Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-07-21
The COat--A Curious nstan nee OF Cau-
ton aud Evasivcness.

llOu Nuu ENusANemeSs'
The following examination took place in a
question tried in the Jury Court. between the
trustees on the Queensferry passage and the
town Of Kirkeady. The witness was called on
the part Of the trustees, and apparetly in full Of
their interest. The council having heard that
the man had got present Of coat from the
clerk to the trustees before coming to attend
the trial, thought proper to interrogate him on
that point; as providing this, it would have the
effect of completely setting aside the testimo-
my;
q. Pray where did you get that coat? The
witness, docking obliquely down the sleeve Of
of his coat, and from thence to the counsel,
with mixture of effrontery and confusion ex-
claimed:
A. Coat, coat sir? Where gat that coat?
O. wish to know where you got that
coat?
A. Maybe ye ken WHARF gat it?
Q. No, but we wish to know from whom you
got that coat?
A, Did ye gle me that coat?
O. Tell the Jury where you got that coat
A. What's your business wi that coat?
q. It's material that you tell the Court where
YOU got the coat
A. Am no obliged to tell about ma coat
O. Do you recollect whether you bought
that coat or whether it was given to you?
A. | Gamma recollect every thing about ma
coats, when get them, or where get them.
/ O. You said you remembered perfectly well
about the boats forty-two years ago; and the
people who lived in Kirkcaldy then, and John
/ More's boat; and you cannot recollect where
you got that coat you have on at present.
A. Am no gaun to say anything about
coats.
Q. Did Mr. Douglas, clerk to the trustees
give you that coat?
A. How do you ken anything about that?
| @. | ask you, did Mr.. Douglas clerk to the
trustees, give you that coat?
A. Am no bound to answer that question,
but merely to tell the truth.
g. So you won't tell where you got that
A. | did ma get the coat to do anything
wrang fort; did ma engage to say anything
that was ma true.
The Lord Chief Commissioner, when the
witness was going out of the box, called him
back and observed: The Court wish to know
from you something further about this coat
1t is not believed or suspected that you got il
improperly or dishonesty, or that there is any
reason for concealing it. You may be disn
clined to speak about it, thinking that there was
something ofinsult or reproach in the question
put from the Bar. You must be sensible tha
the Bench can have no such intention; and it is
for your credit and the sake of your testimony
to disclose fairly where you got it. There may
be dscredit in concealing, but none in telling
where you got it.
Q. Where did you get the coat!
D A. Am no obliged to .ell about ma coat
q. True. you are not obliged to tell wher
YOU cot it, but it is for your own credit to tel
A. dina come here to tell about coats, bu
> to tell about boats and pinnacles.
3 @. If you do not tell, | must throw asid
o your evidence altogether.
:. A. Am ma gaun to say onythlng abou
:. ma coat; Am no obliged to say anything abou
> it.
b Witness went away, and was called back b
= Lord Gillies.
:. Q. How long have you had that coat?
=. A. | dinna ken how lang hae had my Goa
| hae plenty o'coats. dinna mind about tn
5 coat or that coat.
J @, Do you remember anything near tn
o time; have YOU had it year, month, or
week? Have you had it week?
A. Hoot ay, dare say | may.
g. have you had it a month?
J. A. dinna ken; came here to speak abol
e boats, and not about coats.
+ @. Did you buy the coat?
A. ! dnna mind what coat bought, or wht
got
The consequence was that their LordshiI
were forced to reject the evidence OF this wi
ness Edinburgh AnnuaI Register, 1917.