Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-11-11
A Witness in Court.
BY T. S. FAY.

The nominal purpose of Court OF JUS
tice is to seek the truth; but question
whether the truth is ever IN other places
more attacked, sneered at, browbeaten,
ridiculed, and put out of countenance. 1t
is the truth which every one In MS turn
finds it his interest to conceal. 1t Is truth
that every one is afraid of. Even the par
tv most unequivocaIIy in the right, is anx-
ions n exclude the truth from the other
side, lest ii may seem to contradict MS
own: and all the lawyers, and even the
;udqe. seem as much on the watch to stop
the wituess's mouth every two minutes, as
thew have been TO make him come mere
n 0nen if. To me, one of the most rldi-
onions things in the world is witness up
on the stand, trying (poor fellow to give
in his testimony. He is, we will suppose
not in the slightest degree interested IN
either of the parties, and doubtless wisheS
them both tied together by the Neck ana
dropped off the stern OF fast-ruhhi"9
steamboat. He comes into the court, not
Voluntarily, but dragged, it he resists, oy
two or three scowIing ministers OF the Ia"
who. from the mere fact of his being pre-
sumed to know something about the peno
;no suit. think themselves entitled to trea
him as if he had been brought up ior roo
b;nr a.. henroost. He is forced from III
business or his amusements for the PURPOSE
of sneakinp the truth, and he lnwaroiN
resolves to tell the whole story, as soon
possible, and get rid OF the tn1ng. ~
thinks he knows the worst. lie lhilh
the loss of time, and the awkwaronesS :
sneaking for the first time OF MS lie
nrhIic are the extent of his sutferlngs.-
Unsusnecung victim! He is no soone
mounted upon the stand, than ne nllo
himself at once the centre OF clrc'e
enemies. and holding position not grea
" unlike that of prisoner IN an lnu''
war dance. He tries to tell his story
Wtness-I was going down Maiu
lane
First Lawyer-Stop, sir. T..
Second Lawyer-Dont Interrupt
witness.
Third Lawyer-The witness is ours;
Fourth Lawyer-[fercely and ina
nantly)-We want the fact.
IudGe-Let the witness tell his stor.
Witness-I was going down Maid
lane. where | live
Fret I.awyer--We don't want to KIN
where you live, sir.
Second Lawyer-T'hat IS part OF
testimony. -, .Lo
Third Lawyer-You can take the i,
moss into YOUR hands when we are
with him; at present he Is ours.
Witness turns pale. ~
Fourth Lawyer, (sarcasticaliy)-V
well, sir.
Judge beg you will sit down. !,
One of the Aldermen-Oflcer, /
order. "a
eooyl If more than oriental desPo
on the spectators, who amt making
noise that they know of)-Sllence:
Witness--l was going down MAJ
,,na where | reside, as | said be
when
First Lawyer-You don't come he
reneat what you said before, SIR
81 Second lawyer beg.
IL Third Lawyer, (starting to his fee
demand /,
Fourth Lawyer--I appeal to his
the JUDGE. to protect me from the I'M
nence of this witness.
First, second, third, fourth Lawyer
Judge, together-The witness must
Officer--O looking at the audience
and in voice of hunder)-Silence
Judge--Gentlemen, 1t seems TO m
& the best way to come at the truth, is
tho witness go on, and will call /
81 order if he wanders. Witness!
Witness--Your honor!
Judge--Tell the plain fact of ii
.,v,tNe.ell the jury what you know
;tN"remember, you are here to spes
,rn,he-raise your voice--turn you
70 the Jury. What do you know
affair? ro