Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-07-31
Mrs. Murphy Before the Mayor.

The following interesting and ludicrous trial
took place before the Police Court of Richmond
on the 23rd inst -;
Mary Murphy was arraigned for fighting her
husband.
Captain Bibb testified that he lived in the
neighborhood of Mrs. Murphy, and that ON
Sunday afternoon he heard great noise in her
house, and upon going there found Mrs. Muir
ply engaged in fight with her husband. He
arrested her and carried her to the station house.
She abused him, and called him all sorts Of
names, both before and after getting to the sta
ttion-house. Here Mrs. Murphy, who was boil
testimony, could no longer restrain herself and
broke out 'What, sirl I didn't / did mt
abuse yez at all. I called yez nothin' jist only
what yez are. did Mt call yez out of yer name.
What right had yez to come to my house, any
how, and interfere wild my business? Yes, yere
Honor, me an my husband was havin little
muss, and he had to cum and put himself in
where he had no business. What right has he
to interfere wild my private and domestic family
fight him wheniver I chooses? An as for abu-
sin Captain Bibb, did mt do no sich thing,
because / didn't call him anything jist but what
he was.'
Captain Bibb.-Yes, madam, but did not you
call me negro and am l negro?
Mrs Murphy, quickly: ''Yes, ye are nagur,
because them little Bibbs O. yourn called my
children nagurs, and my childers an me is no
more ,nagurs than you are, sir" Repeated
lence! Mrs: Murphy, growing hotter every
moment, and tossing her red faced child from
one knee on the other: "Yis, sir, me and my
childers doesn't look as much like nagurs as the
big Bibbs and small Bibbs Look at Bibbs,
he's dark in the face; and me-Pm as white
an as fair as swan.' Cries of silence ''An
right, I'll be silent in minnit bat I'll tell ye,
yore Honor, I'm not intending to let none o
yere big Bibbs, nor yere little Bibbs, nor yere
large Bibbs, nor yere small Bibbs, run over me
wasn't made for that"
Recorder Mrs. Murphy, don't say anoth-
er word" .s-l.. r.. .....
Mrs. Murphy.-"No, l won't say another
word, but I'm just goin to tell yer what think
of old Bibbs.''- 5a et
Recorder.-"Can you give me security for
your future good behavior r ,t.,- .5
Mrs. Murphy.-"Yes, / can. I'll give ye
myself. I'm good sound security. fyou are
security pointing to the aforesaid red-faced
baby-''an if he don't suit yez, I've three other
good sound securities at home; and they and
me IL make five good sound securities; an if
we all won't do yez I'll have to lave off bisiness
wild yez. because ye would be hard man to
satisfy" -.- e..
Recorder m sorry, madam, but the Sc
curities you offer are hardly such as the Com
monwealth requires. a. l1
Mrs. Murphy, furiously. .--'''What, sir, won't
do? Oh my, it's all the same everywhere, an
wild everybody in this blissed country; nobody
has any appreciation or respect for the value in
the Irish people. How / wish Mr.. Mayo was
here. He'd fix me all right. See here, you
man on the bench, / want you to set this case
back until Mr.. Mayo comes back. :"
Recorder.-"I cannot help what Mr.. Mayo
would do, Mrs. Murphy; am bound to do
what think right. Ihave done with this case"
Here one of the officers took her gently by
the arm to lead her to the prisoners bench.
Mrs. Murphy.-'sBe off wild yez, and let 60
iv me; lots no rude unpublished hands take
hold iv me; show me the way to go.'
The officer, pointing to the prisoners bench,
upon one end Of which sat big buck negro
Mrs. Murphy indignantly. What! an
are yez goin to have me sit on the same binch
wild nagur?" Turning to the Recorder. y
''See here, sir, | niver intind to have any da-
lings wild ye as long as live. Ye have trated
me shamefully." -'5 -'3 1it s-l-'A
She then continued on such TRADE that it
was found necessary to send her to Jail. She
was carried out, bestowing blessings generally
on the Recorder, Captain Bibb, and the officers
who had her in tow. A2-ie g it'ii-'-''' 10