This is a very, very old shaggy dog. I have modified it from a recent posting by Steve Poge.

Once upon a time, a King became convinced that a member of his royal court was betraying state secrets to the enemy. He called the Counts all together and demanded that the traitor confess. No one spoke.

“I will behead all of you until the traitor admits his guilt,” roared the King! Still no response. Along came the Royal Executioner. WHOP! The first victim lost his head. WHOMP! Then another.

The third suddenly cried, “Wait, wait, I did it”! But it was too late, and he too met his fate by the Executioner’s blade.

The moral? Don’t hatchet your Counts before they chicken.