JUSTICE FOR THE DIM OF WIT

I had nothing for today to post, then I drove the 20 miles to a near by town on some errands.  I walked into the propane office to pay my bill and found the staff in hysterics, almost rolling on the floor laughing. I made them start from the beginning. 

It seems that the past weekend had been big doings in town. The small town is a tourist town that caters to country musicians.  This past weekend was a Bluegrass Festival that draws countless folks from nearby states.  

Hundreds of musicians bring their instruments, gather in groups and perform for the crowds.  Any space available on the courthouse square and "picking park" is occupied by some group entertaining for free.

Lady Justice compliments of Wikipedia

 But along with the festivities on Friday, Lady Justice had a job to do. There was a trial going on in the courthouse at the same time.  The gentleman on trial had 12 counts of fraud leveled at him.  His MO was to pull in front of senior drivers and slam on the breaks causing an accident. 

Now a lot of seniors are borderline having to give up their keys so they dread an accident report. It could be the straw that costs them their driving freedom.  The fellow would talk them out of several thousand dollars in order not to file a claim.  He was not a very nice fellow and it seems, not terribly bright.

The trial had reached the deliberation stage and the jury was secured while reaching a decision.  The prisoner  waited in handcuffs. 

What caused his next action, my story tellers didn't know for certain but he suddenly decided to dive head first out the second story window. Interestingly, the windows were double hung and for some reason, he dove out the top part of the window. That had to take body control. What was he thinking?

Now it could have really been a damaging fall going head first and in handcuffs but he landed just one story down onto  the roof of the courthouse restrooms.  Can you imagine if you had been sitting on the toilet at the time?  Would have scared it right out of you. 

Pretty sure it also loosened the bowels and bladders of the musicians  playing in the immediate area as this fellow flew out the window.

He was knocked a bit goofy by the fall, had a cut head but was quickly apprehended, patched up and secured once again while awaiting the verdict.

The jury returned and while I am sure they wondered about the newly bandaged defendant, they found him guilty on all 12 counts. Don't know what they will do about the attempted escape charge. 

In Arkansas we are constantly mortified to find our selves either at the top or bottom of some surveys regarding wealth, education, health and actual waist  size, usually in an unflattering manner. Very often we are either 49th or 2nd depending on which is worse. 

It is a standing joke that if it weren't for Mississippi, we would take all the negative titles. So we always say, 'thank God for Mississippi' and I am sure Mississippi says the same thing about Arkansas those times we take the honors outright. Hey, someone has to be last.  

So when I was relating this story to a friend who was bemoaning how this guy's   not too bright behavior would look for us, I said, "Well maybe he moved here from Mississippi."

Does your state or area have a reputation that you could do without??