Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-11-02

Niu gN'HE t9; WIZ Who WI lthlo lLC
Circuit Judg, in that portion Of Louisiana,
known aS Attakapas county, was Justly
celebrated for his legal learning, and was
greatly beloved hy his ucighbor' and fricnd..
IL wns stern, up,igll aud honest, and the
death uf the good old man, which occurred
some years ago, was universally regretted
throughout the State.
Bot with all his book lore and legal at
toinments,he was prehaps the greenest man
at calds in his entire circuit. 1t has been
said tina; he did not know the sack OF
1rumps" from a diamond. In the village
OF OpeiJusas, three individuals were sitting
round 4 table, in one of those doggerics,
'Wiih Il billiard table attached" which are
so common in III, Creole parishes, playing
a small game of three handed poker, when
a qrarrcl cnsuad, which resulted in an az.
g~raya;cd 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 "rhc State Of Louisiana rs. John
Alien, for an assault and battery, with in
tent 10 kill, on the body Of Enos Griggs."
The trial came on, and the only witness
to the allray wa, a Captain Johnson, who
was the third in the game. Johnson was
the skipper Of one OF those crafts which
transport sugar from that section Of the
country to New Orleans; he was n selfcon-
fident, go-ahead fellow, and was As UNI
daunted before the judge and jury as he
would have been before the crew ofhis W
little craft. After being sworn, he was di-
rected to tell the court and jury every
thing he knew about the affair.
After clearing his throat, he commenced
by stating, that him, and Griggs, and John
All II were over at Boullct's grocery, the
second day OF the election, when Allen pro-
posed they should have a small game of
poker all agreed 10 it, and W. went up
stairs, and sat down TO the game did moi
know that there was any hash feelings be-
tween Griggs and Allen, or | wouldn't a
played, but heard aftcrwards--"
Here The witness was interrupted by the
Court, who directed him to keep all hear
says to himself. and c%onlne himself strictly
to the facts of the case.
The witness continued "Well, we sat
down 10 the tablo-Griggs sat there, John
Allen here, and | there (making a diagram
olthe clerks table, in order to clucidalc the
position of the partics), John Allen dealt
the cards; | went blind Griggs he went
blind, and John Allen wouldn't see
him.
The Judge, who was a little deaf, was IN
the habit o makn g an ear trumpet of his
hand, for the purpose Of sharpening his
hearing, and throwing his lead a little for
ward and Sideways, interrupted the witness
By asking him, "what was the reason that
John Allen didn't see Griggs?'
The witness replied, Il don't know, but
he wouldn't lock at him."
Proceed says the Judge.
well, | saw him and he saw, and just at
that minute
Stop, sir says the Judge, throwing him
self into a hearing attiIude-'did under
stand you that you went JLind!'.
'Ycs, sir, | went blind, and Griggs he
was blind, and Allen wouldn't see, but |
san Griggs, and then he saw
Witness = exclaimed the Judge, strik-
inc the bench with his clcnched fist, do |
hear you right, sir? Do you say that you
went blind, and then you saw!
'Yes, SIR replied the witness, Il saw
Griggs, and Griggs saw, and just at that
Stop, sir said the Judge. Mr.. Clerk,
fine the witness fifty dollars for contempt
of Court, and direct the sheriff to take him
to Jail, and there to keep him until he re-
cicves further orders from the Court. Call
up the mex case, Mr.. Clerk
Captain Johnson was dumfoundcd, and
did not awake to the reality of his condition.
until the sheriffla laid his hands on him, when
he exclaimed, Good Heavens, Mr.. Judge,
what have | done, that | must 90 to
jailr
The Judge, who was purple with rage,
did not deign to reply TO poor Johnson, but
reiterated the order with increased vehe-
mence, and the junior members Of the bar,
who had been anticipating the fr that the
Captain would be eventually placed in,were
convulsed with laughter, which increased
the rage of the old Judge to the highest
pitch. The prosecuting attorney endeavor-
ed to enlighten the Judge, and eventually
succeeded, but not until he had produced a
pack of cards, and after dealing out three
hands, made the blind as clear as day to the
Judge.
The fine aud imprisonment were remit
ted, order was restored in the Court, and
Capt. Johnson was allowed to proceed with
his testimony.
BREvET MAJOR.
ESGLIsu AND AMERIcAN.-The Cana
dian True Witness thanks God, 'in reading