THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.j

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 8986, 20 January 1891, Page 4

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

. During b recent trial in Chicago,, before; . Justice Dougherty, it- was thought by counsel to determine the length of time that certain " two quarters ■of beef,, two hogs, and .one sheep" remained in a waggon in fr'on.6 of the plaintiff's store before they were taken away by the .defendant. .• . . . • The witness, was a German, whose knowledge of the English language was limited,' but testified in a plain straightforward way to having weighed the meat, and carrying it out and to having put it in the aforesaid -waggon himself. , Then the following ensued. . . Counsellor Evans--" State to the jury how long it was after you took the meat from the store and put it into the waggon before, tie 1 took it away?" , . , . , \ } '.' Now I ahoost cand.teU dat.,.l dink 'bond 1 twelve feet or so. I could not say nearer as dat." .«• Yon don't i understand me.. s - How jlong was it frorhthe'tirhe the meat- left the store and was put into ( the .waggon before it was taken away by defendant *?'' ".".., " Now I Know not what yon ax dat for. Der waggon he was oop mit der aidevalk^and dats shoost so mooch as it vas. Yon dell how long der Bidevalk , vas. . ; Den//eet. Dwelve feet. Den I tells you how long id vas." ... '• . " I don't want iio know how long the sidewalk was. I want to know how— long^-ihis — meat — was— <>n —the— waggon — before— ft — was^ — taken — away ??.,.. n i " Oh, dat t Yell, now I not sold any meet so. I all time weigh iiim. • Never measured him not yet. But I dinks 'boud dree feet it vas." Here the spectators and his honour and the jury smiled., , - , The witness continued — ■ " I know not, shentlemens, how is dis. I dell you all I can, shoost so goot aa I knowhow." / ..„ 1 '■■■ " Look here," said the counsel, " I wanttq know,hqw long it wbb before the meat was taken away «t«r it was put into the waggon?" ./, 4 . . :..;.,. .-, ; " Now,'* said the witness, looking knowingly at civonsel, " you try' and get me into a scrape. /Dat meat vas shoos't solonglri der vaggon as he vos in der shop. . Datfs all I told, yon. , He don'd be longer in a tousand years. 'Not mooch." : " Th»t will do," said the counsel. ; ■■ ♦ — •