The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-24
For the Sunday Crescent
SCENE IN AN OLD TIME LOUIsIANA
COURT.
SKETCH BY COUNTRY CORRESPONDENT.

By way of diversion from an Improbable study
of our present forlorn political condition, have
Of late been rummsging up reEembrsnces of in
cidents Of years gone by that we're Of an amusing
character; and as the following was about as rich
in fun as any and all the notable actors in il are
now dead and gone, l deem it not improper to
offer a crude sketch of i; for publication:
Time of the occurrence: about the year 1920 or
1921. Scene of it: the district courtroom in this
place, then the seat of justice for the parish of
Brswder, clerk of court; Collins, sherif; Turner,
WoodrOcH, Bradford and others, lawyers. Matter
at issue a land boundary suit of Stirling Va.
Flander. Witness: Jake Collins, native.
Judge.-Let the witness state what he knows
about this matter.
WitnesS.-Well, daddy he lived up to Tunoa,
and old Cowpen Williams he come TO daddy's,
and he stayed all night; and in the mornin' says
old CowpeD Williams to daddy, says he
1urner-Mr. COlliUs, we don't wish to know
from you anything of hesrssy kind, but only such
facts as you yourself know.
Witness, "a little confused) We'll, daddy he
lived up TO Tunica, and old Cowpen Williams he
come 20 daddy's and he ftsyed all night; and 10
the mOrnin', says old COwpen Williams to daddy,
says he
WOodrooF.-Mr Collins, be pleased not to re-
peat what anyone said, but confne your statement
10 what you yourself know.
up TO Tunica, and old COwpen Williams he come
to daddy's, and he stayed all night; aud in the
mornin', says old COWpen Williams to daddy, says
he
Turner, (petulently u told you, Mr.. Collins,
not to state anything from hearssy, but only
what you yourself know.
BrGtord, (patronizingly.)-M it please the
court, Mr.. Collins the witness, though an illite-
rate and very ignorant man, is honest and truth
full, and if let alone will tell all he knows cor
rectly.
Witness, Offended at being rated as an ignora-
mus. Mr.. Bradford, you needn't go for to make
no 'pologies for me, 'Bstin' the gift of the CAB
and the scratch of the pen, rs q smarter man
than ou-Ii is
Judge Gentlemen OF the bar, be pleased not
to interrupt the witness any more, but permit him
to proceed with his testimony after his own
fashion.
WitaeSs.-Thank'e, Judge. Well, as was say
in, daddy be lived up TO funica, and old COwpen
Williams he come to daddy's, and he stayed all
night; and in the mornin', says old COwpen vii.
lisms to daddy, says he, go, Collins. can't you
let ore of the boys go with me to the Bayou Sara.
trappin?" YES" says daddy, says be, q" l
reckon as how Jake can CO." And with that,
says old Cowpen Williams to me, says he, Jake,
jist you git ready to come with me and take Bull
along. We may want the dog"
To make a long story short, such irrelevant in
cidents as occurred on the tramp from TuRca TO
Big Bayou Sara are Omitted-in fact, they are
but vaguely remembered.
In due time the Adventures, with the deg Bull
in company, reached their point of destination,
and proceeded at once TO set tbeir traps for
beaver; and just as they had completed this ar
rangement the witness was startled by a cell from
"old COwpen Williams
Jake, where s Bull ~
Just as he said that" continued the witness,
"snsp! went trap, and 'yeOw! hollored Bull.
The Internal cuss was nosin' round, and got
into one of the steeltraps.H
Whether OF not the witness stated any fact
bearing on the matter at issue before the court is
not remembered