Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-02-24
TIE FATE OF poor EpnRAIM.

THE FATE or POOR BpHRAIM.
The plucly fellow spent several
hours in the water, but finally caught
camp and was drowned before his
comrades could rescue him. They re
covered the body and were about tc
bury il near the beach, when the cir
cumstances came to the ears of Justice
Sutton, an appointce of the carpet-bag
Governor Now in Florida the duties
of Coroners devolve upon Justices Of
the Peace at the rate Of ten dollars per
corpse, payable in State or county scrip.
Justice Sutton went for his ten dollars
with the vim Of a Twelfth Ward poll
tican. He ordered an inquest. Ma
tcrlai for a jury ,rns under his nose,
and he utilized it. After tic corpse
was drawn up under the palmettoes
Ephraim's black comrades were i'm
panneled. 1t was an odd jury One
was without shirt, another without
q coat, third destitute of a hat, and q
fourth minus half of his pantaloons
There was not a pair of suspenders in
the whole party. Three wore cowhido
brogans, without stockings; the Others
were barefoot. All were greatly alarm
od ot Tho action of the Jnstice. They
io,dIv nrocloimed tbeir innocence and
hoaged IN ho lc, off
SSomnose Yourselves gentlemen
said Mr.. Sutton. "You are not prison
ors hnt American c;,izens called nnon
70 fnl6l a duty which Won owe 10 SO
cietvn
aSomobodv dono tole Won n migbty
lie Judgc in,erposed one of the aston
isbcd pcgroes awe nebber owe nc
,s;e,v nuti}n Don't owe nobody muffin
Mus' besodder cullered mems sides we
aob good Iordw exclaimed IN,
Justice aYou'ro NOT on trial You arc
;urva n coroner,s iurv Yon arc to
he & SWORN in and do The hest Won car
nndor tbe c;rcumstonces Nobody
cares whether Won owe ANYBODY any
tbing or NOT
,,.,,o,,..u,o,s
o ~" 'i~,AA y A'iio
The frightened negroes were more
than reassured by THIS explanation
They began to assume an alroi import
ance.
"As have no Bible at hand, the
Justice continued, you VIII DC com
PEELED to affirm. Hold up your right
hands. -
Am dat an zactiy rlght, Judge Z
askcu one oi .ne p'1PvIssou jury 'n1,l -,
w. Ill oId ssb Inc
" aCor,a;rIy ~ rich, - roplied su,ton
ayL,. NO, ~
AZ, !, ,oord;r, ,o do law ~ ,yos tho
novt Question @Causc ,ccn,;n, n am,nt
'corJ;n' 10 do law us cullorcd ccmmens
done don't hall nnfsin ~ do wid dis vah
,nurdor"
aWhy GOOD Lord man ovclo;mod
ho Trs;;oe @sho said !, was a nnrder9''
Evorvhody can SOC that it's nothing
h., ~ ao.;don,r
avail don " "concl,aod ,beores,;oner
a,,bv Won do,o made ali AZ woh f,ss;n
for ~
an isn,t me - the lus,ice answered
u,,s tho law Tb;s bodv has boen
found the law directs mo 10 ,mpannel
;nrv Thai ;urv must bear tbc ev;,
dence retire fnd ont who the dead
man Il and how he came bv his death
and return a verdict in accordance with
Tho facts Can't Won acc 9u
wu,,y rur 10, o,vn v,, co,,rs ~
"A m, 'an 'o1o"AD n"s .o~'' M nv,
Inc justice was warming up. ihs
negroes looked as thougn they wanted
70 know all ABOUT IL pe'ore 'hey were
sworh III
How ,huch you gwiue 70 ~. ioI u's
yan JOB, Judge asked aho'her Oh inc
ihclP,cn' yurymen' ~,
Inc Jaw Arrows me zen uonurs,
saiu MI sutton. Du. Una. nas noun noun
ing 10 10 win your ou,'es ~ ,nc c''se'
iour course Is cNphc',y 'a'u uo"n pS