Drifter's Escape

";Oh, help me in my weakness,";
I heard the drifter say,
As they carried him from the courtroom
And were taking him away.
";My trip hasn't been a pleasant one
And my time it isn't long,
And I still do not know
What it was that I've done wrong.";

Well, the judge, he cast his robe aside,
A tear came to his eye,
";You fail to understand,"; he said,
";Why must you even try?";
Outside, the crowd was stirring,
You could hear it from the door.
Inside, the judge was stepping down,
While the jury cried for more.

";Oh, stop that cursed jury,";
Cried the attendant and the nurse,
";The trial was bad enough,
But this is ten times worse.";
Just then a bolt of lightning
Struck the courthouse out of shape,
And while ev'rybody knelt to pray
The drifter did escape.