The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-04-01
From the Brandon Republican.
An Intelligent Witness.

4, Not many years ago q 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 fouy
pound weight. Ben was stout, strong
man, with huge lungs, and not in the hab-
it of refusing a social drink with a friend.
lie was only tolerably good natured fell
low when he had "a brick in his hat, +"
and feasted on the details of fisticufl
with great relish. Ben was called up by
the State and politely requested to tell
all he knew aboutit. After squarmg him
self round time or two, and S~'tlsting
his quid, he began in his peculia1~,a sal
voice.
Well, we all went to the sale-there
was big crowd thar-some was drinkin
and some wan't-I was, Judge, sortar 50
myself Well, Noel Hales was thar tryin
to buy an old spotted sow that run close
to him. Noel is 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,
'whar's daddy ?''--
"Go on Mr.--,tell us all about the
fight"
Well, as was sayin, Noel wanted
the SOW and was afeared he couldn't buy
her without gettin somebody to stand for
him, and ] told him eff he'd make me safe
I'd go it or die; and he said he'd pawn
his gun, but hit was at Wingates shop
to be fixed. i told him all right Noel"
hit shan't brake squares with us, no how.
Well Noel he bid three dollars and dime,
and quarter, and can't say which, IN
the p0sStice"-
go on, sir, if you please, about the
fight
Well, give me time to bring it round
right YELL, Noel didn't git the SOW, be-
1rN0...sJ ohm Wall bid more'n she was with.
ell then COW was put up and Foster
bid ten dollars and quarter and she was
knocked off to him. Foster said he only
bid ten dollars, and s, said he bid len and
quarter. They gwen We ,Nin and l
thought enough was said for man to
fight on, but Foster tuck it. They kept
on iowerin, and at last S. told Foster
he'd be--ef he'd scrupulate. Eos
ter said he'd be--ef he d comboicate
from what he said. Well, about this time
felt dry and went over to the doggery
with several and we all took astiff drink
TUCK mine with sweetnin, Judge. Well
Noel Hailes seemed hurt about not gittir
the SOW, so | says, Noel, lets have some
music to make us feel better See he
Ben, / know YOU are friend to me, ant
efyou'll git Abe Lard to play "Cottol
eyed joe" | II treat to half a pint We'll
in this time we hearn the fuss over thu
way and went out, and who should we SCI
but S. lying down on the piezzer, ant
Foster as pale as skinned milk. SEE
men, let's have fair fight. Some ont
said. Ben, they've already fit"
"Mr.---, did you see the fight 7"
well, / can't say as did, nor can
say / didn't | mought, then again
moughtn't."
ado You recollect anything about il
or were you in condition to recollect I!
"Well, Squire, you rather got me tina
The fact is, | sometimes git discombobt
lated, and my remembrance amt yer
clare; but one thing I'm sure of, Judge
and that is, Noel treated; eff he didn
I'll be--p
Here the State informed him that b
could stand aside, and the Court not hal
pening to hear the oath the witness Wa
permitted to retire amid the suppresse
laughter of the whole courtroom.
SYNTAN.
A Fancy Dmner.-A tall, long-leggt
Hoosier, from Jasper county, indiana
distinguished by little head perched
cranes ck-accoutred with swallo
tailed coat, and pantaloons that refuse
to be coaxed down to the ankles-boo
shining with tallow, and hat that scorn'
over half an inch of brim-stalked in
the Richmond House, to get what
called fancy dinner" Being SHOW