THE GERMAN IN THE WITNESS BOX.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3251, 14 July 1871, Page 3

THE GERMAN IN THE WITNESS BOX.

A correspondent sends the following to "Harper's Monthly." — During a recent trial before Justice Dougherty it was thought important by counsel to determine the length of time that certain " two quarters of beef, two hogs, and one sheep" remained in an express wagon in front of plaintiff's store before they were taken away bv the defendant. The witness under examination was a German, whose knowledge of the English language was very limited; but he testified in a very plain, straightforward way to having weighed the meat, and to having afterwards carried it out and put it into the aforesaid wagon. Then the following ensued : — Counsellor Enos : " State to the jury how long it was after you took the meat from the store and put it into the wagon before it was then taken away." Witness : " Now; I shoost cand dell dat. I dinks 'bout twelve feet. I not say nearer as dat." Counsel : "You don't understand me. How long was it from the time the meat left the store, and was put into the wagon, before it was taken away by the defendant?" "Witness : " Now, I know not what you ax dat for. Der vaggon he vas back up rait der sidevalk, and dats shoost so long as it vas. You dell me how long der sidevalk vas — den feet ? twelve feet ? — den I dells you how long it vas." Couucil : " I don't want to find out how wide the sidewalk was. but I want to know " (speaking very slowly) " how — long — this — meat — was — in — the — wagon — before — it — was— taken — away?" Witness: "Oh! dat! Veil, now r , I not sold any meat so. I all time weigh him : never measured meat, not yet. But I dinks 'bout dree feet." (Here the spectators, and his honor, and the jury smiled audibly.) " I know not, slientlemen, how is dia. I dell you all I can, so good as I know." — Counsel : Look here, I want to know how long it was before the meat was taken away after it was put into the wagon?" — Witness (looking very knowingly at counsel) : " Now you try and get me in a scrape. Dat meat vas shoost so long in der vagon as he vas in der shop. Dat's all 1 told you. Dat meat vas dead meat. He don't go no longer in den dousan year, not mooch." — Counsel : " That will do."

purpose seize the nob or tail of the lover b hind tho trigger, press it down gently, nnd the hammer is brought to half-cock. Close tho lever, or under-guard, and tho arm cannot bo discharged thus, except by breaking the half-bent. To full-cock from half-cock, place tho thumb on tho comb of tho hammer, and draw it back in tbe usual way. To unloadfor extract a cartridge, draw down the lover but without the jerk, and the cartridge will slide back into the throat of tho breech-piece, from which it will drop out into the hand. The whole of the different parts of this arm, both rifle and carbine, from the nose cap to tho heel plate, can bo placed apart with a pocket quarter-inch screwdriver. The mechanism (partly of Bteel and partly of phosphoric bronze) is remarkable for its simplicity, compactness, and lightness. It would evidently bo as serviceable in the night time as during day.

Licensing. — It is said that the new licensing act promises to make a clean sweep of one half the public-houses now in existence in G-eelong.

Cure foe Sciatica.— The "M. A. Mail" reports the oase of a miner who cured himself of sciatica by rubbing kerosene into his hip before a fire.