The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-04-08
THE WITNESS
(By E. P. Conwell)


case of Abner Cordage VS. John Henry
Nolle was being tried. The suit in
volved the ownership of heifer and
there was a formidable array of coun-
sci and witnesses on each side as the
complaint alleged that she was very
valuable thoroughbred milk COW in
deed.
After the plaintiff had testified and
had been subjected to a gruelling cross
examination by the learned counsel for
the defense, the name of Ruben J.
Prosser was called and he was asked
to take the stand. He came forward,
raised his right hand and faced the
Clerk. That officer with his right hand
extended heavenward administered a
long oath to him about telling the
truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth winding up in due form
with, "Soelp Ugod". The clerk then
bowed to Ruben and Ruben bowed
back at the clerk, took the witness
chair and timidly glanced over at the
Judge with whom he was in such
close contact. He then looked uneasily
at the jury of his peers on his right
and realizing that he was surrounded
by and covered over with the mantle
of law and justice he rededicated him
self to the oath he had just taken to
tell all the truth there was to tell and
he did. He knew that the heifer in con-
troversy belonged to plaintiff and he
said SO and told why he knew. The
learned barrister representing the
plaintiff smiled up at him and Ruben
began to doubt that the witness stand
was as bad as it was represented to be
after all, 1t seemed actually pleasant
and soothing to get to tell the whole
truth once in a while and have twelve
of his neighbors respectfully listen
and he was just starting to leave the
stand when he was halted by the gruf1
voice of defendants lawyer.
what did you say your name
was?" was the first question asked
him on cross examination. Ruben J
Prosser" was the answer. Now, Ruber
| Prosser was known to practically
every man in Red Lodge as we'll as Of
the entire county. He was most fav-
orably known too. For nearly thirty
years he had lived over on the East
Bench, his farm joining the Mushbacl
Ranch and during all that time he had
proven to be an exemplary citizen.
The lawyer cleared his throat, fling
cred some papers in front of him anC
then glaring. up at the witness asket
"Are you the same Ruben J. Prose-.
who was arrested last Summer fo
stealing chickens and later convicte,
of wife beating?" Ruben's face blanch
ed his jaw dropped and he gulped. HOY
ever, before he could open his mout
to deny such untrue insinuations O.
his character and while plaintiff
lawyer was struggling to his feet t
object, the counsel for the defens
said, Gust a moment, You needn
answer if it's embarrassing, Withdraw
the question, That's ALL"
Ruben j. Prosser left the witnes
stand, started unsteadily for his sea
hesitated and finally walked out int
. the hall. There was murder in HI
heart. He felt that he was being trie
instead Of the COW and in way /
was right. When the jury retired
deliberate the testimony of RUDE
Prosser was deciding factor. "Sur
ly" said one juror to another, "thel
must be some fire where there is
much smoke; wasn't Prosser ever a
rested for chicken stealing or beatir
up on his wife," There was silen
in the jury room as juror Charles
Wellborn answered, 81 too live over {
East Bench, l have known that wi
ness for nearly thirty years, he WI