Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-07-17

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tain attorneys seem to imagine that the
easiest manner to subserve the interests of
their clients is to badger a witness until he
is caught in some little discrepancy and
then boldly accuse him Of prevaricating.
We were amused at the termination of one
of these attempts in the County Court
a few days ago. The Ease was one wherein
a party Of decidedly rough looking fellows
were accused Of borrowing all the money
the prosecuting witness had and inducing
him to lend it to them by knocking him
down and ra~nsacking his pockets. The
prosecuting witness was a decidedly YER
dant specimen Of the genus tar. He told
a plain, ungarnished tale, of how he had
entered a saloon on Pacific street, where
he met the prisoners at the bar, and was
induced by them to play a game of "old
sledge" for pastime and drinks for the
party; how he had to pay the "shot"
every time; how they finally gave him a
"full" poker hand and tried to induce. him
to bet on 1t; how, foiled in their attempt
to rob him in that manner, they picked O
quarrel and knocked him down, and while
lying on the floor they took from him all
the money he had earned as a sailor before
the mast. The story was simply, but
eloquently told, and we doubt if q single
person who listened to its recital doubted
its truthfulness. The defending counsel
felt the weight Of the evidence, and tried
"his level best" to confuse the witness.
ibid you," said he, "see these men, these
gentlemen, here before you, these persons
who stand here accused of a crime, which,
if established, will Danish them from
the society of their fellow men, shut
them up in a gloomy prison, stamp
upon their brow the ineffaceable marks Of
guilt ; did you see, we ask you to consider
we'll, and remember that you are now
upon your solemn oath, did you see these
men in the saloon on the night you i'm
agine you were robbed" "S-i-r-r;" ask
ed the witness, trembling, for the volu-
bility of the attorney had succeeded in
confusing HIM not q little. MY ques-
ton was" continued the lawyer, land
the Court will see that I was sufficiently
explicit, and I hope your honor will see
that this unwilling witness nswer the
questions l put to him. Did you, sir,
have an %unclouded view, were there no
intervening obstacles between you, when
these individuals whom you accuse, raised
their powerful and muscular arms, and
with the power of q catapult, permitted a
relaxation of the previously contracted
muscle of the forearm, whereby you were
precipitated into the adjacent acute angle
Of the room. Recollect; sir, that the eyes
of the law are upon you, and that the
punishment of those who bear false wit
ness is severe" The Court here inter-
posed, and explained to the witness, who
was completely dumbfounded by this
time, what the attorney desired. When,
the sailor exclaimed: Lord bless you,
your honor, is that what he wants to
know: I thought he was. going to prove
that I robbed them bloody rdscals instead
of them robbing me. I had had several
drinks, your honor, but then you know q
sailor can always see better after q few
glasses Of grog." Other questions equally
absurd were asked, but Jack quietly
awaited until they were interpreted to him
when he would reply. The jury believed
his story and convicted the whole party.
IS. F. Examiner.