[Two shy sisters testify at Deeds's sanity hearing]
John Cedar:
Do you know the defendant, Mr. Longfellow Deeds?
[long pause]
Jane Faulkner:
Oh yes, yes, of course we know him.
John Cedar:
How long have you known him?
[Jane whispers to Amy; Amy whispers back]
Jane Faulkner:
Since he was born.
Amy Faulkner:
Yes, Elsie Taggart was the midwife.
Jane Faulkner:
He was a seven months' baby.
John Cedar:
Thank you, that's, that's fine. Do you see him very often?
[Jane whispers to Amy; Amy whispers back]
Jane Faulkner:
Most every day.
Amy Faulkner:
Sometimes twice.
Judge May:
Must we have the echo?
John Cedar:
Suppose you just answer, Miss Jane. Now, will you tell the court what everybody at home thinks of Longfellow Deeds?
[pause; then Jane whispers to Amy; Amy whispers back]
Jane Faulkner:
They think he's pixilated.
Amy Faulkner:
Oh, yes, pixilated.
Judge May:
He's what?
John Cedar:
What was that you said he was?
Jane Faulkner:
Pixilated.
Amy Faulkner:
Mm-hmm.
John Cedar:
Now that's rather a strange word to us, Miss Jane. Can you tell the court exactly what it means?
Court Doctor:
Perhaps I can explain, Your Honor. The word "pixilated" is an early American expression derived from the word "pixies," meaning elves. They would say the pixies had got him. As we nowadays would say, a man is "balmy."
Judge May:
Oh. Is that correct?
Jane Faulkner:
Mm-hmm.
Amy Faulkner:
Mm-hmm.
