San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-02-22

we'd put YOU through IN our dees,
wick. You beat the tangled-eyed
houn' that run agin you two to one
in the doestrick." The district at
to,ney here arose and said that he
felt satisfied the witness did not mean
10 commit a contempt OF court, but
spoke thoughtlessly and from force OF
habit. He hoped the court would
not send witness to jail, at least Mt
tLnt time, as he was the only person
nv whom the state could prove the
offence charged against the defendent
in the indictment, and the trial would,
therefore, be suspended. The court
repGed: "If the witness knew no bet
teri it is time he was learning, and
he could not be broken too soon OF a
bad habit, if it had obtained such
control over him rs to cause him 10
violate all propriety."
District Attorney: That's all true,
your honor, but if the witness is sent
to iail now | shall be compelled to
enter a nolle prosequi in the case, as
the trial must be suspended, as this
is nay only witness.
The Court (after q pause); Wit
ness, take your seat.
Jerry anchored himself again IN
the witness box.
The Court: Have you ever been III
court before?
Witness: ledge, this is the fus
time I've been in q courthouse, and
eff it was to do over ag'in, I wouldn't
come-I wouldn't, by hockey.
The Court: In consideration OF the
fact, the court viii not now send you
TO jail, but
Witness: Why, ledge, l hope you
want thinlin' of sendin, NV me to
jail, was ye?
The Court: The court had certain
ly determined to imprison you for
your improper Language, and again
warns you that it must not be re-
peated. Mr.. Attorney, proceed with
the case.
District Attorney: Mr.. Buster
Witness; Now, squire, please don't
call me-
District Attorney: Oh, I ask par
don. Jerry, were you present IN
August last at Johnson's lanyard IN
this county when difficulty occur
red between the prisoner at the bar,
John Foster, and VIM. Iruitt? Ii so,
tell all about 1t in your own way.
Witness: Well, squire, one night
thar was terrible storm passed 'thro
our make Of the woods and bowed
down q big poplar in the corner OF
the horse lot and killed my speckled
calf. Well, the naixt mornin' my
ole omen seem us how the cali was
dead, said, Jerry, [ reckon as how
the calf is dead, you mout as well
skin it an take the hide to the tan
yard" SO after I got my breefast L
tuck my butcher knife an went out
to where the yearlin' was lyln'
dead
District Attorney: Never mind
about the calf. Tellus what you saw
of the difficulty.
Witness: But squire, do mind
about the calf. I'm apoor man, and
with me and my ole oman, a calf Is
u calf, Ell was rich Like you town
folks, mout not er skinned the calf,
but you Sec
District Attorney: ] don't want to
know anything about your calf. Tell
us about the fight at the lanyard be-
tween The prisoner, Foster, and VIII
liam Truit.
Counsel for Defence: He has not
said yet there was any fight.
Witness: CorTec, squire. l haint
said nothin of the sort.
District Attorney: Oh. we'll, if you
saw any difficulty between the parties
tell us about that.
Witness: Well, as I was sayin', |
tuck my nife and went out i'll tho lot
whar tne calf was q layin' us dead
us a
District Attorney: Witness, you
VIII please tell me about the difficulty
at the lanyard, il you saw it. Your
calf has nothing to DO with it.
Witness: Correc', squire, the calf
war dead-almos' too dead to skin,
but had a good knife, and l skim
ned him.
District Attorney: If you honor
please, l must appeal to the court to
make the witness answer the qucS-
ton.
The Court: Mr.. Witness
Witness (appealingly) ;jedge-
Tie Court: Silence, sir! Icu VIII
.-,,-.,.. +l,, ,,,ost;O,, NJ The attorney.