Sir, - From Joe Carroll's account (The Irish Times, May 30th) of his recent interview with Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona, it appears that the redoubtable law officer is determined to preserve his own legend indefinitely.
I recall an American friend with a legal background telling me that some years ago he was driving through Phoenix when the facade of a courthouse took his eye. As was his wont, he got out of his car to look at it and was standing gazing upwards when the sheriff materialised at his shoulder to ask him what he was doing. Robert said he was trying to read the Latin inscription carved above the lintel. At which the helpful lawman drawled: "I don't know much Latin myself, son, but I can tell you what it says: `There ain't never been no habeas corpus in Maricopa County'. You have a nice day now." - Yours, etc.,
Mary Kotsonouris, Castleconnell, Co Limerick.