The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-09-21

y ust how near were your
"Well, I think"
"Never mind what you think. I
want to know just how far you were
from the horse and dog" insisted the
lawyer.
"Well, I suppose"
II tell you l don't want to know
what you think or what you suppose.
I want a plain answer to my question"
But I was only going to say" be-
gan the witness, timidly.
"Will you or will you not answer
my question:" thundered the lawyer.
The color rose in the old mans face
and his blue eyes snapped. He had
evidently told an honest story, and
was irritated by the lawyers attempt
to diGcredit his testimony. Conclud-
ing, probably, that the only way to
end the badgering was to make q pos
tive statement, no matter what, and
then stick to it, he spoke up sharply:
II was just twenty three feet from the
horses head"
vii you swear it was not twenty
seven feet9" asked the lawyer.
ut was just twenty three feet" re-
peated the old man, doggedly.
do you mean to tell us that you can
judge distances as accurately as that3"
Yes, sir, I can"
TIE lawyer, feeling sure that the
witness had given his first definite an
swer in the hope of escaping further
questioning, and had been too proud to
recede, turned amiably to the jury.
Gentlemen" he said, ''our veneer
able friends ability to measure dis
lance by the eye is remarkable. But
in justice to my client I feel obliged to
make a little test here in your pres
ence." Then turning with a malicious
smile to the witness: won't you
give us an exhibition of your wonder
full powers by telling us how long this
court room is9"
The old man glanced carelessly along
the side of the room, and promptly an
swered, Thirty three feet and seven
inches"
Now" said the lawyer, confidently,
II will show you gentlemen the diff
erence between knowledge and bra
vado. Will the court kindly permit
the room to be measured9"
Tue order "a given, and to every
ores sur pris9 the result was announced
as exactly thirty three feet and seven
inches.
Lawyer Haskell turned red. "a
strange coincidence; nothing moreI"
be cried in what was meant to be an
off hand way perhaps the witness
will also tell US how wide the room is"
Certainly" replied the old man.
Its twenty two feet and four inches"
Some one got down on the floor and
measured the distance carefully.
''Twenty-two feet, four inches" he
announced.
Lawyer Haskell turned Indignantly
to the Judge. Your Honor" be said,
there is some trickery here! I will
ask the witness one more question, and
l will fed out for myself whether he
tells the truth or not" and then, to the
witness, How high is this room9"
Fourteen feet and one-half inch,"
answered the old man, ~cheertully and
promptly, with hardly a glance from
floor TO ceiling.
The lawyer called for a step ladder.
and with red face and set teeth climbed
slowly up, measuring with great care.
The crowd watched him, and almost
u-nconsciously began to count alOnd as
the two-toot rule crept up: -Four, six,
eight, ten, twelve, fourteenl' By this
time the end of the rule was 80 near
the ceiling that there was no necessity
for Mr. Haskell to announce the rest.
The whole room burst into q shout.
The witness is excused" was all the
lawyer c )uld say when he cana down.
Although in summing up, Mr.. Has
kell tried to prove that Mr.. Pettingill
never kept a dog, any way, and that
Mr.. Blake's horse was afflicted with
the blind steggers and subject to heart
failure and temporary insanity, the
jury promptly gave Mr.. Blake the full
amount Of the damages asked for.
1t was soma time before Mr.. Haskell
discovered that the witness he had.
tried to rattle" was the carpenter who
had drawn the plans and made the
changes in the court house the year
before. Let us hope-thOugh it be
hoping against hope-that the expe
rience will incline him to treat wit
nesses with more ~politeness hereafter.