Farmer Joe decided his injuries
from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company
responsible for the accident to court. In court the trucking
company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe.
"Didn't you say at the scene
of the accident, 'I'm fine," asked the lawyer.
Farmer Joe responded, "Well,
I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule
Bessie into the..."
"I didn't ask for any
details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the
question. Did you not say at the scene of the accident, 'I'm
fine!'"
Farmer Joe said, "Well, I
had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the
road..."
The lawyer interrupted again and
said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the
scene of the accident, this man told the highway patrolman on the
scene that he was fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is
trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him
to simply answer the question."
By this time the judge was fairly
interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer,
"I'd like to hear what the man has to say.
"Joe thanked the Judge and
proceeded, "Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie
into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this
huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck
right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was
thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to
move. However, I could hear ol' Bessie moaning and groaning. I
knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans."
"Shortly after the accident
a highway patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie
moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at
her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes.
Then the Patrolman came across
the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, 'Your
mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you
feeling?"
