Hard Days on Stand Rate a Good Smoke From a Sacred Pipe

NEW YORK — A fan of Rear Adm. John M. Poindexter decided there is nothing like a good smoke for tough days on the witness stand, so she splurged on a top-of-the-line pipe for Poindexter and had it blessed by a priest.

The manager of a Dunhill men’s luxury accessories shop said Friday he received the order by telephone Wednesday from a woman in Montpelier, Vt., who chose not to be publicly identified.

“She just called and asked to speak to a Catholic person,” said manager Mimmo Spano, who gave the phone to tobacco salesman Joe D’John.

“He said: ‘I’m Catholic and what can I do?’ ” Spano said. “She said: ‘I want a pipe and I want to have that pipe blessed.’ ”

The woman chose a $305 full-bent pipe and had the following note enclosed with her gift: “Good luck. This pipe has been blessed. God bless you. (Signature).”