The writer recalls a somewhat similar instance, but one even better exhibiting the cleverness of an old woman, which occurred in the year 1901. A man named Orlando J. Hackett, of prepossessing appearance and manners, was on trial, charged with converting to his own use money which had been intrusted to him for investment in realty. The complainant was a shrewd old lady, who together with her daughter, had had a long series of transactions with Hackett which would have entirely confused the issue could the defence have brought them before the jury. The whole contention of the prosecution was that Hackett had received the money for one purpose and used it for another. During preparation for the trial the writer had had both ladies in his office and remembers making the remark: "Now, Mrs. ------, don't forget that the charge here is that you gave Mr. Hackett the money to put into real estate. Nothing else is comparatively of much importance." "Be sure and remember that, mother," the daughter had admonished her. In the course of a month the case came on for trial before Recorder Goff, in Part II of the General Sessions. Mrs. ------ gave her testimony with great positiveness. Mr. Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, now Lieutenant-Governor of the State, arose to cross-examine her. "Madam," he began courteously, "you say you gave the defendant money?" "I told him to put it into real estate, and he said he would!" replied Mrs. firmly. "I did not ask you that, Mrs. ------," politely interjected Mr. Chanler. "How much did you give him?" "I told him to put it into real estate, and he said he would!" repeated the old lady wearily. "But, madam, you do not answer my question!" exclaimed Chanler. "How much did you give him?" "I told him to put it into real--" began the old lady again. "Yes, yes!" cried the lawyer; "we know that! Answer the question." "estate, and he said he would!" finished the old woman innocently. "If your Honor please, I will excuse the witness. And I move that her answers be stricken out!" cried Chanler savagely. The old lady was assisted from the stand, but as she made her way with difficulty towards the door of the court-room she could be heard repeating stubbornly: "I told him to put it into real estate, and he said he would!" Almost needless to say, Hackett was convicted and sentenced to seven years in State's prison. To recapitulate, the quickness and positiveness of women make them ordinarily better witnesses than men; they are vastly more difficult to cross-examine; their sex protects them from many of the most effective weapons of the lawyer, with the result that they are the more ready to yield to prevarication; and, even where the possibility of complete and unrestricted cross-examination is afforded, their tendency to inaccurately inferential reasoning, and their elusiveness in dodging from one conclusion to another, render the opportunity of little value.