the boy slowly raised the arm to the level of the shoulder. ‘Thank you,’ said F.E., ‘and will you now show us how high you could lift it before the accident?’ The arm was thrust high in the air—and the case lost.
