Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-08-13
tFrom the Philadelphia North Americana
An Honest Negro Wants n Divorce from
Stealing Wife.

Among the recent visitors at the Central
Police Station to Ills Honor Justice Kerr was
stalwart colored man, accompanied by couple
of female Americans Of African descent. The
male was as solemn in manner and as dark in
the cutice as a prize hearse. The trio arranged
themselves in front of the Justices desk, and
the man asked an official audience. The genial
and gentle Justice took fresh dip of ink and
opened a conversation as thus
"What is your nameg'
"Gracchus johnson, sah."
1Craelsers -L5hnson, did you sayp'
mo, sab; my fader sab, was not baker,
sab MY name is Gracious, sab; my mudder,
sab, called me her Jewel, sab. De reason dat
my fader called me Gracious was, cause Mrs,
Gracious called her children her jewels"
with dignity.
"Ah yes, :" saidth Justice, blandly, "black
diamonds SUPPOSE Are you from the Lee
high or Schuylkll region, Mr.. Johnson 7"
''Needer, sab; was raised in one of de very
fustest families in Wirginyah" Ia little indig-
nant).
''And what do you want with me, sir9"
"Why," was the reply of the very respect
able looking African, ''de case is jess dis Dis
yer gal Cynthia says Use her husband. says
docking fondly over the top of what nose he
had) dat belongs to Rose, de other gal dar.-
We greed to come to you to decide de cues
ton"
''This is a singular proceeding, Crackers"
"Gracchus sah-not Crackers. told you
that afore, +" interrupted the postulant.
"0f course, certainly; go on, Mr.. Gracious.
At this point the woman Cynthia, losing all
patience, thrust crumpled marriage certih
cate under the face of the Justice, with re
quest for its immediate critical examination.
II was the certificate of the marriage of Grac'
chus johnson to Cynthia Brown. Gracious
cd cd hat tIa VI
claimed-and proved that Cynthia was
thief that he had married her in good faith
and that she had Just come out from two
years incarceration in the county prison. II
the meantime, he had welded Rose. Ate
listening to the facts Of the case Justice Kerr
looked very grave.
ttThis is a serious business, Crackers"
"Not Crackers, sab; Gracious" was tn
impatient remark Of the puzzled object OF s
much female affection.
"Well, Gracious, your case is certainly
hard one, but you know what the Good Boo
says Whom the Lord hath Joined, let IL
man put asunder.'"
'Well, sab, why didn't de woman behab
oivilP Whar's de use o. stealin'- whars d
use3''
~Certainly, there's no use in stealing, Nj
Gracious, F." replied the Alderman. ut is vii
latory Of one Of the cardinal points of the dec
logue But you know that the obligations
mStrimony are very sacred. Don't you r'
member the charge made to you in the couri
of the ceremony by the magistrate who pei
formed itl''
~ do, sab; it was ies' free dollars"
Il don't mean that, sir; mean the cOuns
that he gave you"
"He didn't give me any counsel, sah.'
"That's strange"
eyes, sab; de only counsel got was frc
de constable"
"And what did he say2"
"Why, only had two dollars and ha
and he tole me il l didn't bring the other HI
dollar in de morniH' he'd bust my head
''You're dismissed OH your own recogl
zance,n said the magistrate, "until Thursd
next at three o'clock. At that time a
csion will be rendered."
The trio then departed as they came.