Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-10-12
EXTRAORDINARY Scene.
4 Drunken Judge and Council RebukInE
sober Witnesa


sober Witness
A queer scene occurred at one OF
the evening sittings, which may be
worth recording. Sergeant Arab;n
had como dawn from the dining-room
with tho alderman on the rota, and
they took their seats upon the bench,
the countonances Of both bearing testi-
mony that their afternoons carouse
had not been Il light one. The prisoner
first upon the list was in tho dock, and
tho prosecutor was in tho witne s-box,
30 that a. was ready for trial. There
was no counsel in the case, and, that
being 50, tho judge always examined
the Witnesses from the written deposit
tions which wore taken by the magis-
tratc and returned 10 the court by him.
Now Arabin was very short sighted
and also very deaf. On this occasion
he un luckily took up set of deposit
lions which had no reference to the
prisoner at the bar; the charge against
him bc!ng that of stealing q pocket
handkerchief, while the judges atten-
ton was fixed upon u charge Of stea.-
Ing watch Holding tho ahortive writ
Ing close to tho light, anG peering at
it through his spectacles, no began his
examination: Judge-"Weii, witness,
your na!no is John Tomps1ins." Wit
ness-''My lord, my name Is Job lay
lor" Judgo-''Ah! see you are
sailor and you live in the New Cut"
Witness-"No, my lord; live at Wap-
ping" Never mind your
being out shopping. Had you your
watch il your pocket on the 10th of
Noveia 5er?" Witness never had
but ono ticker, my lord, and shat ha,
been n5 the pawn-shop for tho last six
mo aths." Judge --.Whn asked you
how long You had tho watclle Why
cnn'tyou sny yes or MOP We'll, did you
SEQ the pri 'orcr ut the hnrf Witness
Gin loud t)Io Of voice. ~ no began
to be = little confused by Che questions
put 10 him) Yes; of CJur,o l did"
Judge-''That's light, my man, speak
up and answer shortly. Did tho pris-
oner take your watch?" Witness Tin
still loudc.. tono)-"I don't know
what you're driving al. How could
he get 1t without the ticket and that I
had left with the missus?" Arabin,
who heard distinctly the whole of
the last answer, threw. himself back
In his chat adjusted his glasses, and
glared at tho witness box with o
look Of disgust At last he threw down
tho dispositions to an elderly counsel
who was seated at the BARR ter table,
aud said: mir. RyIuud, ! wish YOU
would take this witness in hand and
SEQ whether you can make any thing
Of him, for can't" Now Rvlund had
been dining at the three o ciuck din
ner, too, and he was norc" Echindhand
In doing homo to tho civic hospitality.
He stood up, stared ferocipusly 10 :.
he had u cOuntenance that .u!d do
1t to perfection) ut tho I'm uc!1y wit
moss, and, turning round and looking
up at tho bench. observed: my Lord.
1t is my profound belief that this man
Is drunk" Its remarkable COIN
cidencc, Mr. Ryland," said tho Judge.
THAT is precisely tho idca that has
been in my mind Tor the last ten min
utes. 1t is disgraceful that witnesses
should come into O sacred court of
Justice like this in such q state of in
toxication." Then, leaning over his
desk to the deputy cle.k of arraigns.
who was seated below him, he said:
"Mr. Mosely, don't allow this witness
oLe farthing Of. expenses. I'll put u
stop to this scandal if cam" 1 need
hardly say that the source of tho mis-
take was discovered and the witness
got his expenses in the end. Sergeant
Robinson's Bench and Bar.