Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the 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, 'I'm fine,"' asked the
lawyer. Farmer Joe responded, "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, 'I'm fine!'". Farmer Joe said,
"Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the
road..."
The lawyer interrupted again and said, "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 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 said to
the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say."
Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well, as I was saying, I had just
loaded Bessie 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 pain 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?"