Farmer Joe decided his injuries from a traffic accident were serious enough to take the trucking company to court. During testimony, the company's lawyer was grilling Farmer Joe.

- Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident,"I'm fine?" - said the lawyer.
- Farmer Joe responded - Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the...
- I didn't ask for any detail - the lawyer interrupted - just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident,"I'm fine"?

The lawyer and farmer Joe went back and forth until the judge ruled, in spite of the lawyer's protest, that he would allow Joe to finish his story. Farmer Joe responded:

- Well, I had just loaded Bessie into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when a truck ran the stop sign and slammed into me. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I could hear ole Bessie groaning. She was near dead. Shortly after the accident a highway patrolman came on the scene. He could hear ole Bessie moaning, so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took 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. Now then, how are you feeling?" I replied: "I'm fine!" 

(e-mailed by Larry Mahoney)