Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-02-02
he bar. Oh! bu: the vartue in me won

'Mulrooney,' said one Of the judges
striving to repress the quivering about tn
muscles of his lips-his associate was stuf
fing white handkerchief into his mouth
'Mulrooney, you must be aware that it j
always necessary for witness to take al
oath before he can be permitted to give ev
idence at the bar.'
Sure sir, know said Peter, innocent
| ly.
THAT is what the clerk requires Of you,
continued the judge, who added, with o
faint attempt at gravlty-eYou will also
recollect that it is our duty to commit any
one to prison for contempluous behaviour
in Court
4'Long life to yer honor;' said Peter,
ssorra bit I'll disgrace meself by hurtin' the
feelin's of any respectable gray>haired gin.
tleman like yerself, or yer honor's brother
yonder, who is atm his white hankercher
| TO stop the hunger pain. Deed sir, I'd be
takin' great shame to meself if did,
Swear himl' said The judge, nodding
hastily to the clerk, and sinking back in
his well.cushioned seat.
sNow, Mr.. Mutrooney,' said the counsel
for his friends, tell US what you know about
this affair."
Peters story was perfect rigmarole.-
He had been to his friend McShane's wake
he had returned from this friends had
got into trouble with the Germans, but as
10 how the affray commenced, his memo
ry, clear enough before, became suddenly
very hazy. All he could recollect was,
that sundry of the Irish being soundly pun.
melled by the Germans, pummelled quite
as soundly their antagonists in return.
The cross examination now commenced,
and, as Peter caught up and repelled every
move of the keen. w;tted attorney, the con.
test between cultivated sharpness and ma.
tive shrewdness, became gradually very
exciting.
well, Mr.. Mulrooney, said the attor-
ney, you say you left home in the evening,
to assis. in observing this national custom
of yours. Abou, what time in the eyenlngP
''Deed, sir replied Peter, with the ut
most simplicity. 'but that bates me to say.
Twas betwixt and between sun.down and
moon.rise.'
you are at least sure of that, suppose
said the attorney, quickly.
sOhch, by the powers! that am said
Peter, with keen twinkle Of the eye.
Have you an almanac, Mr.. Clerk; pray
see at what time the sun set, and the moon
rose, on the eighth Of Aprillast?'
Sun set on the eighth Of April drawled
the clerk, IN his usual nasal tone, 'at TWEEN.
ty>four minutes past six; moon rose at
thirty-seyen minutes past eleyen!'
There was a sudden roar throughout the
-Counts1 1ike1thezs sgesaEHWaVas.-upon-t the.
sea beach; the face OF the prosecuting at
torney flushed crimson, while Peter Null
rooney looked the very picture sof uncon-
scious innocence.
you must speak TO the point, Witness
said the judge, with all the sharpness he
could command. your answer is imper.
tinent.'
'Trolh, yer honor said Peter, respects
fully, sIl's sorry am for that. Sure, 'tis
the thru,h l am tellin', by yartue Of me
OATH
What o'clock in the evening was it,
sir?' said the prosecuting attorney, whose
red nose was now getting fiery.
'Sorra bit know, said Peter.
think; fix upon some daily occurrence
for your guide, and then tell the jury if it
was before or AFTER
sOhH said Peter after apparently reflect
ing little. 1T was after tay.'
IAN, now we shall get at i.p said Mr..
Bibulous triumphantly. 1t was after tea
you say. Well sir, at what hour do you
usually take tea?'
THAT depends upon convanience,' said
Peter, with an air Of the most profound
.houg hit. Sometimes we have tay for din
ner, an sometimes, we have dinner for tay.'
The attorney looked yexed. i want TO
know your usual hour Of taking the even
ming meal, we call tea. Is it lour--six-
seven-or eight o'clock?'
Yes sir, that's the truth!' said Peter nod.
ding his head, z= q III
(which of those hours?' said the attorney
sharply.
III it 'ud be plasing ye not to be afther
botherin poor boy, I'D be thankful said
Peter. Its little | know about the one
hour, or the other; we dhrive the tay. time
up an down the night so.'
The attorney bit his lips-'Are you
married sir?' SAID he.
s0h, but that does be betherin me iniire>
ly; sure think so.' -.
what! Don't you know whether you
are married or not!'
sAisey-Aisey if ye plase-sure tits a
troublesome question TO answer any way,
an that's no lie. MISTRESS Biddy Como.
ly coorled an married me wanst; but sure
it strikes me mus. be wildly now
"A wldower you mean, | suppose. Your
wife is dead ihen?'
sWho? Biddy Connolly Troth sir, its
my sarious opinion the fat ould woman is
presarvin' herself for another husband
twinty years forenent u.s.
You are divorced are your said the a.
torney, looking significantly at the jury, as
much as to say, sHa! Ha! here's pretty
witness for you'll
Divorced! not bit of it, said Petel
quietly.
Separated then?'
eTha,'s it!' said Peter, and then bursting
out into low rich laugh, he added, 'Oh BY
| IL. roortol hnt n was Glad | WAS wheT