A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative
defense1: "My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few
trifling2 articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an
offense3 committed by his limb." "Well put," the judge replied. "Using your
logic4, I sentence the
defendant5's arm to one year's
imprisonment6. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses." The defendant smiled. With his lawyer's assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.