The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-10

The following report of trial in g
North Carolina court is condensed from
a somewhat lengthy account published
in local papers,;
In the mountain region of the State @
man named John Foster was recently
tried for assault and battery upon the
person of William Truitt. The first wit
ness was one-eyed rough-bearded man.
He was lame. He lost his missing eye
in a fight. This was his first appearances
in a courthouse, although he looked to
be some sixty years of age. There seems
to have been an irreVerent admixture OF
the sacred and profane in the makeup
of his name, which was Jeremiah Buster.
As he stood amid the crowd close OBJ
server might soon have discovered that
the whole scene was new to him. When
the prosecuting attorney called him to
the witness-stand he limped around the
railing of the bar and took his seat ON
the stand. He gazed around him with
a bewildered air, yet there was that in
his demeanor which showed that he had
not parted altogether with the self
assertion and independence character
istic of the dwellers in the mountains.
liz
haps, as one-eyed man could be reason
ably expected to do on his first appear
ance on the scene.
Prosecuting Attorsey-"What is your
name?'
Witness (ejecting a stream of tobacco
juice on the floor) Jeremiah Buster,
Squire. They ginerally call me Jerry,
for short"
Prosecuting Attorney-"Well, Mr..
Witness-Now, Squire. don't call me
Mr; Buster, eff you please. I'm sildom
called that, and -
- The Court-.'Mr. Witness"
WItfsess-Now Jedge, jes' call me
Jerry, eff you please. 1 amt used to
bein' called mister, and it sorter sounds
strange like 4Jes' call
The District Attorney here arose and
said that he felt satisfied the witness did
not mean to commit contempt of court,
but spoke thoughtlessly and from force
of habit. He hoped the Court would not
send witness to Jail, at least at that time,
as he was the only person by whom the
State could prove the offense charged
against the defendant in the indictment,
and the trial would, therefore, be sus-
pended. The Court replied: eff the
witness knew no better, it was time he
was learning, and he could not be broken
too soon of bad habit, if it had obtained
such control over him as to cause him to
violate all propriety," f
District Attor1sey--t'That is all true,
your Honor, but If the witness is sent to
I oh ha IaI 70
nolle prosequi in the case and the trial
must be suspended, as this is my only
Witness" ,
After some further difficulty in bring
ing the witness to the point, the examine
ton proceeded. &
District Attornty-''JerrY, were YOU
present in August last at Johnson's tan
yard when difficulty occurred between
the prisoner at the bar, John Foster, aud
William TrlIittp Ii so. tell about it in
your own. way
Wit'aeSs-''Well. Squire, one night
thar was turrible storm passed thro'
our make of the woods and blowed down
big poplar in the corner of the horse
lot and killed my speckled eaf-"
District Atto4neg-"Never mind about
the calf"
Witness "Well, Squire, I'll tell YOU
Ef that storm hadn't ter blowed down
the tree on the CAT and killed it, Iwouldn't
er skinned the caf. and eff / hadn't er
skinned the caf wouldn't er tuck its
hide to the lanyard, and eff hadn't er
tuck the hide to the lanyard wouldn't
er bin thar-now would I?''
District Attorney-"We T suppose
not. Go on
Witness -''And eff / hadn't er bin thar
/ couldn't er seed nothin' to tell--now
could IP You see, Squire, you didn't
know what what l was a-comine at
now did yer?'
District Attorney-'.Well, go on
Witpess-''Well, arter | skinned the
CAT kotch my old mare and carried the
hide over to the lanyard. When | got
there / seed Jack Foster a-sittin, down
by the rut of tree and Bill Truitt were
a-talkin' to him.
- District Attormeg-"Wel, what did
Truitt say to defendant Foster?''
Witness-''Well, Squire, you see when
rid up on my old mare, | seed Bill a.
talkin', but | couldn't hear word he
said. fur | wara hundred yards off when
| fus'. see 'em." =
District Attorney-Well, didn't Won
get near enough to hear anything that
was said?n
Va 'sess-''O yes. Squire"
District Attorney swell, after YOU
got near enough to hear, what was
sad?"
WitueSS-"Well, Bill sed TO Jack thar
(pointing to the defendant) Il want You
to pay me the dollar you owe me.n
District Attorney tsWen, was that all
that was saidp''
Wttaaess-''O no, Squire, that warn't
ALL"
District attorney (impatiently)-
Well, please 60 on; tell all that was
said.''
Witness--"W We'll, Squire, it 'peared
like Jack didn'tpay the money. and Bill
sed that Jack was not an honest man,
and Jack ris up frum the rut NV the tree
and breshel the dust oten tho seat NV
his britches.''
District Attorney---ssWhat did Jack. "a
You call him, sayaa'
Wit'aess-''Never said der-neyer
said nuthin' at ALL