Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-25
BUSTER AND HIS CALF.

lima a man named John Foster was re-
Gently tried for assault and battery upor
the person of William Truitt. The frs
witness was awild-eyed, one-eyed, rough
bearded man. He was lame. He los,
his missing eye in fight. This was hi,
first appearance in courthouse, al
though he looked to be 60 years Of age
There seems to have been an irrevcrenr
aimixture of the sacred and profane in
the makeup of his name, which was Jere.
miah Buste,. As he stood amid tn,
crowd in the courtroom close observer
might soon have discovered that III,
whole scene was new to him. When tn,
prosecuting attorney called him to the
witness-stand, he limped around the rail
ing of the bar and took his seat on tn,
stand, the same being shown him by al
officer of the court. He gazed around
him with bewildered air, yet there wa
that in his demeaner which showed hi
had not parted altogether with the sci
assertion and independence characteristic,
of the dwellers in the mountains. He
took in as much Of the situation, perhaps
as one-eyed man could be reasonably
expected to do on his first appearance on
the scene.
Prosecuting Attorney-What is you,
name:
Witness Squirting stream of tobac.
co juice on the floor that resembled the
discharge from the nozzle Of a hose-p pipe,
Jeremiah Buster, squire. They gin.
nerally call me Jerry, for short.
Prosecuting Attoruey-Well, Mr.
Buster
witness-Now, squire don't call mt
Mr.. Buster, ef you please. I'm sildon
called that, and
The Court-Mr. Witness
Witness-Now, jedge, Jes call me Jer'
~. eff you please. amt used TO bein'
called mister, and it sorter sounds strange
like. Jes call
The Court-See here, sir; the court
wishes to warn you that if you answer
again in the presence Of the court you
will be punished for "a
Witness-why, jedge, that little tow
headed-(wiih another oath pointing to
the deputy clerk made me swar the fus
thing | don befo | tuck the stan. Ell
you
The Court-Mr. Clerk, fine this wit
ness S. for the use Of improper language
and for a contempt of court. Mr., Wit
ness
witneX7NOw, jedge, eff you please,
don't call
The Court-Silence. sir ! Don't at
empt TO interrupt the courts opinion.
The court wishes to say to You that you
nus, not indulge in profane and improp-
II language in this presence. Answer
he questions that are propounded to you,
and do it in decent and proper language.
Witness-Jedge, | amt been axed but
,ne question yit, and eff l didn't answer
hat correct wish l may derned.
The Court (excitedly) Mr.. Clerk fine
his witness S25.
Wi,ness-Why, what have L
The Court-Silence, sir. Mr.. Sheriff,
AXE this witness to Jail and keep him
here until be learns to behave himself.
At this point the sheriff approached
Jerry to carry out the order Of the court
Il seems that Jerry had not met the sher-
if since the latter was over in Jerry $
neighborhood electioneering. Jerry rose,
and, grasping the hand of the sheriff
warmly. said. "Why, how are you, Bill (!
| told you we'd put you through in our
dees,rick. You beat that tangle-eyed
houn' that run agin you two to one in
the dees,rick." The District Attorney
here arose and said that he felt satisfied
the witness did not mean to commit q
contempt of court, but spoke thought
lessly, and from force of habit. He
hoped the court would not send witness
to Jail, at leas, at that time, as he was
the only person by whom the State could
prove the offense charged against the de-
PENDANT in the indictment, and the trial
would Therefore, be suspended. The
court replied if the witness knew no bet
ter, it was time he-was learning; and be
could not be broken too soon of a bad
habit, if it had obtained such control ov-
er him as to cause him to violate all
propriety.
District Attorney-That is all true,
your honor, but if the witness be sent to
Jail now, shall be compelled to enter a
nolle prosqui in the case. as the trial must
be suspended. as this is my only wit
ness.
The Court latter a pause Witness,
take your seat.
Jerry anchored himself again in the
witness box. = ~ EfA
The Court-Have you ever been in