A DYING Man who had been shot was requested by officers of the law
to make a statement, and be quick about it.

  "You were assaulted without provocation¹, of course," said the
District Attorney, preparing to set down the answer.

  "No," replied the Dying Man, "I was the aggressor."

  "Yes, I understand," said the District Attorney; "you committed the
aggression² - you were compelled to, as it were.  You did it in
self-defence."

  "I don't think he would have hurt me if I had let him alone," said
the other.  "No, I fancy he was a man of peace, and would not have
hurt a fly.  I brought such a pressure to bear on him that he
naturally had to yield - he couldn't hold out.  If he had refused
to shoot me I don't see how I could decently have continued his
acquaintance."

  "Good Heavens!" exclaimed the District Attorney, throwing down his
note-book and pencil; "this is all quite irregular.  I can't make
use of such an ante-mortem statement as that."

  "I never before knew a man to tell the truth," said the Chief of
Police, "when dying of violence."

  "Violence nothing!" the Police Surgeon said, pulling out and
inspecting the man's tongue - "it is the truth that is killing³
him."

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