Moving Spirit

"Moving Spirit" is a science fiction short story by Arthur C. Clarke, first published in 1957. The story within a comic story is narrated by Harry Purvis, who is called to assist a scientist relative of his in a trial. The scientist has been brought before the court on charges of illegally brewing liquor. Purvis manages to get him acquitted, by arguing that he was actually working on a fictional "osmotic bomb." Purvis demonstrates this bomb by exploding it in the courtroom, thus "accidentally" destroying all the evidence. However, the scientist is later booked for driving under the influence.