The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-03


and after a while acknowledged that
he had seen the two men, also the
dog.
Every good!' said the judge.
Now tell us what you saw as quickly
as you can
cit was So said Matey, scratch
ing his head. They met on the foot
path near the old oak. No. it was
near the big pine
Never mind that; go on said
the judge, impatiently. They met.
Now what did the dog do?'
Nothing said Matey.
"'Nothing!' repeated the judge
and the two lawyers. Now, Matey
Liska,' said the judge, severely, re-
member you are before the court; no
silly joking
CHOW I come to think of it, said
Matey. the dog wagged his tail
"'Oh, he did, indeed!' said the
Judge. And what did he do after
that, you idiot?'
CHOW, look here. You read a
fellow an oath, and tell him If he
lies he will be cast into prison. And
when I tell you the truth you call me
an idiot! If I am an idiot, why did
you send for me to bear witness, I
should like to know
1.-THE judge looked as black as
night.
Ibid the dog bite Jan Holub Or
not? Answer, or I shall have you
imprisoned for contempt Of court
"Matey considered the question,
and then answered slowly:
"'He may have bitten the man &C.
cidentally, but it was the sausage
he was after
"'What sausage?' asked the judge.
"tI think it was a sausage bought
from Alexander Vlastooka, OF per-
haps from Vlastimil Zamecka,' went
on Matey. 1T was long and red,
made out of horses flesh, probably.
A ten heller sausage 1 should think
"'Heavens!' said the judge to the
lawyers, who were grinning in spite
| of themselves. I asked you II you
saw the dog bite the man. Answer
me- that. And at once, If you know
what is good for you'
"'You have sworn me to speak
the truth said the plain spoken
Matey, and I will speak the truth.
the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, before this court. The
dog wanted the sausage
"The judge sat down and contem-
plated Matey, who looked the image
of righteous innocence. After a
while he said:
1--WE will leave the sausage out OF
the question, if you please! Did the
dog bite the man or not?'
"'Well,' said Matey, he may or
he may not have done so. The beast
is an honorable brute. I knew him
when he al a puppy. Also his
father and mother before him, all OF
them respectable dogs. In grabbing
the sausage, he may possibly have
bitten the man a little. But it wal
unintentional. He was after the sau'
sage
"'Did you, or did you not, see him
bite the man? Was there blood on
his hand?'
"fHeavenly goodness exclaimed
Matey. For a judge to ask such q
question! Setting a snare for a poor
unlearned lad to commit perjury!
How should the like of I know how
to answer such questions? Can you
expect me to have the wisdom OF
Solomon? Butchers hands are all
ways smeared with blood. How do
you expect me, who am no doctor to
tell you what kind of blood 1t was
his. own or an animal's?'
1.-THE Judge turned to the law.
yers.
"I have no more questions to ask
this man. he said. Question him
who will
"Anton Brambora's lawyer turned
to Matey. .
$50, young man, you did not see
the dog bite my client?'
"I saw him bite the sausage that
he held in his hand. 1t was a fine
sausage
"'Then you cannot declare upon
oath that he bit him.
"I can declare this: That he
grabbed the sausage, and may have
bitten unintentionally. He is a right
minded dog, and would not bite ex'
cept in the way of business
1.-THE other lawyer asked:
$50 you acknowledge then thai
he did not bite the man.?
"rI acknowledge nothing Of the
kind said Matey.
"'What did the dog do then2 Did
he bite the man or not?'
"'He bit the sausage said the
clear headed Matey.
1T is useless to question him,
said the judge. He has not common
understanding
evidently mott said both the
lawyers.
"'Have you got anything more to
say?' asked the judge. Gan obliga'
tory question:.
"'Only this said the impervioua
Matey, that, as your mercifulness
has fifty said, this is a matter that
requires more than ordinary sense,
Suppose we send for a wise woman
to lay out the cards before us; then
we will assuredly know if it was the