Farmer Joe decided his injuries from his recent
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,
that you were fine?"

"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, that you
were fine?"

"Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and
was driving down the road--"

"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 told the lawyer so.

"Well," said the farmer, "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 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?"