The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-06-23
A Funny Mistake.


Vermont, which we consider too good to
be lost.
Many of the Jury, together with the
judge and lawyers, were intending to par
ticipate in h celebration of society, of
which they were members and were con-
sequently-in their anxiety to close the
term-rushing cases through with all the
dispatch that honor and justice would
permit.
At half past twelve o'clock, one day,
an intermission for half an hour for din
ner was granted, with strict injunction
from the judge that call hands" must be
back punctually at one to commence new
case of larceny.
The dinners, that day, were swallowed
with greater rapidity than usual, and as
the clock struck one, the officers of the
law rushed into Court like chickens into
a meal-trough.
While they are eating their dinners,
however, young man from the 'kentry,"
being somewhat anxious to see the man.
ner in which justice was meted out walk
ed into the Courtroom, and, as he after
wards expressed himself, "tooIk squint
at all the seats, and seein' there wasn't
nobody in the incest one, with railin'
all around it, thought he'd make sure on
it, afore the fellers got back from din
ner.'
In five minutes after the crowd entered
the room, the Judge raped the desk with
the butt-end of his jack-knife, and with a
dignifed frown cried
"Silence'n the Court ~
"Silence'n the Court" repeated the
broad-shouldered constable, leaning on the
! railing in front of his honor, and imme-
diately resumed the occupation of picking
his teeth with pin.
"Silence'n the Court - echoed the
squeaking tone of a small red d-headed con-
stable near the door; and the latter speak
, er Immediately commenced elbowing the
, crowd, right and left, to let them know
that he was around
, "All ready ?n says the Judge.
CAN ready ~ replied the attorney.
} Command the prisoner to stand up "
says the Judge, "while the Indictment is
being read ~
The broad -shouldered constable now
, walked up to the prisoners box, during
the apparent mOmentary absence of the
sheriff, placed his hands on the shoulder
of the young man, and exclaimed
, Stand upn'
"Wat fur?" said the astonished young
farmer.
"To hear the charge read v' exclaimed
the constable.
, "Wall, guess l kin hear what's going
on, without standin," as well as the rest
on 'em," was the reply.
"Stand up roared the Judge, in a
burst of passionate had just bit his
tongue while picking his teeth young
man, stand up Or the consequences be
upon your own head"
The victim came up on his feet as if
under the influence of a gavanic battery,
and looking around the courtroom, and
noticing that all eyes were upon him, with
an expression about as affectionate as that
of rabid man toward bowl Of water,
, he hung his head in confusion and mortif-
cation, and was nearly deaf to the words
of the indictment, but he heard enough of
: the long, complicated, tangled sentences
to learn that he was charged with stealing,
, or embezzling, or cheating, or pilfering
some house or somebody, and he couldn't
tell exactly which.
"What does he say to the charge
Guilty or not guilty?" inquired the Judge,
peeping over his spectacles, with look
bold enough to freeze mans blood
/, Guilty or not guilty.
"1he young man ventured to look up,
in hopes to find sympathizing eye, but
all were cold and unfriendly, and he again
gazed on the saw-dusted floor, and trem-
bled with confusion.
Guilty or not guilty?" again vocifer-
ated the Judge, in tone that plainly de-
noted impatence to proceed with the case.
The broad-shouldered constable being
J rather humane man, now stepped up to
: the prisoner, and exclaimed
"You had better say mot guilty., OF
course If you say guilty you don't
stand no chance this term that's, sure
and if you say not guilty, and wish, at
any future state of the case, to change
= your plea to guilty you can do it, with
out any injury to yourself Therefore,
advise you to say mot guilty. and stick
> to it as long as there's any chance p
Jonathan's feelings had been simmer
s,o, h,tN fatv hnsl 80