The use of "if" in courtroom cross-examination

-- by JLS
---- for the GC

GRICE noted that 'if' is a very useful operator. He proposed a mock trial:

--- Cock Robin was killed.

---- The question: 'who'?

---

Well, if it wasn't the Robin, it was the Wren. Right?

Right. For it either was the Robin OR the Wrent.

---- Whereas 'or' looks for contigency planning, 'if' answers interrogative subordination in pis aller sequences. Or something. --- And then there's the Mad Hatter.