The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-07-04


the Chicago Times furnishes the full par
ticulats Of trial of two white men before
a negro jury of that place. After showing
how "things have changed" under Gen.
cral Grifin's order No. 13, and that now
the negro is the law dispenser, he proceeds
to give the particulars of the trial:
On the 14th inst, day memorable IN
the annals of this city, two white men were
arraigned before his honor, the mayor Of
this corporation, WHO on this occasion, act
cd es c6c,o as magistrate. The parties
were Charged with an affray-both being
white, or, in language now popular, they
were plain folks.
The defendant being asked if he waived
Jury, on his demanding such right a
yenire issued. The Africans, of course,
we're hunted up, and soon the court room
was crowded by whites aud blacks, the
former to witness Pompey's first perform
ance in the exercise of the time honored
privilege, the latter to witness their shade
and color sit in judgment upon the trial Of
one of the best white citizens Of this place.
From the whites there was a laugh and
litter as the swearing and empaneling of
the jury progressed, while the blacks look
ed on in wonderment at the spectacle pre-
sented. I will not worry you with the in
cidents of this novel case, or as to the le-
gality of such strange procedure. The
objection raised to the jury was referred
several days previously to Gen. Griffin. and
it is supposed the order was peremptOry
as the mayor overruled all legal questions
that lay across his judicial path in the en-
forcement of the law. AS the jurors were
being empanneled, one Of the lawyers fo.
the defence, grea. wit, Wished to ask cues
tion of Forty" burly, oily descendeut
of Ham. The occasion brought out the
intelligence of the juror, and gave polit-
teal tinge to Gr.bsnisn,, IS will be seem
"Well, Forty asked the wit, "do you
pray?" "No, sah," was the prompt an
swcr. GLOW can you be loyal then ?'-
"Ise not loyal, massa, but Use all square
on the union" "Well, Forty. did you
know Robinson Crusoe?" Here the Af-
rican pulled out his cheeks, swelled to his
height, looked very knowing and import
art, and said with gravity, "On dat ques-
shun Use convince. Crusoe was de half
bruddar OBJ Gen. Gregory" Laughter,
loud and hearty followed the profound
knowledge of the law shown by Forty, and
his competence to take his seat in the bar
was of course beyond all doubt.
This judicial farce no southern man is
offended with. To him the whole affair is
source Of ridicule; and he is confident
that, when understood in the north, this
trickery of the law, even if enacted by
Gen. Sheridan and his subaltern, Gen
Griffin, is so vital stab at the Gau.S and
fame of the Republic th at tie continuance
of these scenes is Of short duration, and
they will only end in the restoration Of civi
arthCttJ. Army men may be distinguish
ed in war, while in peace, if let alone, they
may play ''blue blayes" with Blackstone
memory, and offend the ghosts of '-oul
fathers"
The evidence being referred to by the
lawyers, the jury knowing it all, having
heard it all, we're conducted by the officer
of the court to an adjoining room. Tbs
carpenteripg Of this apartment not beius
very close finish, the cracks being rather
large, disclosed the jurors in considerable
stew as to what was said ard sworn. The
deliberations grew louder and louder, ant
the division fierce as to how punishment
was to be "sessed." Three of the jury
were for hanging the defendant; three fol
the assault, three for the battery, two fol
the fence, and one for de clearance. The
laugh of the whites only stimulated tn,
jurors to exhibit their proficiency in theil
new vocation. The confusion was becom
ing chronic, when the aforesaid Forty, the
burly African first named, cried, drowning
all other voices. "Sience! I'se on the tri
al sure enuff." Silence sure enough came
as not whisper could be heard, when For
ty broke forth: "Pse for de 'saTlt, and
not de battery" Here another roared hi
was for ''de battery and not for de 'sault.
Confusion seemed to be renewed until the
preacher Sam said he would fix 'de whole
affair." And then he spake and said =
"De battery am de obfrsticatio, OBJ de era
mum oh de head. Massa Thomas was no
guilty OBJ de battery. Darefore Massa
Thomas kab to pay s75 for de blow OBJ hi.
fist on Massa Bortee, and den he pays dt
juries fees and de costs OBJ de case"