From Her Own Mouth.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 49

From Her Own Mouth.

The cleverest of barristers occasionally find their match when engaged in their favourite occupation of breaking down an opponent's witness ; and this frequently occurs in the case of "horsey" witnesses.

The following wordy contest between a hostler and a counsel is one of the most amusing specimens of the kind : —

"Now, I ask you, sir, under what authority you are prepared to swear to the mare's age?"

"Under what authority?" said the hostler interrogatively.

"You are to reply, and not to repeat the question put to you."

" I doesn't consider a man's bound to answer a question afore he's time to turn it in his mind "

"Nothing can be more simple, fir, than the question put, and I repeat it. Under what authority do you swear to the animal's age ? "

" Tho best authority," said the witness, gruffly.

" Then why such evasion ? Why not state it at once ? " "Well, then, if you must have it" "Must! I will have it!" thundered the counsel, interrupting the witness.

" Well, if you must and will have it," rejoined the hostler with imperturbable gravity, "why, then, I had it myself from the mare's own mouth ! " A simultaneous burst of laughter rang through

II ■ T .11 I ■ ■ m,-m* the court, during which the nonplussed barrister subsided, and it was with difficulty that the judge could restrain his risible muscles within judicial decorum.