Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-02-09
WHAT RUINED HIS INTELLECT.
ny XII PERKINS

wha, ruined me and 20, ne into an
Idiot Asylum Vas this: used TO have
a strong eon,smp, for ls~ysr. ! though,
their long eross.exsmina,ions were brain.
lee. dialogue. for no purpose. Ba, ever
since Lawyer Johnson made me- asa wit
ne.. In . wood case. | have bad better
opinion Of the lawyers ,kill. In my
diret testimony had s~orn iruihfully
,hs, John Hall had cut ten cords OF wood
in three days. Then Johnson sharpensd
bis p.neil and commenced examining me.
"Now. Mr.. Perkins" be began. "how
much wood do you say W. cut by Mr.
Hall."
"Ja, ten cords. sir." answered bold.
ly. IL measured IT,
That's your impression p
"Yes. sir"
"wel. we don, wan, impressions.
cir. What We want is facts before this
juu-i.Le.t.s. sir. facts"
"The witness will please state facts
hsrs.her." said the Judge. while the
crimson came to my face.
"No~. ,ir." continued JOhnson. point
ing hi. finger at me. will you s~ear
ih., |, va. more than nine cords J"
"Yes. sir. IL vas ten ecrds-jus,--
There! never mind" interrupted
Johnson.
"No~. how much le. than twelve
cords we're there p
"T~o cords. sir."
"Ho~ 90 you know there we're just
two cord. less. .ir' Did you measure
these too cords. .ir' asked Johnson.
sapgely.
"No. sir. -
There, that will do. You did no,
measure Il. Just as expected. All
sue..work. Nov didn', you s~tar
mom.n, ago ,h., you measured this
wood ?"
"Yes, sir. but
"s,op. sir! The jury will note this
discrepancy"
"Now. ,ir." continued Johnson. slow.
IL. a. hs pointed bis finger almos, down
my throat. "Now. sir. on Jour oath. will
YOU swear ,ha, there we're not ten cords
aud q hslfs'
"Ye.. ,r." I Answered meekly.
"well, nov. Mr. Perkins. demand q
straight an,wsr-, truthful answer. sir:
Ho~ much wood vi. there =
"T-r-Ten e.e.cord'." ! answered..
he.i,s,insly.
"Yoa swear IL
"l-I-d-d-de"
"Now," continued Johnson. ~ be
smiled ..,irieAlly. "do you know the PEN
atty Of ps'jary. cir ?
"Ye.. slr. | think"
"On your oath. on your '.o.l.e'm'n n
oath, with no evasion. az. you willing TO
perjare youpslf by .olsmnly swearing
that there we're more than nine cords OF
wood !"
"Ys., sir. -
"Ahsl Yes. sir. You are wiling 10
psrjure yoarelf them just t. ! thought
turning to the judge; you see. your
honor. tha, ,hi, witness i' prevsriea'ins
lie i. no, willing to swear that there
were more than nine cords OF wood. IL
/, infamous. g-n,lemen Of the jury. such
testimony I. this" The jury nodded
assent and .miIe,l .are.siieaIIy q, me.
"Now." said Johnson. 81 will ask this
periared witness jus, one more question.
IL ask you. sir-do you kno~-do you
realize, cir. whs, an awful-a.w.fu.l
thing IL Is to tell @"
"Ye.. sir" | said. my voice trembling
"And. knowing this. you s~ear on
your solemn oath ,ha, there were about
nine cords OF wood ,"
"No, .ir, | don't do anything of-
"Hold en. sir Now. how DO you
know there were jus, nine cord. |"
81 don, know any such h'"g' 'if
l."
"Ah.! you don, know ,hen' Just q.
expected. And ye, you s~ore you d'd
know. S~ore you measured It. lnia'
nous! Gentlemen Of the jury. what
shall We do with ,hi, perarsr''
"Bat l."
mo, a we'd. .ir.-hu,h. This jar,
shall no, be in.al,ed by a pejurer -
"C.ll tie neSt ~itne" y
Thi. /, Why AN keeping books in
lunsiie asylum.