The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-04-12
COURT IN SESSION.

'.Cnll Enoch Robbins, Mr.. Sheriff"
Enoch Robbins was called, and slowly
required TO the Court House, under deep
sense Of the importance Of his situations;
for he was the witness de facio for the
plaintiff. not a witness, but the witness.
lie was not rccolcctcd after tho par
ties had commenced the trial and called
on to prove some trivial ppint, but rs he
expressed himself he was the only wit
ness who could give irrcfrngiblc tes,imo.
ny to oil the pints connected with the casc
-"he was the only man what knowcd
'eln." Squire Robbins was therefore,
regularly served with smpcnm months
beforehand, commanding 10 be nnd mp
pear before their Ilonors, the Associate
Judges of the Cnutof Common Pleas. and
then and there, to testify to the truth, uc-
cording his own knowledge, in ccr-
tain cause depending between Jacob Bot
tom and wife, plaintiffs; and William
Jones, defendant
"Call .Enocl Robbins Esquire, ut the
other door"
Asthe dying echoes from the neigh
boring bills were family prolonging the
name of this important parsonage, with
measured pace he entered the ''I1ull Of
Justice. The "don' tnnswcr" was again
sent up; for Squire Robbins said nothing.
Now any ordinary man under the cir
cumstances would have notified the prop
er officer of his presence, but Mr.. Enoch
Robbins Esq, was not of this character,
. not I,e-he wished 10 lean as fur as possi-
!. ble from the common herd. His position
in society--bcing Magistrate Of the Dis
trict, and the big man ofthc neighborhood
absolutely demanded it, and he endea-
vored to assume pcculiarity-a digni-
fled don't care -ntvcncss-a SUI gemcris.
Is Enoch Robbins in Court? Certainly
he was; but to answer Immediately, and
thus quiet the apprchcnsions ofthe Attor.
ney, with regard to The absence Of mn.
tcrial witness, was too much like ordinary
men for him to harbor for moment any
such intention. But on the other hand
too long delay might deprive him Of an
opportunity Of showing off; SO just us the
Attorney was fidgeting among his pnpers
with extraordinary diligence, and cndca.
voring to decide between motion for con.
tinuance, and the probable appearance OF
his witness, Enoch Robbins presented
himself before him, with "in Court" plain.
" marked upon his peculiar phiz.
,stsAh!Mr. Robbins is in Court; go round
and be sworn, sir. -
s.Mayi it please the Court-gentlcmen
ofthe Jury, this is un action Of trespass
brought by husband and wife, for on as
sault and battery by the wife Of the dcfen
dant; and we will prove it to he, (by E.
nocb Robbins Esq. our only witness, bu
man highly respectable, and of undoub
ted yeraci,y; and who from his relation. L
the pnirties Is we'll acquainted with oil thu
ficts, one ofthe most outrageous acts
that has ever been investigated in cour
Of Justice; and we demund from you
hands such q verdict, as will effectually
deter him, and others from forgetting thei
duties to the gentler SEX"
"Are YOU acquainted with the partie
10 this suit Squire"
81 is, | raised 'em as it war, that
Nancy Bottom lived with mo rad my oil
'oman, nigh on to three years, and very
nice pal she was; ] never knowed nothin,
ooin her till Jake married her, and thel
never knowed nothing. Yes nigh
say raised 'em as ii war, and not swea
to nothing" :.
"You arc acquainted with tho partie
them" -,
,Souire Robbins said nothing. He col,
.;dered his answcr sufficient lucid for q
nractical purposes OF least, and he conten
,ed himself with slight inclination Of tn
haad. and thrust with his digits at hi
hsrh