Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-05-20
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From the Brandon Republican.
AN INTELLIGENT WITNESS.

Not many years ago a criminal case was
tried in an adjoining county, in which one
Ben was a material witness for the
State. The charge was that Foster made an
attempt to kill one S. with a~four pound
weight. Ben was a stout, strong man with
huge lungs, and not in the habit of refusing
q social drink with a friend. he was only q
tolerably good natured fellow whenshe had
Ga brick in his hat" and Toasted on the de-
tails of a fstieuff with great relish. Ben was
called up by the State and politely request
ed TO tell all he knew about it. After squar'
ing himself round a time or two, and adjust.
ing his quid, he began in his peculiar, usual
voice.
"Well, we all went to the sale-there was
asbig crowd thar-some was drinking and
some wsn't-I was, Judge, sortar so myself.
Well, Noel Hales was thar trying to buy an
old spotted SOW that run close to him. Noel
is a good Teller Judge, but he amt smart
he went to jackson onst and his daddy got
out Of sight, and he went about axing every
man he met, stwhar's daddyg" "a
eGo on MI: -, tell us all about the
fight" - 49, -a
"Well, as I was sayin, Noel wanted the
SOW and was afeared he couldn't buy her
without getting somebody to stand for. him,
and T toldhim of he'd make me. safe, I'd go
it or die; and he said he'd pawn his gun,
but hit was at Wingate's shop to be fixed. I
told him call right Noel" hit shan't break
squares with us, no how. Well, Noel bid,
he bid three dollars and a dime, or a quar-
ter, and / can't say which IN the positive"
"Go on sir, if you please, about the fight"
ssMWell, give me time to bring it round
light. Well. Noel didn't git the SOW, be-
kass John Wall bid more'n she was wuth.
Well, then . COW was put up and Foster bid
ten dollars and qiuarterand she was knock
ed off to him. Foster said he only bid ten
dollars, and s. said he bid ten and a
quarter. They got to disputin andI thought
enough was sed for a man to fight, on, but
Foster tuck it. They kept on jowerin, and
at last s. told Foster he'd be - eff
he'd scrppulate. Foster said he'd BEEF
he'd combolicate from what he said::@ We'll,
about this time Z felt dry and went over to
the doggery with several, and We all tooka
stiff drink. i tuck mine with sweetnin,
Judge. Well, Noel Hales seemed hurt a.
bout not gett:n the SOW, so I says Noel, lets
have some music to make US feel better
SEE he, Ben, I know you are a friend to me,
and ef you'll git Abe Lard to play "Cotton
eyed joe" I'll treat to half a,pint. Well,
in this time we hearn the fuss over the way
and went out, and who. should we see but
S-lying down on the piezzer, and Foster
as pale as skinned milk. See I, men, let's
have afairight. Some one said, Ben, they've
already ft."
AMr. - did you>see the 6ght?" y
s"Well, can't say as L did, nor I can't
say I didn't. I mought, then again I
m%oughtn't." ~: t,4a Et.' ~ "
r"Do you rrecollect any thing aboutit it, or
were you in a condition to recollect?"
"Wel, Squire, you rather got me thar.
The fact is, I sometimes git di%scombobola-
ted, and my remembrance amt very clare i;
but one thing I'm ~suresof, Judge, and that
is, Noel treated;>e be didn't I'll be -"
Here the State informed himthat he could
stand aside, and the court not happening to
hear the oath, the witness was permitted to
retire amid the suppressed laughter of the
whole court room.