258 " MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE ! >v 



" Where did you get drunk ? " 



" In the town. The same places that others get drunk. I get 

 drunk whenever I have the chance. " 



JUSTICE DENMAN : " You need not make yourself out a greater 

 blackguard than you are." 



" I am not a blackguard, sir." 



The above is all from the printed report, but I remember 

 most clearly that Mr Justice Denman pursued his theme, 

 and said : 



'-'- Yes, you are ; a great blackguard, by your own admission." 

 To which Tom Palliser responded : 

 " Why, mebbe aboot that ! " 



I suggested the cross-examination of him, and it runs 

 thus in the report : 



" I have been a voter for forty-three years in the borough. 

 During all that time I have supported the ' blues.' That is 

 well known. The gentlemen gave me half-a-crown for going 

 round Kilvington with them. No reference was made to my 

 vote. It took me an hour or more to show them where the voters 

 lived." 



On leaving the box he went away mumbling to himself, 

 and more than once looking back defiantly at Mr Justice 

 Denman. The court was just rising for lunch, and I was 

 fearful that he might get himself into some sort of trouble, 

 so went out after him. 



On seeing me he at once asked : 



" Whea was yon au'd chap 'at called me a blackguard ? 

 Ar'd have gi'en him a bit o' lip if he'd said owt more te me ! '-'- 



He had never been in any but a Magistrates' court 

 before, and seemed to think the judges were merely clerks 

 or other officers of the court. I warned him to be very 

 careful or he would be imprisoned for contempt before he 

 knew where he was. He was highly indignant, however, 



