The daily gazette., 1877-05-08
%GO|NG IT BLIND"
BY REX

Old judge L-s, who was for
years the Circuit Judge OF Louisiana
known as Attnkapas County, was just.
ly celebrated for his legal learning,
and was greatly beloved by his neigh
bors and his friends. he was stern, up
right and honest, and the death of the
good Old maa, which occurred some
years ago, was universally regretted
throughout the State.
But with all his book-iore and legal
attainments, he was, perhaps, not the
greatest man at cards in his entire
curcuit. 1t has been said that he did
not know the "Jaek of Trumps" from
a diamond. In the village of Opelousas
three individuals were sitting around
a table, in one of those doggeries,
with billiard table in attached" I"
which are so co mmon in the Creole
parishes. playing small game of three
handed poker, when a quarrel cnsued
which resulted in an aggravated Case
of assault and battery. This did not
end the affair, for at the next term Of
the court, at the head of the docket
stood "The State of Louisiana vs., John.
Allen. for assault and battery, with
intent to kill, on the body OF Enos
Griggs."
The trial came on, and the only wit
ness to the affray was Captain John
son, who was the third in the game.
johnson, was skipper of one OF those
craft which transport sugar from that
section Of the county to New Orleans
and was self-cenfident, go-ahead: :fel-
low, and was as undaunted before the
Judge and jury as he would have been
before the crew Of his own little craft.
After being sworn, he was directed to
tell the court and jury everything he
know about the affair. After Clearing
his throat, he commenced by stating
"that him and Griggs and John Allen
we're over at Boullets grocery, the
second day of election, when Allen
proposed that they should have small
game of poker; all agreed TO it, and
We went up stairs and sat down to the
game; did not know there was any
harsh feelings between Griggs and
Allen, or | wouldn't played, but
heard afterwards"
Here the witness was interrupted by
the court, who directed him to keep
all hearsays to himself, and Confine
himself strictly to the facts of the case
The witness continued:
"Well, we sat down to the table
Griggs sat there, ] ohm Allen here, aud
there (making diagram of the clerks
table in order to elucidate the position
of the parties.) John Allen dealt th'
CARDS; went blind; Griggs he wen
blind, and John Allen he wouldn't SCI
him." t
The Judge, who was a little deaf
was in the habit of making an ear
trumpet of his hand, for the purpose
of sharpening his hearing, and, throw
| ing his head little forward and side
ways, interrupted the witness by ask.
ing him:
HWhat was the reason that Johr
Allen didn't see Griggs?"
The witness replied:
81 don't kno ", bat he wouldn't lool
at him"
proceed" said the judge.
"Well, l saw him, aud he saw, ant
lust at that minute"
"Stop sir" said the judge throwing
himself into hearing attitude, "did
| uuuoIrtahu Jcu " StJ J"N "Sh
blind?"
Eyes, sir; went blind, end Grlgg
he was blind, and Allen wouldn't see
but saw Griggs, and then he saw
"Witness," exclaimed the judge
striking the bench with his clenchet
fist, edo | hear you right, sir? Do yol
say that you went blind and then yo'
saw"
Eyes, sir" replied the witness, "
saw Grigps, and Gfiggs saw, and just
at that"
Stop, sir" said the Judge, "Mr
Clerk fine the witness fifty dollars 10
contempt of court, and direct the she
if to take him to Jail, and there u
keep him until he receives further OF
ders from the court. Call up the mex
case, Mr.. Clerk"
Captain johnson was dumbfounde'
and did not awake to the reality o
his condition, until the sheriff laid hi
hands upon him, when he exclaimed:
"Good gracious, Mr.. Judge, wha
have done that must go to. jails"
i The judge, who was purple wit
rage, did not deign to reply to poo
johnson. but reiterated the order wit
increased vchemence, and the JUNO
members of the bar, who had been an
, ticipating the fix that the captain
would eventually be placed in, wer
convulsed with laughter, which in
J creased the rage of the old judge t
the highest pitch. The prosecuting al
, torney endeavored to enlighten tn
Judge, and eventually succeeded, bu
, not until after he had produced a pac
, of cards, and after dealing out thre
hands, made the blind clear as day t
the judge.
The fine and imprisonment wer
remitted order was restored in th
court, and Captain johnson was al
lowed to proceed with his testimony