The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-04-08

prisoner at the bar. So positive and
conclusive was the testimony of these
witnesses that the judge advocate of
the court deemed it Unnecessary tn call
upon others who had been cited tn n
pear he rested the prosecution on
the overwhelming evidence adduced.
nut to give the trial the proper legal
Havor he asked:
frlvate Schrte, what have YOU to
offer in defep seq"
hlslng slowly from his chair Private
Schute gulped down a big lump of
sohetD ing which had gathered in his
thros.t-he was an old hand at the busi-
ness, having earned the sobriquet of
We guard-house lawyer-and, raising
pair OF pleading eyes. the warrior
spoke in tremulous tones:
May it please the court, Private
Gum, my 'bunky' Ia soldier bedfel]owl.
was with me on the day in question.
and wish to introduce his testimony
as to my sobriety at that time. also
desire to testify in my own behalf.
That is all l have to offer, and l con-
hdently rely on the justice of the
court"
Resuming his seat with self-satis-
fed air he looked around at the mem
bers of the court to see whether his lit
Tie speech had pleased them on ac-
count OF his airy and refined manner of
doing business.
Private Gum, who was in convenient
waiting, was called. After being dulv
sworn, according to law, he testified to
the identity of the accused and stated
that on the day in question he was in
the company of the prisoner, who, he
alleged, was not intoxicated at anv
time.
Considerably startled by such con-
fiicting testimony, old Maj. Ball, the
president of the court, dropped the
newspaper which he was reading,
other members of the, court awoke
from lethargy into which they had
pardonably fallen, the judge advocate
ope ned his eyes in mild astonishnlent,
the prisoner smiled complacently, and,
looking straight at Private Gum, who
was now the cynosure of all eyes, he
remarked: That's ALL"
Glad enough to escape, Private Gunn
turned to leave the room, but before
he could make his exit he was called
back by the president of the court.
do you mean to positively assert"
asked that officer, ''that Private Schultz
was not intoxicated on the day in ques-
tion?'
''Yis. sorr, that's what OF do" an
swered the witness, as he cast an af-
fectionate glance at his "bunky." ''Oi
wuz wild him nearly all tn day an he
niver got full"
"Did you see him drink any liquor at
all?'
, WE'LL, s-o;m-e," responded the hes
itating Gum, "but he wuz niver
drunk"
"How many times did you see him
drink?" interposed natty second lieu,
tenant, whose curiosity was now ex-
cited.
"Oh, jist a few toimes sorr."
"How many times do you consider a
few?' asked the officer.
mot many, sorr.''
'"That's equivocation!" cried the lieu
tenant
"Oi dunno, sorr." responded Gum,
but he wuZzent FULL
"Answer the gentleman's question"
said the judge advocate, who came to
the relief of the puzzled witness. did
you sec the prisoner drink, say, five
times?"
"Yis, sorr"
"Did you see him drink ten times?n
"Y-i-s, s-o-r-r."
''Did he drink oftener than ten
times?"
"Oi guess he did, sorr."
Private Gum, remember that YOU
are under OATH Did you see the pris-
oner drink fifteen times?"
"Oi did-didn't count 'em, sorr, b-b-but
Oi sh-s sh-shouldn't wonder if he did.
but he niver got FULL" answered the
stammering witness as he cast his
eyes upon Schultz with a please-for-
give-me look that had it's effect on the
court if not upon the prisoner.
The members Of the court looked
significantly at one another. 1t was
plainly evident that all were extreme
ly interested if not greatly amused by
the hesitating manner of the now un-
willing witness.
The president of the court-an old
veteran who had grown gray in the
service, whose heart was not half as
hard as the strong lines in his face
arose from his seat and, assuming an
air OF dignity which the twinkle in his
gray eyes belied, addressed the wit
ness:
Private Gum, this court is not to
De hampered by prevarication or half
answers. What we want is the un-
vanished truth without Qualifying
opinions You say that the prisoner
drank fifteen times, but that he did not
become intoxicated. Now, between
what hours did he take those drinlks?"
"Betune tin o'clock in th' mornin'
an wan o'clock in the afthernoon.
sorr."
What kind of liquor did he drink?"
Whisky, sorr; nothin' in it,"
"WhiskyP exclaimed the astonished