human
Mr. Thompson, you have stated your qualifications as an expert on the various devices which have been used to illegally influence the operation of gambling devices in this state.
gpt
Oh, if the Court please, I should like to remind counsel for the defense that he has already accepted the qualifications of the witness.
human
I am not attempting to impugn the qualifications of the witness,
gpt
Are you making an objection, Mr. District Attorney?
human
No, Your Honor,
gpt
Proceed with the cross-examination,
human
Mr. Thompson, I said,
gpt
That's right,
human
Have you seen the device labeled People's Exhibit A, which was found by the officers on the person of the defendant?
gpt
Well ... yes. I have.
human
Have you examined this device?
gpt
Objection, Your Honor! This material was not brought out in direct examination!
human
Sustained,
gpt
Very well, Your Honor, I said. Then I turned back to Thompson.
human
As an expert in this field, Mr. Thompson, you have examined many different devices for cheating gambling equipment, haven't you?
gpt
Yes, I have.
human
How many, would you say?
gpt
Oh ... several hundred.
human
Several hundred different _types_?
gpt
No. Several hundred individual devices. Most of them are just variations of two or three basic types.
human
And you are familiar with the function of these basic types and their variations?
gpt
I am.
human
You know exactly how all of them work, then?
gpt
Most of them,
human
Have you ever examined any which you could not understand?
gpt
I ... I don't quite know what you mean.
human
Have you ever, I said firmly,
gpt
Same objection as before, Your Honor.
human
Your Honor, I said,
gpt
I am merely trying to find the limitations of the witness' knowledge; I am not trying to refute his acknowledged ability.
human
Overruled, said Judge Lapworth.
gpt
The witness will answer the question.
human
Yes,
gpt
More than once?
human
Only once.
gpt
Only once. You did find one device which didn't operate in any fashion you can explain. Is that right?
human
That's right.
gpt
Can you tell me what this device was?
human
It was People's Exhibit A--the device taken from the defendant at the time of his arrest.
gpt
No more questions, I said, turning away. Then, before Thompson could leave the stand, I turned back to him.
human
Oh, just one moment, Mr. Thompson. Did you examine this device carefully? Did you take it apart?
gpt
I opened it and looked at it.
human
You just looked at it? You didn't subject it to any tests?
gpt
No.
human
Why not?
gpt
There wasn't anything inside it to test.
human
The box was empty, then?
gpt
Well, no. Not exactly empty. It had some stuff in it.
human
If the Court please, I would like to have the so-called device, Exhibit A, opened so that the members of the jury may see for themselves what it contains.
gpt
The Court would like very much to see the internal workings of this device, too. Bailiff, if you will, please.
human
How does it open? asked the judge. He turned to Thompson.
gpt
Will the witness please open the box?