The arm has to be punished…

A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this
creative defense:

"My client merely inserted his arm into the window and
removed a few trifling articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how
you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by his limb."

"Well put," the judge replied. "Using your
logic, I sentence the defendant’s arm to one year’s imprisonment. 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!