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High Court judge presiding in a sodomy case, seeking advice on…

Quote byF. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead · 1872–1930

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: A 1924 entry in Evelyn Waugh's diary, cited in The Times 23 May 2006, Law supplement p. 7.

English (original)

High Court judge presiding in a sodomy case, seeking advice on sentencing: "Could you tell me, what do you think one ought to give a man who allows himself to be buggered?" Smith: "Oh, thirty shillings or two pounds; whatever you happen to have on you."

— F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead

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