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Story
October 30, 1880
St. Landry Democrat
Opelousas, Saint Landry County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
In New York Tombs police court, a verbose witness testifying to Patrick Magrath's good character irritates the counsel, leading to a witty exchange comparing the lawyer's talkativeness to Samson's slaying of Philistines with a jawbone.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Cut and Thrust.
[N. Y. Herald.]
The witness who went to the Tombs police court to testify to the good character of his countryman, Patrick Magrath, charged with assault and battery, was a trifle diffuse in his remarks, and delved too deeply into the genealogy of the Magrath's to suit his complainant's counsel. Twice he tried to arrest the torrent of encomiums, and failing in it he lost temper and said:
"Did you ever talk a man to death?"
"No, did you ever do it yourself?" asked the witness quite as tartly.
"Yes," said the counsel, with an absent air, but watching his opportunity for a thrust. "Yes, a couple of hundred of them, I suppose."
"Is that all?" quoth the witness, sharply, "Thin ye haven't bate the ray-card, yit."
"Haven't beat the record! Whose record?"
"Samson's," returned the witness calmly. "He slew three hundred Philistines wid the instrument you use yourself."
The subsequent queries put to that witness were remarkable for their brevity.
[N. Y. Herald.]
The witness who went to the Tombs police court to testify to the good character of his countryman, Patrick Magrath, charged with assault and battery, was a trifle diffuse in his remarks, and delved too deeply into the genealogy of the Magrath's to suit his complainant's counsel. Twice he tried to arrest the torrent of encomiums, and failing in it he lost temper and said:
"Did you ever talk a man to death?"
"No, did you ever do it yourself?" asked the witness quite as tartly.
"Yes," said the counsel, with an absent air, but watching his opportunity for a thrust. "Yes, a couple of hundred of them, I suppose."
"Is that all?" quoth the witness, sharply, "Thin ye haven't bate the ray-card, yit."
"Haven't beat the record! Whose record?"
"Samson's," returned the witness calmly. "He slew three hundred Philistines wid the instrument you use yourself."
The subsequent queries put to that witness were remarkable for their brevity.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Courtroom Exchange
Witty Retort
Assault Trial
Samson Reference
Irish Witness
What entities or persons were involved?
Patrick Magrath
Where did it happen?
Tombs Police Court
Story Details
Key Persons
Patrick Magrath
Location
Tombs Police Court
Story Details
A witness's lengthy testimony in defense of Patrick Magrath leads to a sharp, humorous retort comparing the counsel's verbosity to Samson's jawbone, shortening further questions.