The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1892-01-30
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.

a Drunken Judge and Counsel Rebukin6
= Sober Witness
A queer scene occurred at one Of
the evening sittings, which may BE-
worth recording. Sergeant Arabin
had como down from the dining-room
with the alderman on the rota, and
Lhey took their seats upon the bench,
the countenances of both bearing testi-
mcny that their afternoons carouse
had not been light one. The prisoner
first upon the list was in the dock, and
the prosecutor was in the witness-hox.
20 that all was ready for trial There
was no counsel in the case, and, that
being 80, the judge always examined
the witnesses from the written deposit
tons which were taken By Tia hagt&
trate and returned to tho court BY him
Now Arabin was very shaSt sighted
and also very deaf. On THIS occasion
he unluckily took up set of deposit
tons which had no reference to the
prisoner at the bar; the charge against
him being that OF stealing a pocket
handkerchief, while the judges alton
ton was fixed upoI q charge of steal-
Ing a watch. Holding the abortive writ
ing close to the light, ana peer1ng at
it through his spectacles he baGpn his
examination: Judge-'Wsil, Wssness,
your name is John TonpkinAS Wit
ness-''My lord, my name b Ssb Tay-
lor." Judge-"Ah! I go yan are
sailor and you live in IAa new Gut"
Witness-"No, my lord; live at Wap-
ping" Judge-''NsNGg mind your
being out shopping. Had you your
watch in your pSNket on the 10th Of
November" Witness-'I never had
but one ticker, my lord, and that has
been at the pawn-shop for the last six
months" Judge-''Who asked you
how long you had the watchP Why
can't yea cay yes or MOP Well, did you
see tho priSarer at the barP Witness
On a he's toa0 Of voice, for he began
TO be lEaAS Nsufused by the questions
put to h&M>-"Yes; Of course I did"
Judge-"That's right, my man. speak
up and answer shortly. Did the pris-
oner take your watchp" Witness Tin
q still louder tone)-'I don't know
what you're driving at How could
he get it without the ticket and that
had left with the missusP" Arabin,
who heard distinctly the whole of
the last answer, threw himself back
in his chair. adjusted his glasses, and
glared at the witness box with .
look OF disgust. At last he threw down
the dispositions to an elderly counsel
who was seated at the barrister's table,
and said: ''Mr. Ryland, wish you
would take this witness in hand and
SEQ whether you can make any thing
of him, for / can't" Now Ryland had
been dining at the three O. clock din
ner, too, and he was never behiudhand
in doing honor to the civic hospitality.
He stood up, stared ferociously Qor
he had a countenanoe that could do
1t to perfection) at the unlucky wit
ness, and, turning round and looking
up at the bench, observed: my Lord,
It is my profound belief that this man
Is drunk" ''It's a remarkable coin
cidence, Mr.. Ryland." said the Judge.
that is precisely the idea that has
been in my mind tor the last ten min
utes. 1t is disgraoeful that witnesses
should como into q sacred court OF
justice like this in such a state of in
toxication." Then, leaning over his
desk to the deputy clerk of arraigns,
who was seated below him, he said:
''Mr. Mosely, don't allow this witness
one farthing Of expenses. I'll put a !
stop to this scandal If can" l need
hardly say that the source of the mis-
take was discovered and the witness |
got his expenses in the end.-Sergeant |
Robinson's Bench and Bar.