Hey, I'm a lawyer; I can tell them if I want to!

A man on his death bed calls his three oldest and most trusted friends to ask them for an important favor. When the three arrive, a doctor, a priest and a lawyer, they are escorted to the dying man's bedroom. They close the door so that no one else can hear what they dying man wants to say. "I know that this is foolish, but I really believe that I can take my money with me where I am going. Now, you are most my oldest and dearest friends and I trust you completely to carry out my wishes. When I die, there will be an open casket. I am now giving to each of you an envelope with $100,000 in cash. I want each of you to slip the $100,000 into my casket at my funeral so I can take the money to the afterlife." Each of the friends solemnly said they would, and each then accepted an envelope with $100,000 in cash in them.

Within a few weeks, the gentleman died, and his funeral was planned and notices sent out.

On the day of the funeral, each of the three friends arrived. During the funeral, each of the three went to the casket alone to say goodbye to their dear old friend.

Later, during the reception, the three friends happened to find themselves alone in an alcove. Each told the others how they missed their old friend. Finally, they began to discuss the $100,000 each was entrusted to put into the casket. The priest spoke first.

"I have to confide that I was not able to put the money into the casket. I thought about the good that money would do for the church and the poor orphans who could really use the money. I know that if our dear friend were of a sound mind, he would know that the money would be put to better use if it wasn't put in the casket."

The doctor looked sheepish and confided that he too chose not to put his $100,000 in the casket. "The hospital runs a clinic for the poor," he said looking downward, "and it is always in need of money. The Clinic Directors was thrilled when I gave them the $100,000."

The lawyer then looked shocked at his two friends. "I can't believe it. I am astounded at you two. Our friend trusted us to put $100,000 each into his casket. Me? I put in a check for the full amount."

Michael Siskin