Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1915 — WITNESS HAD AN ANSWER [ARTICLE]

WITNESS HAD AN ANSWER

And Lawyer Learned Lesson Which He Insists He Will Always Keep in Memory. A railroad lawyer, who has much to do with human nature, says: “Never cross-question an Irishman from the old sod.” And he gave an illustration from his own experience: A section hand had been killed by an express train and his widow was suing for damages. The main witness swore positively that the locomotive whistle had not been sounded until after the whole train had passed over his departed friend. “See here, McGinnis,” said I, “you admit that the whistle blew?” “Yis, sor, it blew, sor.” “Now, if that whistle sounded in time to give Michael warning, the fact would be in favor of the company, wouldn’t it?’ “Yis, sor, and Mike would be testifying here this day.” The Jury giggled. “Very well. Now, what earthly purpose could there be for the engineer to blow his whistle after Mike had been struck?” “I preshume thot the whistle wor for the next man on the track, sor.” I quit, and the widow got all She asked.