The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-21

which the woman witness sees and
presents facts, a pretty story is told by
Stan J. Donnelly, one of the most ex-
pert trial lawyers of the st. Paul bar.
Sitting in the municipal court
short time ago. said Mr. Donnelly, II
saw a little drama played out to a fin
ish that surprised even such an old
stager in the courts as / am. 1t was
the trial of a criminal case. The de-
PENDANT was a poor mite of lad, not
more than dozen years old, with rag
ged clothes, and a face that told ne
had already taken more than the nrst
degree in crime. The complainant was
a young lady of beauty and refine
ment, who declared that the boy had
snatched her purse while she was out
shopping.
"The girl was on the stand. Her
story was plain one-hoW she stood
at the corner Of Seventh street wait
ing for a car, how she was carrying
her packages in her left hand, While
her shopping bag with her purse in 1t
was in her right, how the chain of the
reticule was wrapped about her wrist,
and then how the lad had run up be-
hind her, seized the chain, and with
the uuickness and skill of experience
slipped it off her wrist and got away
with the bag.
one F1yPnCIIZSC F1IHns
meanwhile the boy istened-leaned
forward with eyes and mouth open,
taking in the whole story of his offense,
seeing again the crowded corner, the
well-dressed lady, the tempting purse,
the quick grab for the treasure, the
womans frightened recoil, his own joy
in success. And as he listened, all alb
sorbed as any child would be in a tale
of wonder, the witness, after illustrate
ing how the little thief had twisted her
bag from her hand, suddenly turned
from the judge to the youthful cul-
prit and said:
Didn't you, johnny"
Before the court could interrupt,
before the defendants lawyer could
save his young client, the lad nodded
emphatically, as if in answer to the
bidding of a hypnotist.
yes, num-" said the bewitched
street Arab, that's just the way it
happened"
They Are Hard to Manage.
women are harder to manage than
male witnesses" continued Mr.. Don
nelly. "They evade direct questions, in
sist upon diffuse and irrelevant replies,
and take five minutes to answer
question that a man would answer in
five words. But they stick to their
story better than men. 1t is not so
easy to break them down.
Il have seen many a woman VINO
had never been in court before prove
a match for the most hardened cross
examiner. They seemed to keep ahead
of the lawyers mind, and by intuition
to anticipate the aim and direction CT
his questioning. Every question found
them prepared. They headed the ques-
toner off, fenced with him admirably,
and held their ground till the attor-
ney in despair gave up the attempt to
involve them in inconsistencies and
contradictions. Women have splendid
memories, and never forget what they
have said before.
No Logical Processes.
"The woman witness, when on the
stand, constantly betrays the fact that
she does not reach conclusions by any
logical process whatever, as most men
do, but will swear with perfect con-
viction to the truth of allegations
which she has come to believe wholly
through the medium of her emotions It
is the rarest thing in the world to see
a woman, no matter how intelligent
and honest, who can give testimony