Why Lawyers should never ask a witness a question if > they aren't prepared for the worst answer.
>
> In a trial, a Southern small town prosecuting attorney
> called his first witness to the stand. The witness was
> a grand motherly, elderly woman.
>
> He approached her and asked, "Mrs.Jones, do you know
> me?"
>
> She responded, "Why, yes I do know you, Mr. Williams.
> I've know you since you were a young boy,and
> frankly,you've been a big disappointment to me. You
> lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and
> talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a
> big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you
> never will amount to anything more than a two-bit
> paper pusher. Yes, I know you. "
>
> The Lawyer was stunned.
>
> Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the
> room and asked,
> "Mrs. Jones. Do you know the defense attorney?"
>
> She again replied, "Why yes, I do. I've known Mr.
> Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's
> lazy,bigoted and he has a drinking problem. He can't
> build a normal relationship with anyone and his law
> practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not
> to mention he cheated on his wife with three different
> women, one of them was your wife.Yes, I know him."
>
> The defense attorney almost fainted.
> The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench,
> and in a very quiet voice, said, "
If either of you> bast****s asks her if she knows me, I'll throw you in> jail for contempt."