Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-08-18
Sable Romance.

Ile pnlIaQelpQlA NOTlu A1leIlCdu
is responsible for the following:
Among the recent visitors at the
Central Police station 70 his Honor
Justice Kerr, was q stalwaFt eolored
man, accompanied by couple of fe-
male Americans Of African decent.
The male was as solemn in manner
and as dark in the eutiele 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 conversation
as thus;
"What is your name?"
"Graechus johnson, sah-n
Crackers johnson, did you say2n
''No, sab; my father, sab, was not 3
baker, sab. Ny name is Gracious,
sab; my mudder, sab, called me her
Jewell, sab, De reason dat my fader
called me Gracious was cause Mrs.
Gracious called her children her jew
els" with dignity.)
"Ahl yes." said the Justice, bland-
IL, "blaek diamonds, suppose. Are
you from the Lehigh or Sehuylkill
region, Mr.. Johnson ?"
"Needer, sab; 1 was raised in one
of de very fustest families in Virgin
yahr Ia little indignantly
"And what do you want with me,
sir?r
"Why," was the reply of the very
respectable looking African, ''de case
is jesf dis: Dis yer gal Cynthia says
Use her husband. / says looking
fondly over the top of what nose he
had dat belong to Rose, de Odder
gal dar. We greed to come to you to
decide de question"
"This is singular proceeding,
Crackers"
"Gracchus, sah-nOt Crackers. 1
told yer that afore,n interrupted the
pOstulant.
"Of course, certainly +; go on, Mr..
Gracious"
At this point the woman, Cynthia,
Iosinga all patience, thrust aerumpled
marriage certificate under the face of
the Justice, with request for its inn
mediate and critical examination. 1t
was a certificate of the marriage Of
Gracehus johnson to Cynthia Brown.
Gracious admitted that the certificate
was ger ruine, but claimed-and prove
that CYNTHIA was thief, that he
that she had Just come from a two
years incarceration in the county
prison. In the meantime ne had we'd
ded Rose. After listening to the facts
of the case, Justice Kerr looked very
grave.
This is serious business, Crack
ers."
Mot Crackers, sir, Gracious" was
- ~ 1r.rf
object of so much female affection
''Well, Graechus, your case is GER
tainly hard one, but you know what
the Good Book says: "WhOm the
Lord hath Joined let no man put
asunder.'"
"Well, sir, den why didn't de wO-
man behabe civil. Whar's de use
o. stealin'-whar's de use?"
Certainly, there's no use in steal
ing, Mr.. Gracious, replied the Alder
man. 'iIt is violatory Of one Of the
cardinal points Of the decalogue. But
YOU know that the obligations Of matt
rimony are very sacred. Don't you
remember the charge made to you in
the course Of the ceremony, by the
Magistrate who performed it ?"
"I do, sab; it was jes' free dollars"
fI don't mean that, sir; / mean
the counsel that he gave you"
HE didn't give me any counsel
sah.n
"That's strange"
ayes, sab; de only counsel got
was from der constable"
"And what did he say ?''
"Why, only had two dollars and
a half, and he tOle me if didn't bring
the other half dollar in de mOrnin'
he'd bust my head ....s.r-.-...
"You're dismissed on your own re
eognizance," +" said the magistrate, "un-
til Thursday next, at three O'clock
At that time decision will be render
ed"
The trio then departed as they
came. g