Memorable Quotes from Harry Holcombe
2 quotesA Meeting of Important Characters
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Gentlemen.
O'Brien
Ah, Mr. Gingrich. I've heard a lot about you. Sit down, sit down.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Say! You each have an office like this, or do you all bunk together?
O'Brien
The reason we called you up here, Mr. Gingrich is because -
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Lemme guess. You want to settle.
O'Brien
Settle?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
You don't want to settle.
O'Brien
Certainly not.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
That settles that.
Thompson
You got no case, Gingrich. It's a simple matter of workmen's compensation.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
It's a simple matter of negligence. That tarpaulin should have been rolled back 50 feet, and it's gonna cost you $20,000 per foot!
O'Brien
Rubbish! All the legal precedents are on our side.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
That so? What about Fishbein v. the Empire State Building?
O'Brien
What about it?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
You'll find it in Volume 16, New York Supplement Two, Page 45, 1900 and 39. A window washer, 61st floor. The safety belt broke and -
Thompson
As a window washer, Mr. Fishbein was taking a normal occupational risk.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
The window washer's name was Jones. Mr. Fishbein was a pedestrian walking innocently down 34th Street, and the next thing he knew, he was splattered all over the sidewalk. The widow sued, was awarded $85,000. Case appealed, judgement upheld. Volume 259, Appellate Division, page 56. Also Volume 24, New York Supplement Two, page 168, 1900 and 40.
O'Brien
Maybe in New York, they throw money around like that.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
All right, what about Mrs. Cunningham v. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad? US District Court, Eastern District of Ohio, Number eighty-nine twenty-seven. Mrs. Cunningham, en route to Cincinnati to visit dying uncle, gets trapped in the toilet on account of a faulty lock. The car is hitched to another train. Mrs. Cunningham winds up in San Bernardino, California. By this time, the uncle is dead, and she's cut of the will. So, she sues the railroad for damages. Does this ring a bell?
Thompson
Never heard of it.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
You mean, none of you has? Because you gentlemen represented the railroad.
O'Brien
We did?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
And lost the case.
O'Brien
Suppose we get back to the Hinkle case?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
You guys should really bone up on negligence.
O'Brien
We've been going over the hospital report.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Discouraging, isn't it?
O'Brien
Naturally, we don't accept it at face value.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
I wouldn't either.
Thompson
Look, Gingrich. Let's stop horsing around. We demand the right to have our own doctors examine Hinkle.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
You got it.
Kincaid
Unless you agree to it, we'll get a court order and force you.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
I agree to it.
O'Brien
Now, don't give us any trouble, Gingrich. We know you're reputation. We - What do you mean, you agree to it?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Permission granted.
Thompson
You have no objections?
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
As a matter of fact, I insist on it. To you gentlemen, it's just a question of money. But to me, it's a personal tragedy. My kid brother-in-law, possibly disabled for life. I'm sure you gentlemen'll bring him the best doctors, the kind of specialists we could never afford. Maybe you'll even send him to the Mayo Clinic.
O'Brien
Don't worry. Mr. Hinkle will get a thorough going-over.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Good. We'll there be anything else, gentlemen?
O'Brien
I can't think of anything.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Well, I can. If you're to examine my client, you'll need written consent.
O'Brien
Yes, of course. Get Miss Heffelfinger in here.
[to Thompson]
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Don't bother. I have the authorizations right here.
William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich
Three copies, all signed and notarized. Thank you very much, gentlemen. If you'll excuse me, I have somebody waiting in my office. Interesting case. I'm considering suing the United Fruit Company. There should be a printed warning on every banana peel. Those things can be hazardous to your health. Carry on, gentlemen.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Deception in Unexpected Encounters
Thompson
This guy is so full of angles and gimmicks and twists, he starts to describe a doughnut, and it comes out a pretzel.
[on William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich]
O'Brien
Nevertheless, when he gets here, I suggest we try the friendly approach.
Thompson
Okay. But after you shake hands with him, I suggest you count your fingers.
Chester Purkey
I'd better get out of here.
O'Brien
Purkey, I want you to keep digging away.
Chester Purkey
My pleasure. I'd like to dig a nice, deep hole for our friend Gingrich.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.