Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-05

| DANGERS OF COURTING.-MayOrI Trout
took his>seat Tuesday to decide how far
counting may 60 before it becomes assault.
The accused. Mr.. Benz. Bowles, colored
gentleman of 70 years, arrayed in the ira
ditional long tail coat somewhat splashed
with mud, and holding himself with the
straightness and dignity of one down whose
back some friend had stuffed ram-rod,
appeared in the character of an injured
lover; and the accuser, Miss Rosa Bell
BAYLOR, a nice looking colored girl of twen-
ty stood ready to accuse him. When she
was sworn, the girl testified that she mad
returned from church with headache and
retired. when Mr. Bowles knocked at The
door of her boudoir and demanded admit
lance. She screamed for assistance which
came in the person Of the cook and Mr..
Bowles was expelled. The cook who had
been listening to the testimony of the COM
plainant and regarding her as one who had
escaped imminent peril, promptly endors-
ed all she had said, and joined her in the
protest that Mr.. Bowles was never beau
and that his advances were the results OF
unparalleled impudence, and nothing less.
Mr. Bowles. who, in the consciousness OF
innocence, not only was willing to kiss the
book, but was with difficulty restrained
By the Mayor from eating it up, was sworn,
and made this statement:
Oar amt nothin' in it, Mr.. Trout. l
wished to marry DAT gal, an had paid her
'tentions some time dout any reflections.
Here the Mayor. seeing things were get
ting mixed, asked the witness if he had
been counting the complainant.
'sAh, dat's it Mr.. Trout. OATS what l
went dar fur. Dat gal has scurriged me for
to pay her Etentions. faint been longer
den Thursday when she saunt anote to me
fur piece Of calico fur to patch counter
pin.
Here the complainant looked at the wit
ness with great scorn and said she had
never sent him ''the scratch of a pen," cal
ling on him in high key to produce the
note.
The witness made two OF three unsuc
>cessful raids into his pockets for the manu-
script, but failing to find it continued his
narrative. ssMy 'tentions was to ak her to
marry me and 1 knocked on de do, an de
fust thing I knowed she bust out hollerin'
an something hit me on de shin. Here de
place now, Mr.. Trout, amt got over it
Wit. Here the witness unhinged his back,
and STOPPING down lifted his leg into view.]
The complainant:-'sIt would have serv-
ed you right if it had killed you.''
Witness:-s'Dat's what you tink, but dat
amt my 'pinion. IA reasonable difference
of views which officer Kurtz quelled
with stern cry of ''silence.'] MI. Trout,
if de gal don't want me don't want her.
Here the complainant said "want YOU"
as if Mr.. Bowles was the last man in the
world that any lady could possibly stand
in need Of ]Dar won't be no trouble, Mr..
Trout arfter dis.''
The complainant:-No indeed; cause de
next time you comes arfter me I'n jess
knock your old head off: OATS what I'll
do.''
This plan of saving trouble seemed par
ticularly unwelcome to the accused, who
remarked earnestly, ''But tell yer amt
gwine come dar no mo long as live."
The Mayor convinced that the parties
had arrived at proper understanding and
that the vivacious old beau would no long
er annoy the prosecuted Rosa Bell, dis
charged the prisoner with an admonition.