The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-09-16
Treatment of Witness in Court.

bullying, which exists in our courts of
law, all must admit how necessary it
is. as matter of fairness to the wit
ness, and Justice to the cause, that
those called upon to give evidence
should be enabled to get into q wit
ness box in normal or at least cool
condition. Take the case Of . ynnng
woman brought up in seclusion, worn
ont by standing an abstinence, and at
length after two or three days atten-
dance, called upon to give evidence.
Something like the following scene
takes place: The witness, with dress
rather disordercd, ascends the box
she commences Arranging her crum-
pied shawl, collar, &c, and finding a
little space and air around her, gives a
gentle sigh of relief In this occupa-
ton she is suddenly startled by an or
der to Take the book in er right
and. The witness, probably relig-
iously brought up, and accustomed to
Bible neatly bound, respected, and
cared for is rather surprised at the
black leather thing placed before her
+ foul with the pressure Of ten thousand
greasy thumbs, and as many not more
delicate kisses; however she takes up
this reverend specimen OF the four
Evangalists At that moment it is
/ discovered that " 'er right and is
gloved, and she is told to take of her
glove. From the nature Of surround
ing circumstances, the hand is always
hot, and the glove invariably tight
The operation is a long one; the OIL
cial becomes impatient, and the wit
ness, feeling that there are crowd Of
men staring at her, becomes confused
Why a witness cannot take an oath
in gloves, if it equally binds the con
science, we have always been unable
to discover; but SO it is, this legal GER
emony must be performed in an un-
gloyed hand The crier then actresses
her in the following mystic style: 9Th
evidence which Il shal & to cort an jur'
shal' be the vol tru an nothun butter
tru, shelphu God, Kissebook. Scarcely
has she recovered from this would-be-
solemn rite when she hears a junior
counsel, IN IL hard voice, ask her name
According TO the natural custom Of
persons answering a question, and fol-
lowing the rules Of pohteness, she
turns toward the speaker, and gently
replies. "Please speak out an address
those gentlemen, is the sharp rejoin-
der The witness finds herself again
at fault, bushes again with complete
confusion. BY those gentlemen arc
meant the jury; but where they are
surrounded rs they are by pressing
crowd, only the initiated can discover
A few formal questions are then put
to her; at length, one pertinent to the
cause; on attempting to answer thi'
she suddenly hears herself called upor
to stop, and not answer that ques
ton" The question is, however, re
! peated; again the order to stop is Civ
en-. This, she discovers, proceeds from
a red-faced senior, who has now go
, upon his legs, and who eyes her al
over with unmitigated impudence. 4
confused squabble then ensues be
tween the two counsel and the judg'
, about the question, greatly to the dis
tress of the witness, who fancies sh
! has created a serious quarrel between
+ the three gentlemen. Perhaps sh
| timidly interposes an explanation, ant
is checked by sharp order to Sd
quiet At length the question is pa
in a modified, and generally in an I'm
3 ineligible form. Forgetting the earl
{ intimation to speak out, she answer
a in her natural tone. The jury can
hear This time the Judge reprove
e her in the following form; Mar
S -, you have not been brought her
/ to carry on a private conversation wit
the learned counsel, but to give You
Y evidence to those gentlemen Til
witness is now quite abashed and be
5 gins to feel that everybody, includin
e "those gentlemen, must have yer
a mean opinion of her The question
+ again put to her; thoroughly cowed
half ready to cry, and sustained onl
by feminine pride, she says mo,
4 when she meant to say Yes" A con
S fused conversation follows betwean tn
: counsel and attorneys on the side fo
: which she appears The question
K repeated in different form, and thi
4 time she says eyes" The unhapp
i girl has laid the foundation for re
d orous cross-examination from the red
l. faced senior. This dreadful orde,
G follows only too soon; she Is told TO b
n corafuI ie addressed by her Cbristia