AN UNWARY WITNESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 2

AN UNWARY WITNESS.

Among the stories in “Pages from an Adventurous Life,” by Mr J. E. Preston-Muddock, is one that Lord Alverstone was wont to tell with appreciation. In a Post Office prosecution at Hertford Assizes a clever Irish barrister appeared for the defendant, who was a poor letter-car-rier guilty of some irregularity. Among the witnesses was Anhtony Trollope, then a Government Post Office Inspector. After he had .given his testimony he was handed over to the lawyer for the defence for crossexamination. “What are you?” demanded the keen Irishman, in a severe and commanding tones, sonorous with a rich brogue. “An official in the Post Office,” answered Trollope, somewhat astonished by the lawyer’s brusqueness. “Anything else?” demanded the cross-examiner, with a snap. “Yes, an author.” This a little proudly. “What is the name of your last book?” “ ‘Barchester Towers. ’ ” “Now, tell me,is there a word of truth in that book?” “Well, it is what is generally called a work of fiction. ’ ’ “Fiction!” with a scornful curl of the lip. “Fiction! Tha* is to say, there isn’t a word of truth in it from beginining to end?” “I—l am afraid, if you nut it in that way, there isn’t,” stammered Trollope, in an embarrassed way. With a triumphant air the lawyer urned to the jury. t “Gentlemen,” he exclaimed, ‘ ‘ how can you possibly convict a man on the evidence of a witness like this, who here in this Conrt of Justice nnblushiugly confesses that he has written‘a' ; book in which there is not’one word of truth !” Trollope had fallen squarely into the pit digged for him by his unscrupulous cross-examiner.