Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-04-05
A'sts!!aaeoas.
Buster and HIS Calf.
>oKTH CAROLINA RACk~woup>MAN n
COURT.

In the mountain region of North Caro-
lima man named John Foster uas recently
/ tried for assault and halter, upon the per
son Of William lruIit. The first witness
was wI!d-rNed. one-eyed, rough bearded
man. Tie va, lame He lost hi, mlsslng
eve in fight lhls was his tr,i appearance
in a court house. although be looked to he
~ Years o! aye. There seems to have been
ali lrreverrni mixture Of the sacred and
pruiane IN The makeup OF his name, which
va> Jeremiah Buster. A. be stood amid tn.
crowd ia the court room a close observer
might soon have discovered that the whole
scene new to him. " hen the prosecut-
ing attorney called him to the witness stand
he iimped around the railing OF the bar and
took his seat on the stand, the same being
shown him b, an officer Of the court lie
gazed around him with wlldered air. vet
there was that IN his deme amor v hich showed
he had not parted altogether with the self
assertion and independence characteristic Of
the dseilers IN the mountains. He took IN
much Of the situation. perhaps, as a one
eyed man could be reAsonah, expected to
do on his first appearance on the scene.
Prosecuting attorney-W hat Is YOUR name
Witness squirting stream Of tobacco
yNAA, va AAit AFtA ti4ak itNtHbttA bUt us
charge from the nozzle Of ho>e-pipel Jere-
mlah Buster squire. They gInerally cali
me Jerr, for short.
Prosecuting attorney-Well. Mr. Buster
Witne,s-No~. squire. don't call me Mr.
Buster, ef YOU please. m damned sildom
called that. and
The court-Mr. Witness
Wi,nes,- Now, ledge, je. call me Jerry.
ef you please. ! ant used to bein called
mister. and II sorter sounds strange like
J-s call
The court-See here, sir ; the court wishes
10 warn YOU that If YOU swear again in the
presence Of the court you will be punished
for "a
Witness Why, jedge, that little tow
headed-twlth another oath. pointing to the
deputy clerk made me swar the fus thing |
done befo tuck the stan. IF you
The court-Mr. Clerk. fine the witness -
for the use Of improper language and for a
contempt Of court. Mr. Wines
Witness-Now, jedge, ef you please, don't
call
The court-Silence, sir Don't attempt
to interrupt the courts opinion. The court
wishes to say to YOU that YOU must not in
duge in profane and improper language in
this presence. Answer the questions that
are propounded TO YOU and do it in decent
and proper language.
Wirness-Jedge. amt bin axed but one
question yet, and ef ! didn't answer that
correct wish NAV be derned.
The eour, (excitsdly)-Mr. Clerk, fine this
witness s25.
Wi,ness-Why, what in hell have l.
The court-Silence, sir. Mr.. Sheriff.
take this witness TO jail and keep him there
until he learns to behave himself.
At this point the sheriff approached Jer-
~ to carry out the order of the court Ii
seems that Jerry had not met the sheriff
since the latter was over in Jerry's neig hbor-
hood electioneering. Jerry rose. and grasp
ing the hand of the sheriff warmly, said
why, how are YOU. Bill T told YOU we'd
put YOU through in our deestrick. You beat
that tangle-eyed houn' that run agin you two
TO one in the deestrick." The district a,tor-
ney here arose and said that he felt satisfied
the witness did not mean to commit con-
tempt of court. but spoke thoughtless!y and
from force Of habit. He hoped the court
would not send witness to jail, at least at
that time, he was the only person by
whom the State could prove the offence
charged against the defendant in the indict-
ment 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 a
bad habit, if it had obtained such control
over him as to cause him to violate all pro-
priety.
District attorney-That is all true, your
honor, but if the witness is sent to Jail now
| shall be compelled to enter nolle prose
aui in the case, and the trial must be sus-
D. .nded, as this is my only witness.
The court latter a pause)-Witness take
your seat.
Jerry anchored himself again in the wit
ness box.
The court-Have you ever been in court
before?
Witness-Jedge, this is the fus time I've
bin in a court house and ef Twas to do it over
agin, wouldn't csme-I wouldn't by hok-
ey.
The court-In consideration of the fact.
the court will not now send you to jail,
but
Witness-Why, jedge, l hope you want
thinkin' of sendin' Nv me to Jail, was ye?
The court-The court had certainly deter
mined to inprison you for your improper
hagaage saa agaia vszas Yos thai i Uaaa