Jays and Crows 185 



the jury, the analysis of this evidence spells ac- 

 quittal for my client. Only two out of two hun- 

 dred and ninety-two who could by any stretch of 

 circumstantial evidence have been guilty of nest 

 robbing, as charged. Here we rest our case ; sim- 

 ply warning you that anything brought forward 

 by the plaintiffs will surely turn out to be incom- 

 petent, irrelevant and immaterial, and not evi- 

 dence. 



Having now established the fact, as I think, 

 that my friend Yorick is true blue, I take up the 

 case of his cousin, the Crow, with confidence and 

 high hopes of securing justice for a worthy citizen. 



If the court please, this second defendant in 

 the general indictment found against Jays and 

 Crows, will have to be defended along lines al- 

 ready brought forward in the defence of the Jay, 

 and I herewith demand the discharge of my client 

 on the ground that no State can have jurisdiction 

 in the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of a 

 bird that is not, so to speak, the citizen of a 

 State but the ward of the Nation. As my motion 

 is refused, Your Honor, we may as well proceed 

 to trial. Again I wish to be sworn and put upon 

 the stand as the first witness. 



Gentlemen of the Jury, is it not an astonishing 

 fact that good citizens who have conscientious 

 scruples against painting the devil blacker than he 

 really is have no scruples, conscientious or other- 



