The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-06-09
Beginning of Court.

His Honor Jndgc------0pencd
court with all t)'e dignity suitable to
the occasion. The first thing entered
into was the hearing of the excuses
Of the jurors anxious to get back
home, ahd to be relieved from ser
wing their country at dollar II day
Tho first Juror J. Smith came forward
and said he wanted to be excused il
the judge would so allow. estate
your grounds for excuse" said his
Honor. swell jud gc' said Smith,
"you SEQ my family is all sick, crop
in The grass, and no one to attend to
all these matters but myself" ''Your
grounds not sufficient" ruled the
Judge, and up stepped Jake Adnadcr,
"Why should you be excused" quer-
led his Honor. "Well you sec Mr..
Judge, l'se bin juryman afore, and
.lozent tink it's far to make one man
do all de work." "When wctc you Il
Juror" asked his Honor. "Las
court, sab, las court surc.' "Who
was judge at that time,' demanded
tho court. "Dat gcmman scttiu rite
'lar, Mars Chapman" Ooipting to
Judge C. "You can bo excused"
complaccntly remarked the court,
Next was John Adolphe. "Why
should you De excused" interrogativ-
ly said his Honor. "Mars Judge, rse
an old chicken, you bet. Why fore de
Lord dis chile had grand children
when Sam Huston went from hi'ar to
fife the Mexicanos." "What year
was that" chronological1y inquired
fhc court. "Don't no bout years
Mars judge, but Use been hi'ar too
long not to be out'en the jnryman-
age" "Where were you born r. To-
ca|ly questioned his Honor. "Rite
hi'ar, Mars Judge, rite hi'al down de
riber when squirt coud jump cross
de Bonju. Have you any registra-
ton Of your BIRTH" asked the court.
"Oh no Mars judge, us chilled pus-
sons had no 'straticn papers in dem
reb times, its only since lection
times us has dem papers," "Tbe
juror Is escused," blandly remarked
his Honor. Next came up a tall, thin,
sanctlmonlous coml""nioo specimen
of humanity and said Ire was a min
lister of the Gospel. "Are you reg
ular|y licensed for the calling 7" ask
Ell the court. "No, sir, but / am
Regularly called for to PREACH"
meekly responded the juror with eyes
upturned to tho ceiling; "The ex.
cnso is good and the preacher may
co." said his Honor. Next man came
up with sulien air and defiant look.
"What excuse have you to offer,'
sharply asked tlfe court. "ln lie fust
place Mr.. judge, am net democrat
and what's more sab, l neber will be.
Now my comprehension ob de biz
ness is dis dis a democrat court and
bein good publican voter, its nv
position not to sarve with any oe dem
white leaugers." "Wc1l sir unless you
retire, determined to do your duty as
a good citizen, the chances arc that
yon may serve in jai|:" quietly re-
marked the court. Whereupon the
ambitious politician retired somewhat
crcstfalIcn. Henry O'Brien came for
ward asking to be excused. "lVhy
should you not be willing to serve
your country ?" asked the court. "If
yer 'ouor phases, I have no country
to sarvc, entirely" "How is this ~
said tho court. ''Well yer see yer
'oEor, last Fall in New Orlean | lost
my naturalization papers and the
darn radicals would not give me my
registration papers therefore have
concluded not to be q citizen of any
country" "This country will hence
forth protect her citizens in all their
rights, whether native or foreign
born, whether they hail from Green
lands icy mountains or midas coral
strand, the protecting @gis Of the
law will follow. Go, and when the
Sheriff calls, answer to your name, re.
lustate' yourself in the role of your
tountry's honor, and when election
times comes around, the bene6cent
blessing of the elective franchise will
be restored to you. Sheriff proceed
with the regular business of the
court"
This is about what might take
place in any court room In the South
1t this time.
In 1876 Kellogg "req~ested' that ar in
lictment against Cain Sartain for rob-
'ery Of the School Treasury, should be
luashed, and the Democratic press and
'eople were justly indignant. We un-
lerstand that certain Democratic State
senator approached the District Attor-
ley OF this District, and stated that nrn