Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-03-14
HOW THE HOG LOOKED.
An Amusing Case Tried in Il
New Orleans Court in 1923.


Gayarre in Harper's Magazine. Two
eminent citizens had quarreled about a
hog. 1t was question Of the identity
Of the animal and impossible to doubt
their good faith They became Nrlta-
ted and more obstinate in proportion
OF the prolonga'ion of their dispute. At
last it was evident that there would be
no yielding on either side, and they
went to law, Moreau Lislet was retain
ed for plaintiff and Mazureau for defen.
dant-two of the magnates Of the bar
and fees were paid them immensely
larger than the value of the hog. On
the day Of trial the court room was
crowded to sutlocation, for much fan
was expected. 1t was, Of course, IA jury
case. Moreau Lislet read the petition,
IN which the hog was mlnutely descrlb
cd and asserted to be blooded Que,
worth five hundred dollars. Tue an
swer was general denial, putting plain
tiff on full prof Of what be alleged. 1t
seems there was but one witness to iden-
tfy the hog, That witness was sworn,
and confirmed the description given in
the petition. He was a farmer of the
parish of St. Bernard, about sixty years
old, of ponderous frame He evidently
was very little accustomed to the posi-
ton he had been called to. His whole
tace was expressive Of primitive limo
cence. After this witness had conclud
ed his testimony in favor of the plain
tiff, Moreau Lislet said: "The witness
is yours, Mr.. Mazurean.'
Mazureau fixed on the witness his
dark, impeuous eyes, and SAID, with eff.
tective dramatic style: Sir, remember
that you are here on oath, to testify IN
II case Of the utmost importance, al
though it may appear trltllng to your
simple understanding. 1t is not mere
ly a hog question; it is question Of
honor, whether one Of our most respect
ed fellow. citizens unjnstlv unIawfully
and frequently retains in his possession
property that belongs to another. | put
you on your guard for your own sake.
You may be indicted for perjury if the
slightest willful inaccuracy in your evi
dence shows that you do not speak the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing bat
the truth. Besides, you may be sued
for damages in consequence Of the inju
~ you may do to the defendants repu
tatlon.
Now continued Mazureau, I con-
plment you, sir, on your minute de-
scrlptoa Of the plaintiffs hog, which Is
missing from his pen. / will not cross
examine yon on the subject | ara tall
of admiration FOX yolr N Amory ard |
want you to be equally particular about
the defendant $ hog. 1t VOL. t do to say in
general terms that they are exactly
alike" At this point the lmplacab e
tormentor began to plncture and scar
ity the illness, much to the merrlment
of the bvstanders. WHAT do YOU know
OF hog32 Whence your extraordinary
faculty to dlscrim nate among them,
and so viyidly to remember their re-
spective physognomy : How long
have you lived with them: Wnat op
portunity had You to examine the de
PENDANT hog and the peculiarly Of its
formation? Have you measured its
cars, its tail, its legs, its nose, the length
and height Of its body? l want to
know whether in all these details the de
PENDANTS hog Is exactly like the plain
tlfs missing one.
All these questions and many otae 8
had been successfully put to the wit
ness, who had been driven almost to the
verge Of desperation. At last, being
made conscious b. the incessant bursts
of laughter from the audience that he
was an object Of rldIcule, he exhibited
symptoms Of marked irritation 1t ex
plodod when Mazureau sad to him -
well, sir, all these details are very
confused and unreliable. Give US the
tout ensemble Of the h'g. Group all
these details together, and tell US how
the entire hog exactly looked ?"
The witness measured Mazureau from
head to foot slowly and deliberately and
said You want a fac Sim!le Of defen
dant's hog:
Yes, sir.
You want the court, the jury and
the whole audience to know how the
animal looks. altogether fro m its nose
to It's tail, and from It's tail to its feet ?
Yes, sir; you fully comprehend my
meaning and desire
We'll, sir, that hog looks exactly like
you, and both you were twins
There was roar Of laughter in the