Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

LGCAL MISCELLANY.
A CALF IN CoURr.-our old friend Bum
frey Biuslc. who has zest for the ridiculous,
eniiVened our sanctum few days ago with
his merry countenance, aud after confabing
about the hardness of the times, and the de-
structiveness CT ground mice in particular,
especially upon young lemon trees, inquired
if we had heard of the calf in court over in
an adjoining township. We of course plead
ignorance of ever hearing of such case, and
assured him, that we were of the opinion that
no nimalexceptt the igno-rGns- us ever entered
the portals Of such place. Bumfrey obi
| Slngiy Informed us, that we erred greatly, for
he was personally present when the calf was
brought into court-that it was a case of cross
jurisdiction, and was gravcly heard before
justice and decided upon its merits.
According to friend Bumfrey it happened
thus wise =
Two neighhoring farmers pastured their
cattle in adjoining fields. Being somewhat
breachy, they occasionally got mixed; and
the mixing finally resulted in a dispute be-
tween the farmers as to the ownership oe =
particular calf Failing in COMPROMISING
their respective claims e each others salts
faction, they toe: tho case, or the calf into
court ~ adjudication. Counsel were en-
! r'oyed, witnesses summoned, both 'white
spirits. and black" and the cause Eas regular
u tried before a township justice.
The first witness examined was young
lady, the daughter of one of the claimants
She testified positively to the identity of the
calf, and that it was the property of her father.
Other witnesses were examined on the same
side, their evidence tending to support the
testimony of the young lady, and the claim
of the party to the ownership of the bovine
animal seemed beyond cavil or dispute The
other party, however, had not been heard.
and when his witnesses were brought to the
stand, their testimony was equally explicit
in his behalf
Aunt Dinah, colorcd, being brought to the
box, and questioned as to her knowledge of
the case, or calf, after clearing her throat and
casting look of supreme contempt upon the
opposing side, testified os follows =" Well,
chile" addressing the Court, 81 list knows
all about dat lar calf, duz dat" The Court
here shrugged his shoulders, and reminded
| Aunt Dinah that she must be respectful in
her illusions.
eyes honey" continued Dinah. sI alters
IS ,sp0cttui to everybody, Specially when Ga
Is sPec1ul to me People dat isu't 'spcctful
Here his honor interrupted Dinab AGAIN
and demanded that she should proceed direct
in her testimony. "Well, chile, ain't~I coin
on directly. You needn't fly up so much
People dat is 'specttul to me, L is to dem. I
| is" '-''
Here the court lost his patience. and Dinah
was required to tell what she knew about the
ownership of the calf and nothing else.
"Whew who dat talkin now !? faint Di-
nah; sure. 1 most told all about de calf
fore dis time, but when people amt 'specttul
to me, L isn't to DEM
The court at this boiled over, and Dinah
was threatened with tho "lock-up' for her
contumaciousuess
"Well, dis hear dat now" size continued
"'spectful people done bin brought here about
an ole lousy calf, and den put to jail Well.
Massey Liuctum amt mucliif he lows dat"
The counsel on Dinah's side at last pre-
vailed upon her to tell what she knew lest
about the calf and Dinah, having composed
her nerves and recovered her equilibrium.
said she "knew all about de calf, it 'longed
to masser S, sartain an sure, cause dat
calf was born in de barn yard, right afore nv
eyes. and dc nanny of dat calf was r,asser
SIS red muly COW. sides dat, de- calf
wus hard to wean, wouldn't larn to feed him
self Now, chile, dat is what 1 knows, and
what knows, knows, dar."
Dinah having. concluded, Pete, another
eolored individual, was called on for his tes-
timonF. He said "all dat 1 know bout dat
calf, fore God, is, dat was Iivin' wild Mr..
S. when de 1narkin' man cum to mark de
stock. was tole to cotch dat calf, and 7
cotci him by de HUE leg, and he kicked
worser dan de debbi. hole on aud hole
on, and he kick and kick, and Mr.. S. wus'nt
dar den, case he went roam de barn. and Mr.
| Oliver he Vas over hind &c corn house. and
OATS what 1 knows"
At this stage of the proceedings friend
Bumfry said he had to leave How the case
was decided, he didn't know, but he thinks
negro testimony is rather funny, if not very
weighty, and well calculated to remove the
dull monotony of the Courtroom.
AN OLD FRIEND HEARD FRoM.-Once in
a while VIC receive through the Postofice a
letter conveying intelligence of the wherca.