Farmer Joe

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 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 said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about
his favorite 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."

He continued, "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."

Finally, farmer Joe came to the end of the story. "The patrolman
looked at me and said, 'Your mule was in such bad shape I had to
shoot her. How are you feeling?'"