This story is told of a browbeating counsel，who habitually endeavored to terrorize his opponent's witnesses． One witness rather tended to preface his replies with lengthy explanations．

“I want‘yes’or‘no，’”thundered counsel．

“There is no need for you to argue the point！”

“But there are some questions which cannot be answered by‘yes’or‘no，’”mildly responded the witness．

“There are not！” snapped the lawyer．

“Oh，” said the witness，“answer this then：Have you ceased beating your wife？”

这个故事讲的是一个咄咄逼人的辩护律师，他惯于尽量去恐吓对方的证人。

有一个证人有点倾向于在回答问题之前做冗长的解释。

“我要你回答‘是’或者‘不是’，”辩护律师怒喝道： “你没有必要就这个问题进行争论。”

“可是有些问题无法用‘是’或者‘不是’来回答。”这位证人温和地回敬他。

“不存在这样的问题！”律师厉声打断他。

“噢，”证人说：“那么请你回答这个问题：你停止打你老婆了吗？”