The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-01-02
WITNESS FOR THE PLAINTIFF.
BY LUKE SHARP

Baxter was owned and commanded
by Capt. Baxter.
The season had heen a good one
and the captain had made money. HI
needed the cash he made, for th'
seasons before that had been very
dull. and it was al the captain coul6
do to keep the vessel in his possession
But this particular year had been 81
fortunate that he paid off the mort
gage on his boat and had something
left over to carry the family through
the winter
There had been a terrible storm il
| September, but the Baxter had wealth
cred It. through the skill of the cap
tain and The staunchness of the boat
but it had been close call, and the
captain. who had up to that time car
rled no insurance except what he had
put on when he mortgaged the boat
to secure the lenders, now effected
ten thousand dollars additional. sc
that if TIE good ship went down his
family would not be left penniless
The September storms had worked
greatly on his mind, aid the torture
he felt during the gale. when he knew
that if the boat was lost only a small
amount would come to his family,
made him resolve never again to take
such risks.
The insurance ran out on November
/, ana the captain expected to have
the boat laid up by that time; but
freigbts went higher and higher, and
additional trips became more and
more tempting, aud when the storm
of October 80 began it found the Bax
ter on the open lake. but just where
viii perhaps never be known.
Part of a ships boat with the name
Baxter came ashore, and that was
all that was left to tell the story of
the wreck
Went down with all hands," the
papers said.
Then came the question ofinsurance.
The companies banded together and
resolved tC contest the case. They
claimed that the Baxter was staunch
boat and that she had ridden out the
| the two days storm of October 30 and
81, and that she had been lost on the
lst Or2d Of November when the insur
ance had expired, and it rested with
the plaintiff to show that such was
| not the case.
The lawyers for the plaintiff knew
that they had a pretty poor chance to
show this. They had not much hope
Of securing verdict. But they knew
their client was a widow who had lost
her husband in that gale. and they
trusted to a strong appeal to the jury,
who are very apt in such cases to sym
pathize with the unfortunate and pile
damages on a corporation. What the
chief counsel for the plaintiff feared
was that the Judge would so plainly
direct the jury to give verdict that
those twelve gentlemen would have
no chance of letting their sympathies
take the place of good law.
Mrs. Baxter's lawyers were feeling
rather blue over the aspect Of affairs
on the second day of the trial when
word came to the senior partner that
man wished to speak with him on
important business After short ab
sence from the court room he return
ed with a person who was evidently
seafaring man and said:
:'Your Honor, we desire to place ar
other witness on the stand'
The other side at once objected, and
said it was very unusual at that stage
of the case, aud desired to know what
his brother intended to prove.
I'VE intend to prove the date Of the
loss of the Baxter | wish to call ia
| cob Swanson, one of the survivors,"
Atthis extraordinary announcement
there was q sensation, especially
among the reporters. each one of
whom was cllrsing his bad luck in not
getting hold Of Mr.. Swanson himself
and thus securing a sensation for his
paper The Judge overruled the OBJ
iections OF the attorneys for the com
pany and elected to hear what Mr.
Swanson had 10 say. His honor added
that ample opportunity would be Civ
en- the defense to show that Mr. Swan
son was an imposter, as they had rath
er plain Y intimated Jacob Swanson
took the witness stand and was sworn.
He wore d heavy beard, but that only
served to emphasize the haggardness
Of the uncovered part of his face.
"N hat Is your name?"
Jacob Swanson"
Are you citizen of the United
States?"
Yes. but | was born in Sweden"
w hat is your business"
II am . eoi lO,, -
Nv ere you on board the Baxter
when she was lost?'
L was"
Where did YOU ship on herr"
In Detroit"
How many voyages did you make
on her?"
That was nay second voyage"
Nv hen was she lost"
''On the night of the 80 of October"
Are You sure of thatj"
Yes, SIR
THAT is all. your Honor"
The lawyers for the other side took
the witness in hand
DO you know that a great deal de
pends on yonr testimony in this case?"
Yes, SIR
''Oh, you do, eh? You know that my
clients will have to pay large sum Of
money if what you state is true?"
Yes, sir"
You have some interest in the yer
diet then?"
Yes, sir"
"Oh, you have. l like witness that
Is frank. IoI would not tell lie.
suppose"
Il have done so"
Have you? Did you ever perjure
yourself before?''
Plaintiffs lawyer-"That is not a
proper sort OF question to ask wit
| ness"
Il propose to question him my own
way"
But submit that such a question
I -