The weekly Placer herald., 1854-05-13
& Haint been stealin' NOthin.'

mont, WHICH we COIslueI toO Soou " NC
lost.
Many of the jury, together with the
Judge and lawyers, were intending to par
ticipate in celebration of a society in
which they were, consequently, in their
anxiety to close up the term, rushing
cases through with all the dispatch that
honor aud Justice would permit.
At half past one O'Clock one day, an
intermssion of half an hour for dinner
was granted, with strict injunction from
the Judge that all hands must be back
punctualy at one. CLOCK, to commence
new case of larceny.
The dinners that day were swallowed
with great rapidity than usual, and as the
clock struck one, the officers of the law
rushed into the court like chickens into a
meal trough.
While they were eating their dinner,
however, young man from the kedntry'
being somewhat anxious to see the man
ner in which justice was meted out,
walked into the court room, and as he af-
forwards expressed himself, took squint
at all the seats, and seein' there was no
one in the incest one, with g ralin' all
round it, thought he'd make sure on it,
'fore the fellers got back from dinner
In five minutes after the crowd entered
the room, the Judge raped the desk with
the butt end of his iack-knife, and with a
dignifed frown, cried
sSlence in the court!'
sSilence in the courtn repeated the
broad shouldered constable, leaning on
the ratings in front of his honor imme-
diately resuming the occupation of pick
ing his teeth with pin.
sSilence'n the court!' echoed the
squeaking voice of a small red headed
constable near the door, and the latter
speaker Immediately commenced elbow
ing the crowd, right and left, to let them
know he was round.
'All ready p said the Judge
'All ready replied the attorney.
Command the prisoner to stand up,
says the Judge, while the indictment is
being read.'
The broad shouldered constable now
walked up to the prisoners box during
the apparent momentary absence of the
sheriff, placed his hand on the shoulder
of the young man and exclaimed
'Stand up!'
'What fur? said the astonished young
farmer.
'To hear the charge read,' exclaimed
the constable.
'WeI. guess kin hear what's goin'
on without standin', as well as the rest on
'em', was the reply.
Stand up,' roared the Judge in burst
Of passon-he had just bitten his tongue
while picking his teeth-young man,
stand up! or the consequences be upon
your head"
The victim came up on his feet as if
under the influence of galvanic battery,
and looking round the court room and no.
ticiDg that all eyes were upon him, with
an expression about as affectionate as that
of rabid dog towards a bowl of water,
he hung his head in confusion and morti
ficaton, and was nearly deaf to the words
of the Indictment; but he heard enough
of the long, complicated, tang senten-
ces to dream that he was charged with
stealing or embezzing, or cheating or pill
fering some house or some body, and
couldn't tell exactly which.
'What does he say to the charge ?
Guilty or not gulty?' inquired the Judge,
peering over his spectaces with look
cold enough to freeze mans blood.'-
OuIlty, OF not RulIty!
The young man ventured to look up in
hopes Of finding a sympathisng eye, but
all were cold and unfriendy, and he again
gaZed on the saw busted floor, and trem-
bled with confusion.
'Guity or not guilty'' again vocifera-
ted the Judge, in a tone that plainly de-
noted impatlence to proceed with the case.
The broad shouldered constable, being
rather humane man, stepped up to the
prisoner, and exclaimed
'You had better say, not guilty, of
course! If you say guilty, you don't
stand no chance, this term, that's sure =
and fyou say not gully, and wish at any
future state Of the case to change your
plea to guilty, you can do it without inlu-
ry to yourself; therefore, advise you to
say, not guilty, and stick to it as long as
there is any chance
Jonathan's feelings had been SIMMER
ing some time, but now they actually boil
ed over, and with look of innocent but
determined resolution, he swung his arms
about his head, and exclaimed
sWhat in all natur' are yeou fallers a
tryin' to dew? | hain't been stealin
nothin'! haiaa't sure!
Just at this moment the front door
opened, and the sheriff entered with the
genuine prisoner, walked into the room
and proceeded at once to the box.