Farmer Greene 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 the farmer.
“Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine,”‘ asked the
lawyer.

Farmer Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene’s answer
and said to the lawyer, “I’d like to hear what he has to say.”

He 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 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?”