The Proof

9. The Proof

Once Nasreddin was elected a judge in his village. He faced a very puzzling case. In the trial the victim stated that the suspect had bitten his right ear. But the suspect argued that the victim has bitten his own ear.

Nasreddin said, “This is really a confusing case. The two explanation are contradictory. And there is no witness. Okay, the law trial is in recess for 30 minutes.”

After that, Nasreddin left the court and went to an empty room next door. There he tested the suspect’s and victim’s argument by biting his own ears. Whenever he victim’s argument by biting his own ears. Whenever he tried, he fell down. Therefore, his head was swollen all over. He smiled as he had found the answer to the case.

He started the trial again, “Let me see the victim’s head.”, said he.

The victim stepped up and Nasreddin examined the victim’s head. After examining the head for a while, Nasreddin said, “The victim is right. The logic is as follows. If his head was swollen, it would show that he bit his own ear and the suspect would win the court. But the fact is his head is not swollen. It means that his ear had been bitten by the suspect.”