The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-04-13
Mr. Jerry Buster In Court.

The following report of q trial in a
North Carolina court is condensed from
somewhat lengthy account published
IN local papers,:
In the mountain region Of the State a
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 fight. This was his first appearance
in 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 jewellers in the mountains.
He took in as much of the situation, per-
haps, as one-eyed man could be reason
ably expected to do on his first appear
ance on the scene.
Prosecuting Attorney-''What is your
name?"
Witness (ejecting stream of tobacco
juice on the floor)-''Jeremiah Buster,
Squire. They ginerally call me Jerry,
for short"
Prosecuting Attorney-"Well, Mr..
Buster
Witness-Now, Squire. don't call me
MIR; Buster, efyou please. I'm sildom
called that. and"
The Court-..Mr. Witness"
Witness-Now ledge, jes' call me
Jerry, eff you please. l amt used to
bein' called mister, and it sorter sounds
strange like. Jes' 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: IF 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."
District AttOrney-"That is all true,
your Honor, but if the witness is sent to-
Jail now l shall be compelled to enter a
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 examina-
ton proceeded.
District Attorney-'Jerry, were you
present in August last at Johnson's tan
yard when difficulty occurred between
he prisoner at the bar, John Foster, and
William Truitt? If so. tell about it in
your own way
Witness-"Well. Squire, one night
.har was turrible storm passed thro'
our make of the woods and bowed down
, big poplar in the corner of the horse
ot and killed my speckled caf-"
District Attorney-'.Never mind about
he calf"
Witness-"Well, Squire, I'll tell you.
It that storm hadn't ter bowed down
he tree on the caf and killed it. wouldn't
,r skinned the caf, and eff / hadn't er
kiuned the cat wouldn't er tuck its
hide to the lanyard, and eff / hadn't er
uck the hide to the lanyard wouldn't
# bin thar-now would I?''
District Attorney-..Well, 1 suppose
lot. Go on"
Witness -"And eff I hadn't er bin thar
couldn't err seed nothin' to tell-now
'ould L? You see, Squire, you didn't
now what what l was a-coming at
low did yer?''
District Attorney-"Well, 90 on"
W:tpeSS-'.Well, arter l skinned the
af kotch my old mare and carried the
l'de over to the lanyard. When got
here l seed Jack Foster a-sittin' down
" the rut of a tree and Bill Truitt were
-talkin' tohim.'
District Attorney-'.Well, what did
'ruitt say to defendant Foster?"
Witness-"Well, Squire, you see when
rid up on my old mare, L seed Bill a
akin, but L couldn't hear a word he
aid, fur war; hundred yards off when
fus' see EN-"
District Attorney-Well, didn't you
ct near enough to hear anything that
1as said?"
WI ness-"O yes. Squire"
District Attorney-"Well, after You
OF near enough to hear, what was
aid?"
WItness-s.Well. Bill sed TO Jack thar |
pointing to the defendant) Il want you |
} pay me the dollar you owe me-"
District Attorney-'Well, was that all |
nat was said?''
WitneSs-"O no, Squire, that warn't |
H."
District attorney Gmpatiently)-l
Well, please go on; tell all that was
hid"
Wtness-.'Well. Squire, it 'peared |
Ike Jack didn't pay the money. and Bill |
ed that Jack was not an honest man, |
nd Jack ris up frum the rut Nv the tree
nd breshed the dust often the seat Nv
IS britches."
Distric. Attorney-"What did Jack, as
OH call him, saS?''
WHness-"Never said der-never
hid nuthin' at all"
District Aaorney-"Well, tell US about
lie fight between them"
Wilness-"Thar worn't no fife atween
m that 1 seed"
District Attorney-'.Do you mean to
" that there was no fight between
ruitt and Foster at the lanyard that
ay in yOur nroSence2S 1