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.