The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-12

Smart In oss-Hcxamlnation.
There is young lawyer living In
Harlem who enjoyed a rare opportunity
recently. He had a case before ref.
cree, and on the opposite side as a
witness was his next door neighbor
and rival for the hand of one of Har-
lem's sweetest maids; and they have
some mighty sweet girls in Harlem, as
everybody knows The young men
were not enemies, although the rivalry
was pretty sharp; but they could
scarcely be said to have cherished any
thing like brotherly love for each
other. The damsel in question Is q
delicate piece of Harlem Dresden, and
1t would have been the end of that
mans chance to have sought to gain
favor with her by singing mud at the
other fellow To the superficial OBJ
server favors were about even, and a
speculative observer would have given
or taken even money on the smart
young lawyer, who is not very good
looking, or on the handsome young
tradesman, who is not very smart.
This is the way matters stood when
the case came off before the referee.
That case has now been decided, and
so is the case before the Harlem maid.
And 1t all came about because the
young lawyer was too smart, coupled
with the fact that the tradesman was
too handsome. Most people know the
legal latitude allowed on cross-exami-
nation. Our lawyer took advantage of
1t to ask some very exasperating but
perfectly proper questions. He is some-
thing of a practical joker, as a Harlem
man understands joke.
what is your name?" said he, as a
starter.
George H. Henkle," stammcred the
witness (Which it isn't, of course, but
which will do right here).
II know; but what is your full
name?'
"That's my full name, sir. and you
know it well enough" replied the wit
ness.
'1t's your full name, is it? What
does the III stand for--Hiram, Henry,
Harrison or what?"
THAT doesn't make any difference;
that's the way sign it,
Excuse me, my dear sir Will you
kindly answer my question:"
The witness looked around helpless
ly and with very red face. The ref
cree told him to answer.
''That is my full name," said he
doggedly.
''But the 'H'-dop't you know your
own name?'
''The H is just H.; it doesn't stand
for anything but 'H.'"
"Were you christened George H?''
blandly asked the lawyer.
"N-n-no; not exactly. You see, p
''Then the name you swore to in
your direct examination, sir, is not
your real name?"
The unfortunate witness blushed
painfully and squirmed in his chair.
He looked as if he could have strangled
the lawyer right there. Once more he
essayed to explain, but the lawyer cut
him off severely with homily on the
solemnity of an oath.
"Were you never in court before?"
''No SIR" was the reply, in an apollo
getic tone which made everybody but
the witness laugh.
81 thought not" said the lawyer
"Now will you tell us why you swore
your name was George H. and now
swear it isn't?"
1T is just H. and doesn't stand fol
any name at all IL You know
there's man up our way of the same
name, and we We're always getting
mixed up, and 1 just put 'H' in my
name to prevent it. That's all there is
about it. and he," glancing fercely al
the smiling lawyer, ''lsnows all abou
itu
SCOT your letters mixed, eh? And 81
you added more letters to your name,
Don't you know that you have no righ
to change your name without judicia
authority.
The witness was now SO mad HI
couldn't speak.
"Where do you live?" This question
was fred at him in tone which i'm
piled that it was expected that tn,
witness might lie about it, and as III
was the lawyers next door neighbor i
did really appear to be absurd, But a
he answered it.
10 you sleep thereE
"Why, certainly"
"Always?'
"N-n-no; that is do when Pm q
| home"
"Then you are not always at home
eh? Married?"
mo"
''Engaged-'
Objections were made and sustained
but this didn't prevent the livelies
kind OF a blush from spreading owe
the young bridesmaids features no
the young lawyer from proceeding
''Engaged-in bnsiness@'
"Yes."
"What kind of business?"
"Now look here!' broke in the bad
gered witness, II don't see as that ha
anything to do with this case. Pm no
going to answer all these fool ques
tions; that's all there is about it,"
20, WE'LL" said the lawyer, 'if yo,
are ashamed to mention your business
or If an answer would tend to incrim
mate you don't insist"
This went on for an hour, and whe,
the witness was set at liberty he boltct
for the elevated and went scurryin:
away to Harlem without unnecessar,
delay. The smart young lawyer wol
his case before the referee; but tina
fact didn't afford him half as much ful
as that cross-examination. He told al
his friends about II, and the story wen
all oyar Harlan