Farmer John's Mule

Farmer John was injured when a truck hit his pick-up, and he filed a lawsuit
against the driver who hit him. When the case went to trial, the truck driver's
big city lawyer questioned farmer John.


"After the accident, did you not say to the sheriff's deputy, 'I'm fine'?"
asked the lawyer.


Farmer John answered, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my
favorite mule Bessie into the...."


"I did not ask you about your mule," the lawyer interrupted, "I asked you
about your statement to the sheriff's deputy. Did you not say, at the scene of
the accident, 'I'm fine'?"


Farmer John answered, "Like I was saying, I loaded Bessie into the trailer,
and I hitched it to my pick-up truck...."


The lawyer angrily turned to the judge. "Your honor, I am trying to establish
the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the sheriff's deputy
on the scene that he was just fine. Now, many months after the accident, he is
trying to sue my client. If his case is not a fraud, he should be able to answer
my question with a simple 'yes' or 'no.' Please tell him to simply answer the
question."


The judge, somewhat curious about the mule, responded, "Let's hear
what he has to say. If he doesn't get around to answering your question, we'll
deal with it after we find out about Bessie."


Farmer John thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, Bessie was
in my trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge truck ran the
stop sign and smacked my truck. My pick-up went into the ditch, and the trailer
tipped over. I could hear Bessie moaning and groaning, and I knew that she was
in a bad way, but I was hurting' real bad and I couldn't even move. Then, the
deputy came, and he could hear Bessie, so he went over to her. He looked at her
for a moment, then he took out his gun and he shot her right between the eyes.
Then the deputy came across the road with his gun in his hand, looked me right
in the eyes, and asked, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How
are you feeling?"