A Flaw in Our Judicial System

Accusing me of being a thief,
I denied the act and sought relief
from a group of my peers;
scalawags, robbers,
burglars, and other mal-contents
chosen for jury-duty without my consent.

"Deadlocked!" came the jury's reply,
the wise, old judge then asked "Why?"

"We can't tell the truth from a lie," said
the foreman.

"Well, hell!" said the judge, "Neither
can I. But go back in there and deliberate
this man's fate. We ain't got all day to wait."

"Why can't we just flip a coin, your Honor?"

"Well, don't look at me, I don't have one
for you to use," said the judge, as he turned
toward the crowd looking for a donor.

No one rose for the occassion,
so I reached into my pocket and tossed
a coin to the judge,
not realizing it was of great value,
collectable,
antiquited and obscure, rare
as a hen's golden tooth,
stolen from the victim
and part of the loot.

"Never mind" said the judge
to the jury, "It suddenly appears
that the accused has volunteered
to plead for mercy from this court."

The court finds him " Guilty -
by reason of insanity,
with a year-to-serve-and-ponder
the error of his ways
and the court imposes a token fine
to re-imburse this court
for its time and expense,

Thus, this court is now dismissed!"
as he pocketed the quarter
that I haven't seen since.