R. Shela beat a man who commited sin with an heathen. He was denounced to the king, but he escaped punishment and obtained a high position through his interpretation of the words: "Thine, OLord is the greatness See.” as meaning that He had given power and judgment to eaithly kings for they are called upon to sit in judgment.
Rabbi Shela's Sentence and the Power of Kings
Gaster, Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 53