Farmer Joe was suing a trucking company for injuries sustained in an
accident.

In court, the 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 continued, “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 that he was just fine. Now, several months after the accident,
he is suing my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to
simply answer the question.”

But the judge was interested in Farmer Joe’s story and said to the
lawyer, I’d like to hear what he has to say about his mule, Bessie.

Joe thanked the judge and proceeded. “Well, 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
ole 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?