A STRAIGHTFORWARD WITNESS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3621, 19 February 1883, Page 4

A STRAIGHTFORWARD WITNESS.

During a recent trial it was thought important by counsel to determine the length of time that a certain quarter of beef remained in an express waggon in front of plaintiffs store before it was taken by defendant. The witness under examination was !i G ernian, whose knowledge of English Ava-s limited; but he testified in a very plain, straightforward way to have weighed the meat, and to having afterwards carried it out and put it into the waggon. Then the following ensued: — "State to the jury how long it was after 3'ou took the meat from the store and put it in the waggon before it was taken away." '' Now, I shoost cand dell dat. I thinks 'bout twelve feet. I say no nearer as dat.'' " Yon don't understand me. How long - was it from the time the meat left the store and was put into the waggon before it was taken away by the defendant 'r' '' Now I know not what you ax dat for. Der waggon he was back up mit dat sidewalk, and dats shoost .so long as it was. You dell me how long der sidewalk was. Den feet I-' Dwclvc feel? Don I delh you how it was."' " I don't want to find out how wide the sidewalk was, but I want to know," speakiug very slowly, '' how lung—this— meat—

was—in—the—waggon—before—it—was— taken—away?" "Oh, dat; Veil, now I not sold my meat so. I all time weigh him; never measure meat, not yet. But I dinks about dree feet. I know not, shentlemens, how is dis. I dell you all I can, shoost so good as I know." " Look here, I want to know how long it was before the meat was taken away after it was put hi the waggon ?" "Now you dry and get me in some scrapes. Dat meat was shoost so long in der waggon as he was in der shop. Dats vot I told you. Dat meat vas dead meat. He don't got no longer in den douseii year, not mooch." "That will do."