“Six months.”
“Why did you go to sleep under those steps?”
“I didn’t intend to go to sleep. I was waiting for a friend to come in who boards at the St. Charles.”
A sudden laugh ran through the room. “Silence in court!” cried a deputy.
“Who is your friend?” asked the recorder.
The prisoner was silent.
“What is your friend’s name?”
Still the prisoner did not reply. One of the group of pettifoggers sitting behind him leaned forward, touched him on the shoulder, and murmured: “You’d better tell his name. It won’t hurt him, and it may help you.” The prisoner looked back at the man and shook his head.
“Did you strike this officer?” asked the recorder, touching the witness, who was resting on both elbows in the light arm-chair on the right.
The prisoner made a low response.