10 Questions
What is the main theme of 'The Hypotheses of Failure'?
Matrimonial disputes and the role of a lawyer
How did Lawyer Gooch handle clients with conflicting interests?
By accommodating them in separate rooms
What was the hypothetical case presented by the first client to Lawyer Gooch?
A wife seeking divorce due to an incompatible matrimonial home
Why did Lawyer Gooch agree to take the case presented by the first client?
Because the client was willing to pay a high fee of five hundred dollars
What was the similarity between the two clients' cases?
Both clients were seeking divorce due to an incompatible matrimonial home
What was the common theme in the hypothetical cases presented by the three clients?
A wife's infidelity causing marital problems
What was the third client's motivation for seeking Gooch's help?
To reunite with his estranged wife
What was the outcome of Gooch's attempt to bring the husband and wife together?
Gooch failed to bring them together, and the clients left in anger
What was the fee Gooch demanded from the first client?
One thousand and five hundred dollars
How did the third client, Mr. Billings, react when he saw his wife?
He ran down the building through the open window
Study Notes
The Hypotheses of Failure
- Lawyer Gooch, a leading practitioner, compares his office to the bottom of a ship with separate rooms for clients to prevent them from meeting each other.
- Gooch uses this system to handle clients with conflicting interests, particularly in matrimonial disputes.
The Hypothetical Case
- A man, later revealed to be Thomas R. Billings, presents a hypothetical case to Gooch about a married woman who runs away with a licentious man, Henry K. Jessup.
- Gooch agrees to take the case and demands a fee of $500.
The Twist
- A second client, a tall lady, arrives and presents the same hypothetical case, but from the perspective of the woman seeking divorce.
- A third client, a nervous gentleman, arrives and presents the same hypothetical case, but from the perspective of the husband seeking to reunite with his wife.
The Revelation
- Gooch realizes that the three clients are the real parties in the hypothetical case and are unaware of each other's presence.
- Gooch tries to manipulate the situation to his advantage, but ultimately fails to bring about a settlement.
The Consequences
- The clients discover each other's presence and leave Gooch's office in anger, causing his business to suffer.
- Gooch's tricks backfire, and his "good ship" of a business is wrecked.
A gentleman approaches Lawyer Gooch with a hypothetical case of a husband's marital problems. He wants Gooch to act as a mediator and reunite the estranged couple. The catch is that the wife is having an affair with another man.
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