Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-20
How the Poor Witness Fares.


Csjro Bulletin.
The manner in which attorneys Ques-
ton witnesses is eNaSperating To the
intelligent listener, beyond expression.
The great purpose OF the average Grim
inal lawyer, for instance, is to draw from
the witness all the facts in his possession.
excepting the facts touching the case
under consideration.
countryman, choppiug down n tree,
stops his work, and hurieS his AK up to
the eye IN the brain OF his brother.in-
law. The witness who SAW the whole
bloody transaction is brought into court,
and his examination runs about this:
" You say that the prisoner was chop
ping tree down. Now, will YOU please
tell the court and jury where he bought
the AK"
You don't know; very well, sir, wen
see about that
Now. sir, look at the jury. don't
stare in that helpless manner ny me-
now, sir, do YOU say. upon your oath,
that you don't know that the defendant
stole that ax before he left Paducah -
You do say SO, ahY Wen, now mark
me, sir. How many feet was it from
the tree the defendant was chopping To
the nearest griSt-mill? You can't say
WAS il ten feet Y
Certainly, n great deal more.
Well, then,was tn thousand miles 7"
90 certainly not.
Tho court and jury will please oh
serve the stubbornneSS OF TINS witness.
1t is manitestly his purpose to keep
from the jury the facts they ought 10
know"
Now, sir, who owned that mill -
The witness innocently inquiries,
"What mill?' but soon repents it,
THE jury will please observe the eX-
asperating contumaciousneSs of this
witness, his evasion, and his manifest
purpose To confuse your minds rs to
the facts involved III this terrible muir
der"
Now, sir, look me in the face. You
have solemnly sworn that the man was
chopping near mill. VIII you now
dare say-look at the Jury sir-that
there was no mill within 1000 miles Of
the tree the defendant was Telling ~
:" / don't say anything of the kind"
"The jury will please note that an
swer."
Now, see here, my friend ,--we've
had about enough of this. You first
declared that there was no mill, and
now you brazenly ayow there was mill
near the wood-chopper-"
(" / said there was no null within ten
fee"
Never do Won mind what you said, -
| know what you said, and the jury
knows; and now, sir, you listen to me-"
"Who made your boots?'
You don't know, Is there anything
under Gods heavens that you do know?
There, therel Look ut the jury, not
at me. And now perhaps You can tell
the jury what your name is?'
The witness tells his name.
Now, sir,-look at the jury!--how
long did you live there
The witness timidly asks, "Lived
where?" when the attorney springs To
his feet
May it please the court and jury: l
find this witness utterly incorrigible,
stubborn, mulish, and bent upon keep
ing back the very facts the jury must
have. He has clearly been tempered
with, and comes here with the manifest
intention Of browbeating and worrying
both the jury and the bar. have
temporized with him, have led him
gently from point to point, III the hope
OF beguiIing hm into true recital of
the facts connected with this dreadful
murder; and what is my reward for this
conslderate kindness and forbearance2
Speaking under the sanctity OF an oath,
ne tells this court and jury that he
doesn't know where he lives, and has
asked me to tell him, Great God can
such things be, and not overcome us
like a-likc-and not overcome usY ]
ask your Henor that this witness be
sent to Jail for contumacy, TO remain
there until he expresses awilllngness to
tell what he knows about this dreadful
murder"
The court then admonishes the wit
ness that further triling will not be per
mitted that he must answer the gen
tleman's questions, or he'll certainly feel
called upon to commit him TO prison.
The witness by this time is bewilder-
ed, scared, dazed; and INDUCES in
contradictions and absurGities AS fast
and as often as the attorney requires
him to; and, finally leaving the stand,
il ii quarter Of an hour at least before
he can recall his own name or fix his
own identity. The attorney then gets
upon bis feet, tears the wretched wit
ness terrible contradictory and foolish
riglnarole AL 10 tatters, and asks the
court that it be excluded from the jury
as false and nonsensical.
And that is one OF the ways many Of
our average criminal lawyers adept TO
draw the facts in great murder-cases."
Americas Fifteen Inventions.
An English journal frankly gives
credit TO American genius for at least
fifteen inventions and discoveries which,
1 4 II Al