Unring the bell

Posted by Ringer on June 16, 2007

Does anyone know the origins of the phrase, usually used in legal quarters, "you can't unring the bell" (i.e. that you can't make a jury/judge unhear what they have heard)? I have found a reference from a book in 1924 through Google Scholar. Any ideas?

• Unring the bell Smokey Stover 16/June/07