The Democratic advocate., 1879-11-01
Select Sturp,
MULROONEY IN COURT.

"Peter Mulrooney," said the clerk.
"Peter Mulrooney !" exclaimed the stem
torian crier.
There was an answer beyond, quick
shutting Of feet, and an eager whispering,
in which touch of the brogue predomi.
mated
"Silonee r shouted the crier, and then
he again called at the top of his voice
"Peter Mulrooney =
aWhist, ye omadham p said Peter,
who had been all this time standing qui-
etly beside the other "Snre, as I'm not
gossoon lost in crowd, there's no made
to below after me ike great bull calf, +"
"Why didn't you answer, then ?" cried
the crier, surlily.
"Arrah, better manners to ye retortad d
Peter. "Would be after disturbin' their
honors in that way; an I'm a gintleman
of standin and tacher of daceneies p
"You swear, Mr.. Mulrooney?' said the
crier, offering the book.
''Do you take me for haythen p said
Peter, Indignantly. "Sure, it's not re.
spectfu to swear in court Of justice"
"But you must swear, said the clerk
sharply.
"Did yer honors iyer hear the likes o
that?' said Peter, approaching the bench
"a Christian man, and a dacint.lookine
man, too barrin he has lost crop of BIZ
hair entirely-and put on a strange look
ing thatch (the clerk wore wig)-tC
/ u,Ln mn huraloriouslv and calnn;ousl, |,
swear before tho face of your honors ant
gintlemen of the jury and the gintlemer
OF the bar Oh but the virtue in mi
won't let me do the same"
"Mulrooney, said one of the judges
striving to suppress the quiyering abou
the muscles of his lips-his associate wa
stuihng a white handkerchief into hi
mouth" Mulrooney, you must be awar
that it is always necessary for a witness {
take an oath before he can be permitte,
to give evidence at the bar.
"Sure, sir, said Peter, innocently.
+ "That is what the clerk required q
you, continued the judge, who added
with faint attempt at gravity, "you wi
also recolleet that it is our duty to com
nit any one to prison for eontemptuou
behavior at court.
Long life to your honor" said Peter
"sorra BIT III disgrace myself by hurtir
the feelin's of any respectable gray-hairet
) gintemen like yourself, or your honor
brother yonder, who is attn his white hand
kercher to stop the hunger pain. Deco
sir, Id be takin' great shame to meself
| did,
"Swcar him, said the judge, noddin
hastily to the clerk, and sioking back i
his well-eus:iionod chair.
"Now, Dir. Mulrooney," said the couu
sci for his friends, tell us what you kno,
about this affair,
Peters story was a perfect rigmarolt
I He had been ut his friend McShano o's-h
! had returned from this friends had 20
into trouble with the Germans, but as L
, how the afiray commenced, his memory
clear enough before, became suddenly YER
hazy All be could recollect was that sun
dry of the Irish, being soundly pummele,
! BY the Germans, pummeled their antag
onists quite as soundly in return.
The eross.examination now commenced
and as Peter caught up aud repelled ever
move Of the kcen.witted attorney, the cor
test between cultivated sharpness and na
tive shrewdncss became gradually YER
exciting.
"Wen, Mr.. Mulrooney. said the attot
ney. "you say YOU left home in the even
ing to assist in observing this nationa
custom of yours. About what time in N
evening p
"Deed, sir, replied Peter, with the vi