The Shreveport weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1861-1861, 1861-09-30
A Refractory Witness.

have seen men, who, if they
were bribed to speak the truth, who,
if convinced that the plain statement
Of fact as it had occurred. would be
as conducive to their interests, as
any prevarication or exaggeration
concerning it, would yet equivocate
and lie, III a manner truly astonish-
ing. viii give an example Of this
class, which will also serve me to
illustrate the free and easy manner
that prevails in such of our courts as
are, with considerable pleasantly,
denominated, Justice Courts Qucus
a non lucendo.) Old Joshua Banes,
Familiarity called Uncle Jose,' by
the youngsters of the neighborhood,
and "Epitaph JOSH" from the fact
of his lying like a tomb-stone,) by
the legal wags of the vicinity, is the
person to whom l refer. One day
at one of these courts, it became nee
-escessary for the identification Of an
individual to ascertain whether, at a
certain place, he had turned to the
right or the left, and as the
point had arisen incidently, it
was unavoidable, to swear the on
ly individual present in court, who
was known to be acquainted
with the circumstances, and that per-
son was "Epitaph JOSH With much
trepidation, and after considerable
consultation with his client, Josh
was put upon the stand. by the attor-
ney for the plaintiff, who, after the
old man had taken his place, accosted
him thus. well, Uncle Josh, the
boys around here say that you can't
tell the truth but by. accident, but I
know you better, don't I, old fellow
Eyes, Billy you've known the old
man too we'll, to believe all the lies
on him. I've kissed the good book,
my son, and I'll tell the truth as
a single" well, you see there
was pretty smart shower of old
men at Joe Whites entertainment
and We got talking about old times
aud the like, and after we had
taken a dram or two, may be
three, I started up the road,
and as walked along pretty brisk,
/ saw a man ahead of me, whom /
first took for Jim Skies, and when l
looked again, 1 allowed it was Bill
Thompson and SO he kept up the
road" Stop, uncle; tell us now,
you know that road, don't you 2"
well, I reckon do; l travelled it
before you were born; I've walked
man and boy, these sixty years, and
I've never been a squirrels jump
from it /: there amt a shrub or an
cid stump on it that don't know by
heart" every we'll, now go on with
your story" 'And SO the man kept
up the road, until he came to the
forks, and when he got there, he
took the right" "Huzza 1 said
co." exclaimed the enthusiastic attor,
ney, 81 said Uncle Josh would tell
the Truth when it came to the push
the old man is the genuine thing af
all; you see, gentlemen of the jury
- he turned to the right, it mus
have been Skies" During this out
break Of feeling, Uncle Josh had re
eeived q wink from the opposing
counsel, and without noticing tn,
interruption, proceeded with his evi
dence. well. as I was saying, whel
he got there, he turned to the lef
-" "Hallo, stop there old man
mono Of your tricks upon travellers
You said just this minute that Ia
took to the right" mo, L didn't.
Eyes, You did" exclaimed scor
of voices "Well. children, don
crowd the old man 50. give him time