The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-14
HUGH MORROW DID
 NOT UNDERSTAND
Why Didn't That Butcher An
 swer His Question '
WHO'D A THOUGHT IT2
Nobody Would Have Until the Wit ness Made 1t as Plain as a Pike Staff-Then Hugh Tumbled.
 Jury Tumbled, Too.


 seurity In the circuit court of Jefferson county yesterday afternoon and fixed it. self securely in the geographical nomen- eiature of the state of Alabama.
 William S. Vaughans suit for $5O,000 damages against the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company. the Bir- mingham Southern Railroad company and the Southern Bell Telephone company was up before Judge Coleman. Lawyers, Judge and jury were wrestling with the mysteries of wires and crossed wires" conductors" and "non-conductors," "dy- namos' and "voltages."
 Philip Kranebuhl, a butcher who lives near Sandusky, was on the witness stand. The butcher wasn't as voluble as he might have been in telling what he knew about the case
 He had just been passed over by the plaintiffs counsel to the defense, and Hugh Morrow had him in hand.
 MT. Morrow went after him with a confident air The butcher met the att tack sto1idly. and Morrow soon dropped the science of electricity and made a little excursion Into elementary geogra- phy. He wanted to find out where the butcher lived.
 The butcher had somewhat tantaliz- ing tone in answering a question, and Hugh Just to show he wasn't afraid, got up out of his chair, and strode up close to the witness With one arm on the Judges desk and the other describing parabolic curves in the air. MT Morrow began to fire questions at the butcher as rapidly, if not as effectively, as the Japanese shelled the Russian fleet the other day from No. 203 Metre Hill at Port Arthur.
 "In what direction from Pratt City do you reside?" asked MT. Morrow.
 Southwest" drawled the butcher.
 Do you live between Ensley and Pratt City?'
 NO, sir" said the butcher, as if pity ing Morrow's ignorance.
 You don't?"
 ''No, sir; I don't" said the butcher in does-that-satisfy-you tone.
 Well" said Morrow, in desperation, what I want to know is where you do liver"
 Who'd a Thought ItT' came back the witness, tantalizingy.
 Morrow's Scotch-Irish was up in an in- stant.
 Now, look here, MT Kranebuhl I don't want any foolishness." said Morrow. We have great many witnsses here in this case, and shall not detain you long. But must request you to answer my ques- tion. Now, insist that you tell the court where you live."
 Who'd a Thought Itp said the butcher, in sort of "well-I-declare" tone.
 By this time every eye, except Judge colemans in the court room was staring amazedly at the witness. Morrow was clearly hanging out signals of dis tress. A, c. Smith, of counsel for the de- fense, stA bolt-up right in his chair and looked penetratingly at the butcher. The jurymen glared at the witness in aston ishment, the enlarged whites of their eyes indicating their amazement. Vaughan and Davidson, counsel for the plaintiff, were visibly anxious, wondering as they did what the court would do with a witness. apparently so impertinent.
 Judge Coleman, who knows the name of every hamlet crossroads, foot-path and tree in Jefferson county was the only man unmoved In the court room. His honor looked out of the window uncon- cernedly, and watched the little sparrows circling in the golden sunlight
 Hugh Morrow glanced appealingly at the judge for a moment as if to seek that gentlemans intervention. but his honors rlacid countenance discouraged Hugh and the brilliant damage suit lawyer decided to try the butcher again.
 Mister Kranebuhl," said MT. Morrow, deliberately. There is nothing amusing about the case It Is serious matter we are 10 consider. have asked you several times to state the place of your residence. I am quite sure you do not intend to be discourteous but I am not in the habit of trihing with a witness or having a witness trihe with me. Once more and for the last time, I will ask you the question. What is the name of the town you live in, sir?''
 Who said the witness, without batting an eye lash'
 The jury tumbled instantly.
 Mir Morrow got next in 8 moment, too.
 "Oh, I see" said Morrow, smiling broadly. 'Yes, yes I see!' and he started to laugh Counsel and jurymen joined in the chorus, heartily.
 ''Is Who -Thought-It an incorpora- ted town?" asked Mir Morrow, feeling his way cautiously out
 NO sir" said the butcher
 ''Who's the mayor of Who d-a-Thought- It?"
 '"rhe mayor of sandusky." said the witness.
 At this point the court broke in
 Who'd-a-Thought-It, said Judge Coleman, still looking out of the window, Isn't an interrogatory. Who'd Thought-it is a place. Co on''
 And the next moment MT Morrow was asking questions which can only be ask ed by a lawyer who has mastered in ten days the subject of electricity.
 The case continues this morning. It will probably engross the attention of the court throughout the day urge them to extend their lines to East