Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-18
ROBINS RHETORIC.
A BaekwOeds Darky Pleads His Own
Case Before a Jury Of His Peers
and Wins.
viii Kennedy Sentenced TO Ten Years
for Shooting George Fletcher
The Police Court.

yN5NA01T NCI1h h0IibS
the trial of r bin Price Tor assault and
battery. The woman he was accused of as
saulting, aud hrr husband, appeared as wit
nesses sgalnst him, and, as no ous else vas
present, he was unable to produce testimony
in rebuttal. HIS attorney, Mr.. NJ. r. Pa
ierson insisted that, SIS be WIS denied the
privilege OF making q statement undsr a re
cent railing Of Jdjge Greer, he should at
lest be allowed 10 argue his own case bsioIe
the jury, which, by a recent decision Of the
Supreme Court, he hsd a right 10 do.
Judge Greer scquiesced, but with he IN
Outstanding that RJbia should b. governed
by the usual rules of practice, aud ia max
ing his argument should not go out of The
record in The case. He could not make a
statement under the guise # an argumeui,
but must address the jury upon the evidence
in the case.
Robin was accordingly called up and
CO iched by the judge, and with The utmost
gravity ne a-cended the witnsfs stand, slowly
rolled up his sleeves, spit 90 tue f,or and
began. l, was a striking figure. Old aud
deerepid, his wTiuklrd blscs face eli cled
sith a grizz ed bsard, his back b-ui with age,
his long thin lg4 waving di-consolsteiy
about in a pir o. ia gy cotton psntsloon-,
be was the psrsoniicatIon of tbs supesdn-
nuaied Southern h=id hand. Everyone IL
the COURTROOM moved closer up 10 hear wAai
lie mad TO say, aud fnally The jadge took pity
on him and ordered hjm 10 step eff OF his
pedestal aud stand upon the floor.
Robin ambled down, stood as near as poe
sib!e on the spot indicated ~ the inger OF
The Judge, wslIed ais eTes at the zwful
twelve, and began.
"Gem'Ien, Pm er inherent msp, an all
disc Witnesses have swone falls
Keep 10 the record, Robin," sid his
honor.
"PDn er tell:n' de ruth, jedge," he an
swered.
eyes. but talk about ShIt the witnesses
said. You can do thai, can you not?"
"Oh, yes sir, l kin do da',"
Every we'll, g. on taen," the Court said.
&c Of de jury, dem witnesses lied"
declared the special pieader, making a mod
est g-sliculatIoo, tho & ). ns mad ventured
upau.
Own came the gaysl again, aud Robia
was admouished as before.
"Pm er workin' man, gem'ieo, an l makes
de bes' crap in my deestrick. pse pertikerly
good on co,ton, aud when dem niggers ses
my crap a bestin' deirs, dey got jealous.
Gsm'ien Of de jury, | never wsnt odlsn my
yard. Dem wGar Gays | dad Ii" But
r 1bin was checked here aad warned 10 stick
to the record and not attempt 10 make d
etatcmsnt. He was evidently discoacertsd
by these frequent sntsrrup ions, and really
seemed 10 have no IDEA of what the record
was.
"Pil go home an never have no more to
do wild '.m sgir, If yer LEI me g, dis time"
plead Robin. "Pse u innsic.n', peaceful
man, en- | never fludg dat brick, - heip--."
Il protest t5sl this Is n rSum nj, m y II
pleas the Coar," s4jd Attorney u neral
Weakley. This mao p-r-isis 10 N akipg a
statement"
"The court rarely 81 Z rules ths iswyers
down TO thu law End the syid me-" plead
Mr.. Paterson. "a slstenent il y ttty good
srgumen,."
add you strike the woman?' asked a
jaryman Of ROBIN, snd while the latter
look=d w9riiy around sui Sla aboG. 10 begir
with, 81 tell yau bow il we, misaer," the
jadgs Topped him .off shorl AID said hs
couldn't AIlos The Iry TO p.opJn1d qn4-
'ipns, under tue ciroumsgeuces, and told
Robin 10 procs-d. :
He rambied along in the same Old way
aud finally il hsc am: nee .asaTy- 10 draw III,
line somewhere, and he vas cut eff ia tbs
midd e OF a ira2meutaTy sia'ewe1t ab0ui
bricks aud hoe handle, rrops e3d iiss, ,Ga
told he might pocket h's etaquencs aud re.
tire. The jlry acquitted aim.
SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS
Tue CAGE OF tia S-ata- sz-iss+-Wfit Ksd
redy, fer assault with intent TO kill G org,
N. Fletcher, occupied nsarly III eaiire dAy
K-nnedy chased Fielcasi's iitiie hoy, o.
whom he was cursed, aud when Fletcher or
dered him to sop aud drew a knife Kenned,
pulled his pistol aud irrd, The ball taking ei
feet in mis- side snd lodging near his spine
Fielcher'4 life was despAIred oil ior days an,
his recovery is cescrIbsd as phenomenal
The difficulty iook place at the Na,iona
Cemetery, al waieh plscs Fischer, who ia
section bos', residey. Hia assaiians is
youag darby, not YET OF age. The jury foun
him guilty. of carrying concealed weapons
with The usual en,ence, aud fixed his pun
ishment Tor The assault at tea years in la