put to her by counsel for the defence. Instead, she would
raise her voice and make a savage onslaught upon the prisoner,
rehearsing his brutal treatment of the deceased on previous
occasions, and getting in the most damaging testimony.

"Do you say, Mrs.--" the lawyer would inquire deferentially,
"that you heard the sound of three blows?"

"Oh, thim blows!" the old lady would cry--"thim turrible
blows! I could hear the villain as he laid thim on! I could
hear the poor, pitiful groans av her, and she so sufferin'!
'Twas awful! Howly Saints,'twould make yer blood run cowld!"

"Stop! stop!" exclaimed the lawyer.

"Ah, stop is it? Ye can't stop me till Oi've had me say to
tell the whole truth. I says to me daughter Ellen, says I:
'Th' horrid baste is afther murtherin' the poor thing,' says
I; `run out an' git an officer!'"

"I object to all this!" shouts the lawyer.

"Ah, ye objec', do ye?" retorts the old lady. "Shure an' ye'd
have been after objectin' if ye'd heard thim turrible blows
that kilt her--the poor, sufferin', swate crayter! I hope he
gits all that's comin' to him--bad cess to him for a
blood-thirsty divil!"

The lawyer ignominiously abandoned the attack.