When Granma Goes to Court

Lawyers should never ask a Mississippi grandma a question if they aren’t prepared for the answer
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, ‘Mrs Jones, do you know me? She responded, ‘Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve know you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, Mrs Jones, do you know the defence attorney?
She again replied, ‘Why, yes I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster too. He’s lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes I know him.
The defense attorney nearly died.
The judge asked both counsellors to approach the bench and in a very quiet voice, said “If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I’ll send you both to the electric chair.”