"How far were you responsible for the warrant on which you arrested me?"
"Re-spon-si-ble!" exclaimed the chairman in separate syllables. "What do you mean?"
"I wish to ascertain exactly in what measure the witness has been concerned in trumping up this charge against me."
"That is not the language in which to inquire!"
"Your worships may discover that it is exceedingly mild language, before the case is over."
"I shall not allow you to cross-examine witnesses unless you do so with due respect to the bench."
The clerk to the justices, who had examined the witness, was the means of averting an immediate scene.
"I think, your worship, that he wishes to know whether the witness laid the information against him."
"I thank you," said Carlton, an incredible twinkle in his eye, as he again turned to the witness. "I do desire to ask you, with due respect to the bench, whether you 'laid this information' against me, or whether you did not?"
"I did," said Frost.