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7. TANKER : OF PETROL OR WATER?
A cigarette smoker threw a burning cigarette butt on a heap of cotton in a godown without extingushing it. In no time, there was a fire which spread rapidly. The entire godown was gutted down causing the owner a loss of millions. The owner had seen the smoker commit this act, so he filed a suit in the court claiming a compensation. The smoker was made to stand in the witness box.
He was asked, “Is it true that you were smoking a cigarette?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Had you thrown the burning butt away, once you were done?”
“Yes, my Lord.” “Did the butt fall in the godown?” “Yes, my Lord.”
“Then you will have to make good the loss of Rs.five million, as the fire was caused by your burning cigarette."
“No, my Lord! It is not true that my cigarette caused the fire.”
The judge, the lawyers from both sides and the entire court were stunned by the answer, “If your cigarette did not cause the fire, then what did?”
“My Lord! There was a fire because the godown was filled with cotton. If the godown had been filled with iron scrap, leave alone a cigarette butt, even a burning log of wood would have been ineffective to start the fire.”
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