McBride the Lawyer was desperate for business, and was happy to be appointed by the court to defend an indigent defendant. The judge ordered McBride , "You are to confer with the defendant in the hallway, and give him the best legal advice you can."

After a time, McBride re-entered the courtroom alone. When the judge asked where the defendant had gone, McBride replied,

"You asked me to give him good advice. I found out that he was guilty, so I told him to split."