A Learned Witness.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1778, 4 January 1886, Page 3

A Learned Witness.

Witnesses are often exceedingly stupid, but we don’t know whether this ought to be called stupid or not. He was brought before Baron Martin. It was desired to get from him an exact account of a certain conversation, without the “ says I ’ and ‘ says he ; 1 but the counsel could not make him comprehend the form in which he was wanted to make the statement. So the Court took him in hand. " Now my man tell us exactly what passed.' 1 "Yes, my Lord, certainly. I said that I would not have the pig." “ Well, what was his answer ? ” “ He said that he had been keeping the pig for me. and that he " ‘- No, no , he did not say that—he could not hare said it. He spoke in the first person." *' No I was the first person that spoke my Lord." “ I mean this—don't bring in the third person —repeat his exact words.” There was no third person, my Lord, only him and me.” Look here, my good fellow ! he did not say he h»d been keeping the pig, he said, T have been keeping it. ”“I assure you my Lord, there was no mention of your Lordship's name at all. We are on two different stories, my Lord- There was no third person ; and if anything had been said about yeur lordship I must have heard it." So the Court had to give it up, though the witness was only to ready to tell all he knew.