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Story
September 3, 1817
Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In a trial at the Court of King's Bench, a female witness defends her husband during cross-examination, insisting he is an independent gentleman of 50l. a year, not a blind fiddler begging for charity, in a witty exchange.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
In a trial in the court of King's Beach, on Friday, a female witness underwent the following curious cross examination.
Q. What is your husband?
A. An independent man.
Q. Is he not a blind fiddler?
A. No. he is a gentleman; an independent gentleman of 50l. a year.
Q. Do you mean to swear that he is not a fiddler, and that you have not had him about the streets, asking charity?
A. No. not about the streets.
Q. What: then he gives the square the benefit of his music?
A. No matter for that: he is an independent man, as independent as you are.
Q. He seems to have two very musical instruments-his fiddle and his wife.
A. So much the better: then he has got two strings to his bow, which is what all you gentlemen have not got.
Q. Is he not a fiddler?
A. He was a musician.
Q. Is he not blind?
A. Suppose he is dark: many others that I see are as dark as he, in a different way. He is an independent man of 50l. a year, and that is more than many can say.
Q. What is your husband?
A. An independent man.
Q. Is he not a blind fiddler?
A. No. he is a gentleman; an independent gentleman of 50l. a year.
Q. Do you mean to swear that he is not a fiddler, and that you have not had him about the streets, asking charity?
A. No. not about the streets.
Q. What: then he gives the square the benefit of his music?
A. No matter for that: he is an independent man, as independent as you are.
Q. He seems to have two very musical instruments-his fiddle and his wife.
A. So much the better: then he has got two strings to his bow, which is what all you gentlemen have not got.
Q. Is he not a fiddler?
A. He was a musician.
Q. Is he not blind?
A. Suppose he is dark: many others that I see are as dark as he, in a different way. He is an independent man of 50l. a year, and that is more than many can say.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Court Trial
Cross Examination
Blind Fiddler
Independent Gentleman
Witty Defense
What entities or persons were involved?
Female Witness
Her Husband
Where did it happen?
Court Of King's Beach
Story Details
Key Persons
Female Witness
Her Husband
Location
Court Of King's Beach
Event Date
On Friday
Story Details
A female witness is cross-examined in court about her husband's occupation and status, denying he is a blind fiddler begging charity and asserting he is an independent gentleman of 50l. a year, with witty retorts.