Although the Julian Hall case was a solemn affair it was not without its moments of humour, Shakespearean allusions and special appearances by fictional characters.

Mr. Ratneser said the four million dollars that Mr. Hall alleged Mrs. McMahon thought had been mislaid by the Bank of Butterfield and Appleby Spurling & Kempe was just ?red salmon in the sky? meaning it was a red herring.

In response to Mr. Hall?s claims that he had forgotten that he once did some legal work for Betty McMahon?s younger daughter Bettina, Mr. Ratneser said, ?Even blind Freddy could have seen you were Bettina?s lawyer.?

Later in cross-examination, Mr. Hall responded to a question with, ?I don?t know, why don?t you ask blind Freddy??

Blind Freddy surfaced again in Mr. Hall?s closing arguments. Mr. Hall told a story about a boy named ?Little Eddy? whom he said was cousin to ?blind Freddy?. In the story, Little Eddy wanted a pony, but instead got a pile of manure, ended with Mr. Hall declaring that the case against him was ?all manure and no pony?.

The case was tense at times, with Mr. Ratneser frequently getting up to object to Mr. Hall?s cross-examination of Crown witnesses. When a frustrated Mr. Hall called Mr. Ratneser a rabbit, Mr. Ratneser declared stoutly, ?I am not a rabbit, I am a consultant crown counsel.?

Some of the names of witnesses were also difficult to remember. Mr. Ratneser referred to Cathy Finkenstaedt, paid companion of Mrs. McMahon, as ?Mrs. Frankenstein? several times.

A meeting between Hall, lawyers from Conyers Dill & Pearman and Mrs. McMahon that was held to determine once and for all who she wanted as her lawyer, became known as ?the beauty contest of lawyers? based on comments made by Crown witness Sharon Lamb.