OCR Text |
Show lie Thought It Would. An eminent barrister, now deceased, once received a severe reprimand from a witness whom he was trying to browbeat. brow-beat. It was an important issue, and in order to save his cause from defeat, it was necessary that Mr. X. should impeach the witness. He endeavored to do it on tho ground of age. The following dialogue ensued. Barrister: "How old are you?" Witness: "Seventy-two years." Barrister: "Your memory, of course, is not so brilliant and vivid as it was twenty years ago, is it?" Witness: "I do not know but it is!" Barrister: "State some circumstance circum-stance which occurred, say twelve years ago, and we shall bo able to soo how well you can remember." Witness: Wit-ness: "I appeal to your lordshio if I . am to bs interrogated in this manner; it is insolent!" Barrister: "Yes, sir; state it!" Witness: "Well, sir, if you compel me to do it, I will. About thirty years ago you studied in Mr. Parchment's office, did you not?" Barrister: "Yes." Witness. "Well, sir, I remember your father coming into in-to my shop and saying to me, 'Mr. B., my son is to be examined to-morrow, and I wish you would let him have a suit of clothes on credit ' I remember also sir, that from that day to this he has never paid me my bill. That, sir, I remember as though it were but yesterdayr Barrister, considerably abashed: "That will do sir!" Witness: "I thought it would!" |