“Then if your Honors please, we object to the witness answering this question. This is a desperate theatrical trick, concocted by the prosecution to prejudice this defendant. We ask that they be not allowed to support it with illegal evidence.”
The judge turned to Tom.
“Do you know,” he asked, “that this money was given to you by the defendant’s authority, or by his knowledge or consent?”
“I can’t swear that it was,” replied Tom.
“The objection is sustained,” said his Honor, abruptly.
Pleadwell had gained a point; he might yet win the day. But the district attorney would not loose his grip.
“Why did you just give that money to the attorney for the defence?” he asked.
Pleadwell interposed another objection, but the court ruled that the question was properly in the line of cross-examination of the defendant’s witness, and Tom answered,—
“’Cause I had no right to it, an’ he knows who it belongs to.”
“Whom does it belong to?”