Tixe "Bandy Man" in Court.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 71

Tixe "Bandy Man" in Court.

Amongst other peculiarities of seamen, it is well known that they have an inveterate tendency to describe everything in the language of the sea. This peculiarity, was strikingly exemplified in the case of an old boatswain who was called as a witness in connection with a trial which took place some years ago. On Jack entering the witness box and , being sworn, the following conversation took place : — "Now, Mr Truck," said the lawyer, "you will be good enough to tell the court what you know concerning the prisoner at the bar.'" "Well," said Jack, "ye see, 'twas like this. I was "dodgin' along in the lee o' the Anchor an' Crown, just, backin' an' fillin' so's t' let a little cutter as I was expectin' range up alongside, when , all of a sudden that fellow there opened out the harbouF lights, -"and came bowling along like the Flying Dutchman. , When he came under my lee he .jammed' his helm hard down, and stood away on the port tack, until he nearly fouled Jhe pierhead. Then he put his wheel up, and bore away before a good ten knot." "My dear sir," said the lawyer, "this jargon is utterly • unintelligible to the court. You must be more explicit. Was not the night on which you saw the prisoner a particularly stormy one?" _ "Oh, well !" replied Jack, "you could have carried your topsails easily enough and your courses too, but it would hardly have been safe to set your to'gp Hants without .a double reef in each of them. You might have carried the spanker with one reef, but she would have steered better if you had put on a couple." "This is not answering my question," cried the lawyer. "You are - trifling with the court, sir. Now, please pay attention, and reply to me in an intelligible manner. About what time was it on the night on which you saw the prisoner?" • "I should say it .was about three bells in the second dog watch." "You are insulting the court, sir," t cried the lawyer, angrily. "I must ask his lordship to warn this witness against any further trilling with this court." His lordship said, sternly, turning to Jack : "You must cease your professional jargon, which is wholly incomprehensible, and give your evidence in- a plain, straightforward manner." c _ "Wholly incomprehensible !" exclaimed Jack, in amazement. "Why, you call yourselves great scholars, and you don't understand plain English. How on earth do you want me to speak?" "It is only, waste of, time dealing with such stupidity. You can stand down." ■ "I can what?" asked Jack. "Stand down, sir," cried the lawyer. ' : Been at sea 30 years, and never heard such an order all the time. What do you mean?" "Think he means you to trip your anchor and give him a wide berth, Jack," cried a voice in court. '"Well, why didn't he say so?" muttered Jac^, as he was leaving the court room. "Blest if T ever seed such a set of lubbers. They don't know as much as the cook's boy. 1 " — From the New Penny Magazine.