KNOWING THE PRISONER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3113, 20 June 1881, Page 4

KNOWING THE PRISONER.

'Do you know the prisoner well ?' asked a Western attorney. ' Never knew him sick,' replied tho witness. 'No levity,' said the lawyer, sternly. 1 Now, sir, did you over see the prisoner at the bar P' ' Took many a drink with him at the bar.' 'Answer my question sir,' yelled the lawyer. ' How long have you known tho prisoner ?" ' From two feet up to five feet ten inches ?' ' Will the Conrt make the " ' I have, Judge,' said the witness, anticipating the lawyer ; ' I have answered the question I knowed the prisoner when he was a boy two feet long and a man five feet ten ' ' Your Honour ' ' It's a fact, Judge ; I'm under my oath,' persisted the witness. The lawyer rose, plaoed both hands on the table in front of him, spread his legs apart, leaned his body over the table, and said : ' Will you tell the Court what you know about this case ?' ' That ain't his name,' replied the witness. ■ What ain't his name ?' 'Case.' ' Who said it was ?' ' You did. You wanted to know what I know about this Case. His name's Smith.' 'Your Honour,' howled the lawyer, pulling his hair out by the roots, ' will you make this man answer ?' ' Witness,' said the Judge. ' you must answer the questions put to you.' ' Land o' Goshen, Judge ! hain't I bin doin' it ? Let the blamed ouss fire away. I'm ready.' • Then,' said the lawyer, • don't beat about the bush any more. You and the prisoner have been friends.' ' Never,' promptly responded the witness. ■ What! Weren't you summoned here as a friend ?' ' No, sir; I was summoned here as a Presbyterian, Nary one of us was ever Friends. He's an old line Babtist, without a drop of Quaker blood in him.' • Stand down ?' yelled the lawyer, in disgust. • Hey P' ' Stand down.' ' Can't do it. I'll sit down, or Btand up ' ' Sheriff, remove that man from the box.' Witness retires, muttering : ' Well, if he ain't the tbick-headedst cuss I ever laid eyes on!'