From The Case of the Crooked Candle, by Erle Stanley Gardner:

***

“The man’s name was Smith. He put up a deposit of five dollars and rented the boat to make some studies of the nocturnal habits of sharks. At least, that’s what he said he wanted to do.”

“And what time was this boat rented?” Mason asked.

“The boat was rented at right around nine o’clock in the evening.”

“For how long was it rented?”

“He returned it at exactly twenty minutes past ten, about one hour and twenty minutes later. I remember there was some discussion about the length of time he’d been out, and I told him to call it an hour and let it go at that because I couldn’t remember whether it had been right on the dot of nine o’clock when he started out or not.”

“Wasn’t an hour rather a short time to make a study of the nocturnal habits of sharks?”

“It depends on how many habits you want to study—and how many sharks.”

***

[Counsel is definitely not refraining from personalities...]

Burger frowned across at Mason. “What’s that crooked candle got to do with it?” he asked.

Mason said, “That’s my defense.”

“Your defense?”

“Yes.”

Burger hesitated a moment, then announced ponderously, “Well, it won’t hold a candle to the theory I have.”

There was laughter from the courtroom. Mason joined in the laughter, then, as it subsided, said quickly, “You’ve heard of candling an egg, Mr. District Attorney? Well, I’m candling your case. And it’s rotten.”