CROSS-EXAMINATION OF EXPERTS
fact, if she'd fallen from Mount Chimborazo, you'd say she's unhurt and continue to say so. Such a fall from such a height, one might observe, might break all her ribs, but ne'er injure a nerve?"
The Doctor. "Your honor, I don't wish to be made ridiculous by this gentleman, and I protest against his questions, they are unfair."
Before the court could rule, Mr. Towns continued:—
Q. "And you hope to be seized with the dance of St. Vitus if you found on the plaintiff intercostal neuritis?"
The Doctor. "Your Honor, I refuse to answer."
Here the judge interfered and admonished counsel that he had pursued this line of inquiry long enough.
That Mr. Towns was correct in his estimate of this absurd panel of jurors was shown by a very large verdict in favor of his client, and by a request signed by each one of the jurors personally that counsel would send them a copy of his cross-examination of the defendant's doctor.
As distinguished from the lengthy, though doubtless scientific, cross-examination of experts in handwriting with which the profession has become familiar in many recent famous trials that have occurred in this city, the following incident cannot fail to serve as a forcible illustration of the suggestions laid down as to the cross-examination of specialists. It would almost be thought improbable in a romance, yet every word of it is true.
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