The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-03-10
AneCdOte of a Louisiana judge.

AneCdOte Of a Louisiana Judge.
4 correspondent of the N. Y. Spirit
of The Times relates the following an
eciote, which is particularly interesting
in this section:
Old Judge LIS, who was for wears
tie Circuit Judge in that portion of
Louisiana known as Attakapas County,
vas justly celebrated for his legal
Earning, and was greatly beloved by
his neighbors and friends. He was
Stern, upright, and honest-and the
ceath of the good old man, which &C.
CURED some years ago, was universally
regretted throughout the State.
But with all his book lore and legal
attainments, he was prehaps the green
est man at cards in his entire Circuit
It has been said that he did not know
the g Jack of Trumps' from a diamond
In the village of Opelousas. as three
individuals were sitting round table
in one of those doggeries, with bill
lard table attached" which are so
common in the Creole parishes, play
ing small game of three handed
poker, a serious quarrel ensued, which
resulted In an aggravated case of
assault and battery. This did not end
the affair, for at the next term of the
court, at the head of the docket stood
"The State of Louisiana u.s. John Allen.
for an assault and battery with intent TO
kill. on the body of Enos Griggs.a
The trial mo oI1 and Tho
ness to the affray was Captain John
son, who was the third man in the
game. Johnson was the skipper of one
OF those crafts which transport sugar
from that section of the country 10 New
Orleans. and was self-confdent, go
ahead fellow, and was as undaunled
before the Judge and jury as he would
have been before the crew of his own
little craft. After being sworn, he was
directed to tell the Court and jury
everything he knew about the affair.
After clearing his throat, he com
nenced by stating, "that him and
Griggs and John Allen were over at
Boullet's grocery, the second day of
the election, when Allen proposed that
they should have a small game of po-
ker; all agreed to it, and we wen. up
stairs and sat down TO the game; did
not know that there was any hash feel
ings between Griggs and Allen, or
wouldn't a played, but heard after
wards"- -.#.-.
Here the witness was interrupted by
the Court, who directed him to keep
all hearsays to himself and conine
himself strictly to the facts of the case.
The witness cantlnued-"W Well we
sat down to the table-Griggs sot there,
John Allen here, and there (making
a diagram on the clerks table in order
to elucidate the position of the Iarties),
John Allen dealt the cards, | went
blind, Griggs he went blind and John
Allen wouldn't see him"
The Judge, who was little deaf,
was in the habit of making an ear
trumpet of his hand for the ppsRose of
sharpening his hearing-and ng
his head little forward and sideways,
interrupted the witness by asking him,
Iwhat was the reason that John Allen
didn't see GriggsW %
The witness replied, ~ don't know,
but he wouldn't look at him."
Proceed" says the Judge.
"WelI, saw him, and he saw, and
Just at that minute"
"Stop, sir" says the Judge, throwing
himself into hearing altitude" did
! underland you to say, that you went
blind w y.
"Yes, sir! I went blind, and Griggs
he was blind, and Allen wouldn't see,
but saw Griggs, and then he saw"
Witness p exclaimed the Judge,
striking the bench with his clenched
fist, ato | hear you Alright, sir? Do
you say that you went blind, and then
you saU?p =
'Yes, sir" replied the witness, ~
saw Griggs, and Gfiggs saw and just
. Stop, sir,n said the Judge. "Mr.
Clerk, fine the witness fifty dollars for
contempt of Coart and direct the sheriff
to take him to Jail, and there to keep
him until he receives further orders
from the Court. Call up the next case,
Mr.. Clerk" E.i
Capt. Johnson was dumfounded, and
did not awake 10 the reality of his con-
.dition until the sheriff laid his hands
on him, when he exclaimed: "God
mighty, Mr.. Judge, whathave | done,
that vnDst p0 In iail 2r t-e r 81