THE EVIDENCE WAS STRONG ENOUGH.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 4, 22 April 1893, Page 6

THE EVIDENCE WAS STRONG ENOUGH.

A boy was summoned to testify in a case of assault in which one man had hit another with a shovel. A host of witnesses had been called, who “ beat about the bush ” in the most tedious and provoking manner. This annoyed the lawyer for the prosecution, Avho broke out as follows : —“Here,boy, we’ve been goinground and round this case for hours, and yet have no evidence to convict the prisoner. Now, sir,” he savagely continued, “do you hear mo ? I want you to come to the direct point. Hid you sec the blow struck P” “Yes, sir.” “ Ah, ha,” chuckled the lawyer,.' nibbing his hands, “we have something to work upon. Here, my good lad, take this cane (handing- him his walking-stick). If you saw the blow struck you must know how it was given.” “Yes, sir, I——” “Now, then, no words about it, I tell you!” thundered the interrogator. “ I’m the complainant and you are the prisoner. Now, just raise the stick and show the Court.” The bewildered boy did “raise the stick,” and the next’moment it came down upon the bald pate of the astonished lawyer, and sent him staggering to his seat. “That’s the way it was done, sir,” ha id the boy, amid the shriek of laughter of the whole courtroom. The discomfited counsel, with a ghastly attempt to smile, said that he had done with the witness; the evidence was direct.