Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-05-03
Yunlara,Ins Aeaolllg,
E7RnR4I IIFB IN LoUIsIANA.

y -
RURAL LIFE I'm LOUISIANA.
SCENE IN COURT.
1.-The next case,' said the Judge, as he
masticated the stump of an extinguishine
cigar, is the State Us. Smelter; indictment
for assault and battery. .r -.
sAThe District Attorney ran his long bonJ
fingers through his bushy hair, and re
marked, with confident swagger,. I'VE art
ready to take the case up and dproceed to trial.
goURr. .-tDoes anybody represent defen
dant Smelter? AS this question failed t.
draw forth an answer, the Court continued
sMr Sheriff, bring in the prisoner
"A very muscular, dirty-faced man IL
seedy garments, arose to his feet, stalked
heavily towards the Judges desk, expecto
rated asmall riyulet of tobacco juice upon
tho floor, and, in stentorian voice, bawled
.ont, sEre / am Judge; what in the devil
,ye want with feller p ~. -.
GoUKT.s sSmelter, the grand inquest Of
the parish has preferred an indictment
against you for assault and battery. Have
you employed counsef2, s; - 80
SMEITER.-sNo, Judge, I haint. What
sath' dis the, o'that; acknowledge
: the corn. I did give Peter few sockdol-
s layers with these ere, that's a fact, (hold.
{ Ing up his clenched 6stsD and I reckon it
kin be substantiated.'
CoURr-tFhen you plead guilty, as
charged in the indictment, do you p ...
.S.lsWell, as for that, Judge, I don't
see what's the use O. not pleadin' guilty
do you2 Jest to have to pay lawyer for
& telling lies fur yer, when. everybody knows
y they'd be lies, too; besides, I'd heap
rather- - s,EE
G.-tWhat are your means, Smelter p
ssS.-Why, Judge, / means to do what's
right, and nothin' shorter ..
yC.-sYou can't understand, Mr.. Smelter
the Court wishes to know what is your Pc
cuniary standing?' ~ .-...
SO, yes, I see. What, at the time |
ft him7'
C.sYes.' .,-s'..
Swell, you see, Judge, my peculiar
standin' was just this, (bringing his left fist
across his breast, advancing the other Oh
range with his eye, at the same time ex-
tending his left foot, y besides, you see, my
back was again an old barrel, so he couldn't
tack my rare, as Gen. Jackson or Scott
once said, I d'sremember now which
vaG.-Stop, Smelter, the Court wishes to
know if you have any money.
Sob, money! nary red, Judge, 'cept
sthe:tRo 2naff what you owe me for ferriage.
G.-Tben the judgment of this Court is,
that you be confined in the parish Jail for
4shonrs dating from tomorrow morning.
s.-Then say, Judge, I'd like to know
how in the deuce you're gwine to git over
che bayou eff you sock me in the jug. l
haint got nobody to help pull the ferry fiat,
and don't want nobody nuther.
.sMeanderipg in front of Bastilia is a
r stream of water known as bayou Turtle,
down which the angry current rushes with
a frightful velocity, 'Writhiug and twisting
: like serpent in extreme agony The on
b means of crossing it was in fiat, the
property of Smelter, and the mode of ferry
ing wassby, hauling on a rope stretched a.
cross the bayou and traversiug through
standards fastened to the guuwales of the
boat. The Judges'boardiug-house was sit
uated on the opposite side of the stream,
and it SO happened perhaps by previous
concert among the citizens-that on this
particular evening that gentleman and Mr..
Smelter were the occupants of the boat
As they neaIed the channel, the latter drew
forth from leather sheath at his girdle an
Is old rusty knife, and placing the blade a.
GROSS the rope, called out:
II say Judge, you kin swim, can't yer !?
mo, Smelter; but why do you ask that
question:
sBekase,, my jewlarky, I'm gwine to cut
this ere rope, and let the old crazy boat 60 to
thunder,sRhich she's sure to do eff she
strikes one % them snags, ef you don't re-
init that ar Judgment the State got agin me
Sin your Court to-day
sztWhy, Smelter, exclaimed the Judge,
inevident trepidstion, you're derauged.-
The Court can't possibly do that at present.
Such procedure would be signally infor-
NAL in fact super-extra-j judicial, and of
mo force or validity. The Court, you OBJ
serve, is notnow in the position of Court,
but merely that OLA private individual ;
hence whatever course it might pursue in
the present exigeney, would avail you
nought. True, my friend, when the Court
is sn line or function it is then the ex-
ponent of the law, and knows no other mot
to than tfat .jatstitia ruat celuma,' and so
long as the judicial ermine is entwined a.
round me. the Court is determined to pre-
! serve it pure and untarnished, or die mar
#tyrin the attempt. But, Smelter, you are
q good sort of fellow, and I'll tell you
what I'll do -
well, Judge, let's have it quick. The
boat shan't bulge mare nuther inch till
gifts my just rights s. ~
1T is this, Smelter If you will land the
Court safely, it will pay you double ferriage
in addition to the sum it is already in de-
fault
Cant begin to do it, Judge and Mr..
Smelter severed one strand of the rope
Remit that ar judgment right here, in
Chambers, I believe you call it, don't yer ;?
or I'll let 'er rip, and have you 'settin'
astraddle of that snag in one mint
Hold, hold, Smelter, don't do that
Put up your knife and approach the Court
tomorrow morning, and if you can snow