"Your Honor," said Budd, "the prosecution have tried to injure my character to-day by telling about my father. They have told only evil. I wish now to show there is some good."
"I don't know as Mr. Johnson is obliged to answer these questions," said the Justice, nodding blandly to the wealthy man, "but he may, if he chooses."
"I decline to answer," said Mr. Johnson, after consulting with his attorney.
"I will ask the witness one other question--one with reference to myself--with the Court's permission," said Budd.
"Have I not, Mr. Johnson, paid you a portion of the money you claim my father took from you?"
"I decline to answer that question also," replied Mr. Johnson, noticing that his attorney shook his head negatively.
"May I then put in this paper as testimony?" asked Budd, taking a slip from his pocket and extending it toward the Justice. "It is Mr. Johnson's receipt for five hundred dollars that I paid him last March."
"I hardly think it would be proper," said the Justice, looking toward Mr. Johnson for his approval of the ruling.
"I then rest my case," said Budd, shortly, and with some show of indignation.
The Prosecuting Attorney now began his argument. He dwelt mainly upon the facts that Budd had been found where he ought not to have been, and that Judd Floyd, as his partner, was of course interested in acquitting the prisoner. Though that witness had shown where he and the accused were in the daytime since May 20th, he had failed to show where they were in the nights, and the burglary had doubtless been committed in the night time; burglaries usually were. He concluded by reminding the Justice that it was not for him to find the prisoner guilty; but if, in his judgment, he thought there was a probability of his guilt, it was his duty to bind him over to a higher court.