철도 건널목 사고 (Accident at a railroad crossing)

철도 건널목 사고

[번역: 일수거인 120430]

어떤 철로 건널목에서의 끔찍한 사고에서, 열차가 승용차를 들이받고 거의 400 야드나 끌고갔다. 사망자는 없었지만, 운전자는 열차회사를 걸어 소송을 냈다.

재판에서, 기관사는 자기가 거의 1 분 동안이나 랜턴을 앞뒤로 흔들면서 자동차 운전자에게 충분히 경고를 보냈었노라고 주장하였다. 그는 벌떡 일어서서 자기가 취하였던 행동을 설득력 있게 보여주기까지 하였다. 재판부는 그의 이야기를 믿고, 그 사건을 기각하였다.

"축하드립니다," 재판이 끝나고 변호사가 기관사에게 말했다. "반대신문을 참 멋지게 받아 넘기셨어요."

"고마워요," 그가 말했다, "하지만 전 조마조마했었어요."

"어째서요?" 변호사가 물었다.

"그 랜턴에 불이 켜져 있었느냐고 물어볼까봐서요!"

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Accident at a railroad crossing

In a terrible accident at a railroad crossing, a train smashed into a car and pushed it nearly four hundred yards down the track. Though no one was killed, the driver took the train company to court.

At the trial, the engineer insisted that he had given the driver ample warning by waving his lantern back and forth for nearly a minute. He even stood and convincingly demonstrated how he'd done it. The court believed his story, and the suit was dismissed.

"Congratulations," the lawyer said to the engineer when it was over. "You did superbly under cross-examination."

"Thanks," he said, "But he sure had me worried."

"How's that?" the lawyer asked.

"I was afraid he was going to ask if the lantern was lit!"