The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-08-01


who the dead man in and how h.
came tn his death, and return q &c,
diet in accordance with tho facts
Can't you zee r. -fttd +r
WHERE THE BLACK MAN COMES IN
J, The justice was warming up. Th,
, negroes, looked as though the,
wanted to know all about it belor.
they were sworn in. ....-....
allow much you gwinc to git fo1
dis yah job, Judge I" asked auotle,
ofthe lncipicnt .jurymcn.
''Tht law allows me ten dollars
said Mr.. Sutton. "But that has
nothing to do with your duties il,
the case. Your course is explicitly
laid down by The law"
Tho negroes conferred together
Tor few moments. Justice Sutto,,
was becoming impatient when one
ut them stepped over the corpse aud
asked bin "wllar do cullcrcd maj,
fcamc in 7"
"What do you mean 2" asked tho
aStOnndeu civil officer
"Dc law done gw,ne for to drop
ten dollars for YOU" said tho sap
lent negro. "Wl,at dc law done
gwinc for to drop for VIC ~
"rhc law regards your work MS u
hnty yon owe to yourselves aud 50.
r'cty, and don't allow yon any.
thing answered tho Justice. "Yon
don't want pay for working for
yourselves, dn yon T.
"Dcn we finds dc verdict and
does all dc work, an you takes all
tn" moncy--am dat dc law"
"Thc law allows me n fec, and
''"snt provide a fec for you,' inhig-
nan'ly responded Mr.. s., "Hold M
Your right hands,
"Dis ycre's jist like dc old plan
ta'i"n !imcs.' grnmblcd one OF the
dark'es. cole massa he got MI de
money, aml dc cullcred man he do
all dc work p
"Ho'd up your right hands," re-
peated the Justice
The negroes eyed hun Is il mcdi
tat'hg - mntiny.
"Ho'd up your right hands,"
thnndcrcy his honor.
SWORN IN--THIE INQUEST.
The co'orcd men l,cs,tntcd. Then
one black hand was slowly raised in
the air. The others followed it like
the dumb hlackbirhs Of q shooting
gallery. Tho Justice repeated the
oath, but his hearers remained
dumb.
''Say VIC do" he shouted.
"We d",' echoed the negroes.
slower Your hands," commanded
the Justice, and the black birds
dropped from their pcrchcs. The
jury then sqnattcd upon the fnrzc
about the dead man. They were
c"wcd, but not convinced that eve
~ thing was right.
'Gentlemcn,' spoke the Justice
after all had sQuatted, "you are
now sworn to perform the functions
Of the law. The law is explicit in
its definition Ol the duties OF u cor
oncrs jury. The law prescribcs that !
testimony shall be taken. In this
case that is n mere matter of form.
for you yourselves were witnesses
Of the death of this man. The law,
however, requires that you shall
carefully weigh the evidence, ascer.
tain how the man died. who he was
aud so oD. This you will do by vir-
tue OF your 6aths as jurors
The witnesses were then produced
Their evidence was very clear
Ephraim had gone into the water
with the intention ot making IN
honest dollar 10y diving for p,rson
Blacks tools. While his conpan.
ions watched him from the bank of
the stream he sank and was not
seen again until his body was crap
pied and drawn ashore. The Jury
'agcrly listened to all that was said,
but asked no questions. They were
evidently afraid Of the Justice, and
o"kcd upon the whole thing as Il
sort Of NoudOu ceremony. His
Honor summed up by saying ,
'Grnt|cmcn, you will now retire,
md after carefully weighing the ,
eSllmOny return with q verdict
THE JOLLY MOCKING BIRDS.
The Jury Withdrew to the scrub.
'IpiI. ynicnS worn Snnu l,nn,.1 o),nvn (
he music of the mockinebirds who I
'ad gathered ~ the trees about :
hem. The negroes were having /,
rot dispute, and the birds seemed j
o he enjoying the scene. In few
one Of the colorcd men re- !
nrncd. He told the Justice that 8
he jury had sent him for the testi.
n"nr.