Farmer Joe and his Mule
Farmer Joe decided his injuries from his recent accident were
serious enough to take the trucking company responsible for the
accident to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer
was questioning farmer Joe.
"Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, that you were fine?"
''Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite
mule Bessie into the--"
''I didn't ask for any details,'' the lawyer interrupted. ''Just
answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident,
that you were fine?"
''Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and was driving down
the road--''
''Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of
the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that
he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying
to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to
simply answer the question.'' By this time the Judge was fairly
interested in Farmer Joe's answer and told the lawyer so.
''Well," said the farmer, "as I was saying, I had just loaded
Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down
the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign
and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch
and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and
didn't want to move. However, I could hear ol' Bessie moaning and
groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.
Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene.
He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her.
After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the
eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his
hand and looked at me. He said, 'Your mule was in such bad shape I
had to shoot her. How are you feeling?'"