The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-15
\ Trying Observation-Disclosures OF Serving
~ Witnesses M Court.
From the New Orleans Til

The MN who has never passed through
that peculiar phase of existence known only
10 those who have served rs WiincSSrS at
court has Yet To tlStc OF Il fruit of lite lC-
fore whose mui>ratin| bitterness wurlnwool
or gall rise to- positive sweetness. \ vie
tim. ~tun@ Ia almost madness. who has Just
emerged from the trying ordeal for the first
tine. thus di>rolIr~clII:
Not long AGO | WAS handed 4 notice COM
manii!T me, under penalty Of the law. to
appear ut - O'Clock \. VI. and testify here
in" before one Of the district courts. With
The prospect before me Of some dire calamity
should | fail t" he on iand 1T the appointed
time. | @ot half an hours leave 81 ai,S"ncc
from The -" boss" ami rushed wildly for tlr
trmplc 81 Justice. which reaching, | soon
found the particular "tcmplc" | wanted. !
went up to Il man behind y desk, and, show
iny him my notice. told him WAS ready. aud
ina>much Is was in Il great hurry. | would
take il nS Il great favor il he'd lei mc give my
testimony right away. :" that | could 20
away. Said he, My fine fellow, no cl>r>
will he tried until II o'cInck."
"Why. here I'm commanded 70 appear n
no."
Yes. but you must know that 10 always
mcall> IL in LEGAL parlanrr.'
Thought ii WAS rough. but couldn't help
myself. and arr"rlilGly took Il seal. torn il
cnmtittin. emotions ~ I" what the "ho>> y
would say when my haIt-Ir"ur'> leave en-
pirol. and | @laIIrnrd not hi light.
Go little >l"rIN listening 1" The lawyers.
who talked Il good deal. and nj tines very
,xciicIlv {" the Judge. Was thoroughly
walked up iy one the lawyers. who howlcd
like u Calnnnclc indian. and sawed The air as
il hr had an attack OF the iG,:ionlS. Found
out HAT that was his %">tylc." Thought it Il
mi-lrIv bad one. .\ii"r hearing two more
inst like him. concluded that ! wouldn't Ike
10 he judge. Eleven o'clock arrived. ana
then ! made another attack III tir" min be
hind the desk.
"Nnur r,>,. is the sixth, on the list; when
you're wanted You'll he Called"
Go mad. l!t didn't show it. and went
back Ia my seat. Waited a%nntlrr lI"iT. he
coming uIufc> a"oniIrd in alttlipliu" I" iIiii'k
ii the nrmtwr III d-tI> which the boss
mist hv thi, time have launched n my dc
Vetoed head.
After waiting two more l:rli>. and not
hearing The slightest >",li resembling III,
nalnr. BEGAN 10 think thr court had forgotten
my case. when. on inpi;iriii%. was told lihi
lit had been rnntinG~l tai tomorrow.
Len. hungry. tired. and lttt'. Got back /"
store about : P. NJ: told boss | lHd been de-
tanned ~ witness At court. Went ZACH a1lIn
next day: hung around the best put 81 ttrcr
hours. and then found out that tlc case was
committed for two weeks.
Wa;t.d iW0 week.. during which time !
Was constantly weighed down ly a fear that
would trr"ct the aIl-iml"rtant day, and
llmn my fancy would r%oniurc up ail SORTS "l
dire punishment 1t, n penalty Of neglect.
Luckily | dldl't forget ii, and, after spend
Ing another couple Of hours in waiting, W;s
much rciuir"d Ia hear Il li~ man Will! Spccia-
rlr< yell ont ".John Siilupkin~.' Went up
IN the stand and tried om!>Wcr Il lot of qI"a-
lions put hy Il lawyer with biz WhiShcr>.
After hr got through Will! me another law
YER without whi>kcrs tackled me. AND lclor"
l. got halfway through, | WAS 80 nervous
aud confused that | didn't know whether
was affect OF hor>clnrk. The last chap
SEEMED determined To make me confess that
what ! had told the lir>l ono WAS nothing hut
= pick Of lies. Mentally >Wurr that rather
tlnn /" Il Wilnc~> again | would leave The
country. Before the inIrli>iiion WIS com
rirtirtl ! felt morally certain that | had con-
"triilr, al NY Ii about Il dozen Zines. ami
mtir t;"nkcy of myself in the bargain.
Finally got through and lrlt at Il double
quick. impressed with Il belief tirlt uI al uli-
iElppy positions known in The calendar none
Would >lIIE>> that Of being summoned H. Il
witness in court.