Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-02-07


little fun ont OF the situation while
drifting to a judgment against nv
client. asked the farmer in a
whisper ii he were willing to take
the stand and testify that the cd
Dutch Justices reputation for
truth AMI ycracity was bad. He
said that he would aud that a doz
en- more in the room would be
perfectly willing to do the same.
"To make it short, got a half
dozen witnesses, who believed asdld
my farmer friend, that truth had
long departed the old DuiChman's
mouth as a dwelling place, and
when that parsonage had conclnd-
ed his testimony started to put
tiem on the stand.
Il won't interpOse any regular
defense, your honor | said, but
| have several witnesses here 10
the character of one Of the mtn
who gave evidence for the PLAIN
tih.'
"Wery vell,' remaIk ked his honor,
produce your vituessss.'
"Oue after the other, six get!e
men, whose names l called, were
sworn. Oue after the other got
up on the stand and testified that
they had long kDown The Dutch
Justice, giving his name; thar
they knew his reputation for truth
and verdcity IN the community
where he resided; that it Was bad,
and that from that reputation they
would not believe him under oath.
At this point ] rested, and inform.
ed his honor that | had nothing
further to present. Throughout
the testimony impeacbiug him OF
untrue he had preserved an air OF
mild indifference. One would
never haYe known 10y looking at
him that he was the party under
discussion at all When | told him
that my evidence was all in, he
braced up to decide the case.
"' The blaintiff, nit MS nrkt
four witnesses, witch includes him
.elf,' said his honor, makes nod
ings out for bis side OF der case.
Vas dat all his testimony dis gosrt
must gife judgment for the de-
fendant, 6ut deTe vas one odder
witness who makes OF himself a
volunteer, ard who giles his dstl-
mony witch completely cow rs der
controversy IN all Its baIts. Upon
his destimOny-ald be had named
himself as this witnPss-it it were
uncontrahlcted, und unimpeached,
| conld giie Judgment iOr the blaln'
uh. But such is not the case.
While the Testimony of this witness
-naming himself-Is not contra
dicted, yet now cones six repu-
table witnesses already, who climbs
one alter de cdder to die YltneSs
chair, und says dat dey known this
matchmaking himselt-dOt he is a
liar where he lives; dot bis des-
timony is lles, und dot his vord is
no good. Dis is What dey call In
die law, impeachlng a witness.
Generally it is a mighty hard ding
to do, but 10 this gsse | must say
dot l regard die witness as very
successfully impeached. Dersfore,
as it isn't What dink Of him my
selup, but What die evidence in die
case makes OF him dot l must go
by, throw out dis witness dsstl
mony altogether. SO die court is
left Iagain nit nothing but die
blainti1 und those ndder people
who svore, witch, as have already
said, know nodinns Of disbuSiness.
Under such circumstances die COURT
can make no findings tor blsintin.
Derefors die Rourt nnds for die
defendant, NIT judgment against
die plaintiff for costs.'
alt was the best thing" cOnclud-
ed Thurman, Whst the old Dutch
man ever did. IL established his
reputation as an honest man lar
and near, aud from that time until
his death, If any body bad made an
effort to lmpesch hi' evidence
given 10 a case, he would have
failed. The whole neighborhood
looked on him as second Daniel
from that time forward"
Papa raid Bobbie, pointing to
the iron dog that stood on the
lawn, does dogs like that ever
bitei
'No,' said his father; 'but that
one barked once
'Reallyl' cried BObbie.
Yes said his father. Il stun