The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-24

7 aAClClF4OI HI
''Long life to yer honor,R said Pc
t ter, @sorra bit I'n disgrace mcself
by hurtin' the feelin's of any. respecta-
bic gray-haired gintleman like yerself
or yer honor's brother Wonder, who is
atm his white handkerchief to shtop
the hunger pain. Dade, sir, I'd be
takin' great shame to meself if did.
"SWear him !" said the Judge, nod
ding hastily to the clerk, and sinking
back into his Well-cushioned seat.
EsNow, Mr.. Mulrooney,v said the
counsel for his friends, "tell us what
| YOU know about this affair"
/ Peters story was perfect rigama-
role. He had been to his friend Nc
Shane's wake-he had returned from
this friends had got into trouble
with the Germans, but as to how the
affray commenced, his memory, clear
| enough before, became suddenly very
hazy. All he could remember was,
that sundrY Irish, being soundIy pum-
melled by the Germans, pummelled
quite as soundly their antagonists in
return. fHI
The cross examination now COM
menced, and as Peter caught up and
repelled every move of the keen-wit-
/ ted attorney, the contest between cul-
| fiEated sharpness and native shreWd-
ness became gradually very exciting.
"Well, Mr.. MulroOney," said the
attorney, ''you say you left home in
the evening to assist in observing this
national custom of yours. About
what time in the evening 20
"'Deed, sir" replied Peter, with
the utmost simplicity, shut that bates
me to say. Twas betwixt and be-
tween sundown and moonrise."
"You are at least sure of that, l
suppose" said the attorney quickly.
'1Och, by the powers that l am,"
said Peter, with keen twinkle of the
eye.ns EadHl a1 IS .aB
p "Haye you an almanac, Mr.. Clerk;
pray see at what time the sun set and
the moon rose on the 9Th day of April
last?"
"Sun set on the 8th of April" Che
clerk drawled in his usual nasal tone,
cat twenty-fonr minutes past six i
moon rose at thirty-seVen minutes
past eleven !"
There was suddenroar throughout
the court, like the surge of. waves up
on the sea beech; the face of the pros
ecuting attorney flushed crimson,
while Peter Mulrooney looked the
very picture of unconscious inno-
cence. -
'cYou must speak to the point, wit
ness" said the judge with all the
sharpness he could command. Your
answer is impertinent."
''Troth, yer honor" said Peter re-
sEectfnlly, ''its sorry l am for that
Sure, tits the truth I'm telling by var
tue of me OATH" f
:. "What o'clock in the evening was
it, sir?" said the prosecuting attorney
whose red nose was now getting
fiery. I4eL a 84il % SO
''Sorra a bit know" said Peter.
'"Think; fix upon some daily occur
renee for your guide, and then tell the
jury if it was before OIL afterH m
"Oh!" said Peter. after apparently
little, st was after fay"
"Ah, now we shall get at it," said |
Mr.. Bibulous, triumphantly. lit was |
after tea, you say. Well, sir, at what
hour do you usually take tea 2"
"That depends upon conyaynience," !
said. Peter, with an air of the most |
profound thought. sometimes we |
have tea for dinner, and sometimes
we have dinner for tay."
The attorney looked vexed. 'fI want
to know your usual hour for taking
the evening meal we call tea. Is it
three, four, five, six, seven or eight
o'clock ?".
ayes. sir, that's the truth, !" said Pc
ter, nodding his head.
(Which of the hours 2" said the at
torney sharply.
''If it'd be plasing ye not to be af-
ter botherin> a poor boy, I'd be thank
ful, y said Peter. sits little know
about the one hour or other; we drive
the tay time up and down the night
So" ..s.... .5........
The attorney bit his lips-"Are you
married, sir?" said he. III
z "Oh, but that does be botherin' me
sure think so.7 1Ifae
'sWhatI Don't you know whether
YOU are married or not 2" i,,l
'.Aisy-aisy,if you plase-sure 'tis
question to answer any
way, an that's no lie. Mishtress iBid-1
ly Connolly, .coorted an married me
but sure it strikes me | must
be a wildly now"
! GA widower you mean, 1 suppose.
Y our wife is dead then ~
"Who? Biddy COnnoly7 TrOth, sir
t's me sarious opinion the fat old wo-
nan is pEesarVin' herself for another
husband twinty years forninst u.s."
''Y ou are divorced are you? said
he attorney lookingvery significantly
It the jury as much as to say, cha
laI here's pretty witness for you'll"
'.Divorced2 not a bit of it said Pc
er quietly.
ssSeparated then?"
"That's it !" said Peter. Then burst
ng out into low, rich laugh, he adj
led:
ooh, by the mortal, it was glad 1
vas when Michael Connolly came
,ack from his shipwreck and aised
ne shoulder of my matrimonial de-
aiver."
"When you reached the house of
he1ate McShane, what did you and /
our party do 2" {
"Went in, sir" said Peter with the {
Utmost simplicity. TlI {
"What next ?" Hett !
.sGave Dennis McShane as dacent a
wake as iyer was seen out of ould i
leland" t}friIta Ht.ais -taa I
"Now, Mr.. Mulroony, you have told
IS you were present when this riot
egan. l wish you to state distinctly
Vho began it. sWe
III llk6 10 hhOWS dF II pIdZ6 yo, l
aid Peter humbly, as he smoothed 4
he crown of his hat-''l'd like to /
now av q wise an understandin jim +
leman like yerself, if ye can tell me a
ghen two dark clouds come thegither
n strike lightning, which of the two q
truck first ?" /
''This is no answer. Clouds cannot 5
e compared with two parties of :
runken men," t
Il think the answer quite peril t
ent," said the attorney for the de- /
enee with a smile, "for both clouds 4
nd men appear to have been charged \
With the fluid" 4
"Aha!" said Mr.. Bibulous, nodding |
ignificently at Peter, "the man is no
ool, L see." /
"Id be sorry to contradict yer ex- t
said Peter smoothly: ''an' G