The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-11-17
A PARTICULAR WITNESS.
From The Richmond Wing.

Scene at Chatham during the session Oh
the Circuit Court, in the case of Common
wealth vs. Cassidy, on charge OF mali
ciOus stabbing.
The venire being impaneled, and the
jury solemnly charged by the clerk the
Commonwealth Attorney called, in sup
port of the indictment, the witness, Buck
Bryant, who being solemnly sworn the
truth to tell. testified as follows:
Question by Commonwealth Attorney.
Tell all you know about the cutting of the
prosecutor, by Cassidy the prisoner at the
bar.
Ans.-Well, gentlemen, it was election
day-'twas a dark, cloudy, wet sort of
drizzly day, and says to my old woman.
1 believe I'll go down to Ringgold and
'posite my vote. And says my old woman
to me, well, Buck, as it is a sort of dark,
cloudy, wet sort of drizzly day. says she,
hadn't you better take your umbrill. Says
to the old woman, spect l had better
take the umbrill. SO l took the umbrill
and advanced down towards Ringgold. and
when l got down thar, Mr.. Cole coined,
and says he, uncle Buck, have you seed
anything of old neighbour Harris q! Says
] to Mr.. Cole. for why Says he. he's
got my umbrell. (The witness was here
interrupted by the Court and told to con-
fine himself to the actual fray between the
prisoner and Cole, the prosecutor. In
answer to which the witness remarked, in
a tone of indignat remonstrance, we'll now.
Mr.. Judge you hold on, for am sworn to
tell the truth, and am gwine to tell it my
own way-so faint worth while for you to
say nothing more about it-whereupon the
court and commonwealth attorney, being
anxious to get rid Of the witness on any
terms, told him to go on and tell the tale
his own way,) Well, as 1 was going on to
say twas on one lection day. Buchanan
and Filmo was running for the legislator,
and says to my old woman, old woman,
says I, bleve I'll go down to Ringgold
and post my vote. Says my old woman
TO me, says she, Buck, as it is sort of a
dark, cloudy, rainy, damp. drizzly sort of
of day, hadn't you better take your umbrill
says she Says | to the old woman, says
], l spect had better take my umbrill SO
tuck the umbrill and advanced on towards
Ringgold, till arrlv thar. Well, the first
thing l did when got thar was to take
drink of American whiskey, which was
monstrous good. and says to myself, says
old boss, you feel better now, don't you
And while L was advancing around. Mr..
Cole he come to me says he, uncle Buck.
says he, have you seen anything ofold neigh
Dor Harris Says /, for why Says he,
the old cocks got my umbrill. AFTER
while, / posted my vote, and then Mr..
Cole and me advanced back towards home,
and Mr.. Cole was tighter than l ever seed
him. And SO we advanced along till we
got to whar the road and path forked, and
Mr.. Cole and me tuck the path. as any
other gentlemen would, and arter advanc-
ing a while. we arriv to old neighbour
Harris settin on a log with the umbrell
on his arm, and bout that time Elijah Cas-
sadly 1.-THE prisoner) coined up, and we ad-
yanced on till we arriv at Elijah's house
Elijah is my neffew and likewise my SON.
in-law-he married my darter Jane which
is next to my darter Sally. AFTER we had
advanced to Elijah's house we stood in the
yard awhile jawing. and presently two
somebody's rid up on a boss. which was
Johnston before and Whitfield Cassidy
behind.-Whitefeld and Kiah Cassidy be-
ing the same. Elijah and Kiah is brothers
both born in the nat'ral way like anybody
else's brothers, no gals between 'em, and
both of 'em is about the same age, especial
ly Kiah. which ar the youngest. Kiah war
drunk. and he and Mr.. Cole got to cussing
one another about politx and | advanced
in the house whar Elijah's wife, which is
my daughter Jane which is next to nv
darter Sally. Well, arter jawing a while
with 'em, my little neffew says he to me.
says he, Uncle Buck, let's GU home. Saws
|, good pop, so We pegged on together, and
/ heard somebody a calling me, but never
tentioned 'em nor advanced back. Well,
got home and was a Getting my supper,
and Elijah, which is my son-in-l law, and
married my darter Jane, which is next to
my carter Sally, arrivd, and says he to me,
Uncle Buck. says he, i've killed a man.
Says |, the hell you have. And this is all
i know about the stabbing, because want
thar.