Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-06
finally became afraid to cross examine

Tnere was one lawyer, however, WIN
was not afraid. The case was one ir
which a woman had sued the city fol
$50, 900 damages, claiming she had beer
permanently injured by tripping ovei
a street obstruction. Her counsel was
ex-Chief Justice Noah Davis. DR.
Ranney. the famous expert, had beer
in daily attendance upon the woman
for three years and testified he had
examined her minutely 200 times. The
city's medical experts declared the
woman was only hysterical, but the
jury evidently believed DR.. Ranney
The cross examination was as follows:
Counsel (quietly)-"Are you able tc
give us, doctor, the name Of any ned
ical authority that agrees with yor
when you say that the particular
group Of symptoms existing in thii
case points to one disease and only
one%
Doctor-"o, yes, DR.. Erskine agrees
with me-"
who is Or. Erskine, II you pleaseT
"well," said the witness, with a pa
tronizing smile, "Erskine probably was
one Of the most famous surgeons that
England has ever produced" There
was a litter in the audience at the
expense Of the lawyer.
What book has he writtenT
He has written a book called 'Ers-
kline on the Spine,' which Is altogether
the best known work on the subject
The litter around the courtroom was
becoming louder.
when was the book published p
asked the lawyer, quietly.
About ten years ago."
"Well, how is 1t that man whose
time is so much occupied as you have
told US yours Is has leisure enough to
look UP medical authorities to. see II
they agree with him?"
well, Mr.. -. to tell you the truth,
said the doctor, fairly beaming on the
lawyer, II have often heard Of you
and I half suspected you would ask me
some such foolish question; so this
morning, after my breakfast, tool
down from my library my copy Of
Erskines book, and found that he
agreed with ,me entirely"
This answer provoked loud laugh
at the expense Of the lawyer. But the
lawyer reached under the table and
picked up his own copy Of "Erskine
on the Spine," and, walking deliberate
ly up to the witness, said:
Wont you be good enough to point
out to me where Erskine adopts youi
view Of the case?"
The famous doctor was visibly en-
barrassed.
20, I can't do 1t now; It's thick
book" he said.
But you forget, doctor, that think
ing I might ask you some such foolish
question you examined your volume
Of Erskine this morning after break
fast and before coming to court"
The doctor showed his embarrass-
ment plainly. Refusing to take the
book, he said:
II have not time to do 1t now"
"Time!" thundered the lawyer
why, there Is all the time In the
world" 49, r.-.sv
The doctor gave no answer.
~ am sure the court will allow me
to suspend my examination until you
shall have had time to turn to the
place you read this morning in that
book, and can reread It aloud to the
jury"
There was absolute silence In the
court room for three minutes. The
doctor wouldn't say anything, and the
lawyer for the city didn't want to
say anything. He saw that he had
caught the famous witness In q
manifest falsehood and that the
doctors whole testimony was dis
credited.
After a few minutes more OF this
distressing silence Presiding Judge
Mr.. Justice Barrett dismissed the
witness and the whole case collapsed
Jonas Howard in Chicago Tribune