The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-11
An Intelligent Witness.


! Not may, ,yeamago a criminal was tried
an nm adjoining county, in which one Ben
--was alnaterial witness for the State.
The charge was that" Foster made an at
tempt TO kiIl.o S. witlfsa four pound
weight. Ben was stout strong man, with
huge lungs, and not i'll the habit Of refus-
ing social drink-wi,h a$friend. 3 lie was
only toerab(y good natured fellow when
he had II "brick in his hat" and feasted on
the details otfa tisticuIf with great relish.
Ben was called up by the State, and polite
ly requested 10 tell all he knew about it..
After squaring himself round time Or two,
and adjusting his quid, he began in his pc
cular. nasal voice:
S"Wel we.alRwenttothe-s ale-thcre was
Il big crowd thar-some was drinkin, and
some wan't-I' was, Judge, sortar so my
self. We'll, Noel HaIes was thar tryin' to
buy an old spotted sowsthat run close to
him. \ Noel is a good feIlcr, Judge, but he
amt smart; he went to SJackson onst, and
his daddy got out of sight, and he went
about axing every man he met, "Whar dad
"Go on, Mr.--, tell US all about the
fight" ~
We'll, as was sayin' Noel wanted the
sow, and was afeared,hc couldn't buy her
without gitlin' somebody to stand for him,
and | told him efhe'd make NE safe ia do
it or die; and he said he'd pawn his gun,
but hit was at Wingat's shop to be fixed.
told him 'All right, Noel" lit, shan't break
squares with lis, no how" We'll, Noel he
did bid three dollars and dime or quar-
ter, and | can't say wlich,in in tic positire."-
"Go on, sir, if you please about the
fight"
"Well give me time TO bring it round
right Well, Noel didn't git the SOW, be-
cause John Wall bid morn size WAS wulh
Well then COW was put up,and Foster bid
ten dollars and q quarter, and she was
knocked off, to hir.. Foster said lie only
bid ten dollars, and S. said he bid ten and
a quarter. 'Fhey gott disputin,' and, /
thought enough was said for !. man to fight
on, but Foster took,it. - They kept 'on iow-
erin, and at last S. told Fcster, he'd be
--cf he'd scrupulate. Foster said he'd
bic---ef he'd colnbolcate from What he
said. We'll, about this time fclt3dry, and
went over TO the 2doggery with several, and
we all tuck stiff drink,'I tuck mine with
swectnin', Judge, Well, Noel lIales seem
ed hurt about not gittin' the SOW, SO Says
Noel, let's have some music to make us
fell bette'." yScz he, "Bcn, Iknow. yolrarc
friend 10 mo, and cf You'll git Nbe,Eard
to play "Cottoncyed-Joc," Ill treat to Il
hal' pint, Well, i'll, time VIC hearn the fuss
over the way, and went out, and who should
we see but S. lying down on the pizzcr, and
Foster us pale as Skinned milk. Sell,
"Mcn"i let's have fair fight" Some one
said, "Ben, they've already fit"
"Mr.--did you eethe fght?''
swell, squire, you rather got INC, thar. -,
The fact is sometimes git discombobolated,
and my demembrance amt vcry:clare; but,
one thing Pm sure of, Judge, and that is
Noel treated; cf he didn't Ill be-.-"
1Ierethe State informed him that he
could-stand asi.l",Yand the Court not hap
pcning to hear the oath, the witness was
permitted to- retire amid the suppressed
laughter ofthe whole court room.
brandon Republican.