midnight
Then Ward , who had kept in the background , was called , in the hope to save one of the defendants . Him Bart cross-examined , and it was observed that after a question or two he arose and turned upon him , and plied him with questions rapid and unexpected , until he was embarrassed and confused . Brace , by objections and argument , intended as instructions to the witness , only increased his perplexity , and he finally sat down with the impression that he had made a bad exhibition of himself , and had damaged the case . It was now midnight , when the evidence was closed , and Barton proposed to submit the case without argument . Brace objected . He wanted to explain the case , and clear up the mistakes , and expose the rascalities of the plaintiff 's witnesses ; and the trial was adjourned until the next morning . When the case was resumed the following day , Bart , in a clear , simple way , stated his case , and the evidence in support of it , making two or three playful allusions to his profound and accomplished opponent .