, 1883-12-08
COURT IN THE WEST.
Scene in the Davenport County Court
Room.

! loon, owned and conducted by a
genial, good-natured individual with
sandy mustache, and a continual
grin on his phiz huge pile of wood
that, If vacated, would impress a
new conner as n favorable place to
spend a winters evening or spin Il
yarn, but at the present time occu-
pied by "'the Chair" whose long
legs dangle here and there down its
sides, and finally wind up on a pro-
jecting stick, where they rest with
seeming comfort. In the center Of
the room is n large stove, surround
ed at the present writing by Il crowd
Of farmers, stOckmen and herd-bOys,
while underneath lies a shabby dog,
with one blue, and one white eye,
the latter being closed, while the
former glares at the individual on
the wood pile with considerable
degree Of mistrust, mingled with
awe, and impressing one with the
opinion that he thinks considerably
more than he says. In one corner
is seated two peaceable looking
chaps, (the prisoners, charged with
"selling whisky to Indians'D guard
ed over by a constable, whose nose
indicates bravery and great detec-
tive power. In the opposite corner
the witnesses are seated, consisting
Of two or three farm hands, and an
Indian. The attorneys for the prose-
cution and defense arc scattered
about, and can be distinguished by
the fact that they have their hats off,
and bear themselves with an air of
importance. An individual with-a
gray beard, and a bald head, who is
continually squirming from one at
tOrney to the other, looking wise,
hopping up to the Chair, then back
again to the attorneys, then assum-
ing the wise expression again, makes
up the group
"The court will please come to
order" says the judge, as he lifts one
OF his cOwhides and lets it drop heav-
lily upon the projecting stick. ST.
lence reigns, and the usual prelimin-
aries being gone through with, the
attorneys proceed to examine the
witnesses.
"YOu short witness in the corner,
stand up and he sworn !" says the
all powerful Chair, as he brings his
foot down on the projecting stick
with an energy that opens the white
eye of the dog, and causes the wit
ness to start and tremble.
"What's yer name, an whar d'y
live ?' roared the chair.
alive in the Big Be" "Ad-
dress the Courtp interrupts the
Judge, as the frightened youth casts
his eyes around as if looking for a
place to drop through.
81 live in the Big Bend, and my
names Josiah s.. l saw that
Injun have a can of VIII"
"Not so fast !" puts in the attOrn-
ey for the defense. "Answer ques-
tions as they are put to you, and
don't say nothin' else"
"What did you say was in that
can ?" asked the prosecution.
"Wh-."
"Shut up" yells the defense. 81
object to the question. It's leadin',
an l object to leadin' questions"
"rll settle that point myself, an
besides, I'll have yer all to under
stand Pm runnin' this shebang my
self. II thar's any ohjection's to be
made, Pll make 'em myself. What
did yer say was IN that can ?' roared
the Chair.
"Whis-."
"Hold on" objects the defense.
"'Taint right, an l won't have 1t p
"Go ahead, say" says the Chair.
'Tll leave it to the crowd"
A murmur Of dissatisfaction from
the crowd settled the question in
dispute, and the answer was with
held. A few more questions and
the short witness was dismissed, an
object of envy to the audience.
The other white witnesses were
soon done away with, and the In
dian placed on the stand. An inter
prefer was sworn in, and the pro-
ceedings continued.
"Ask him II he'll tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. 4" says the judge
The question was propOunded
and the Indian sworn in.
care you an honest Injun ?" in
quired the Judge.
"Hi-yu skookum Injun no tellum
lie. Heap good %
eyer can'tbelleve word he says"
puts in the white-haired fiy-abOut.
'Besides, Pm an American citizen,
an propose to see this thing fairly
done up. l want ter settle the ques-
tion right here about 4Injuhs bein'
sworn in court. wonst knowed an
Injun who had worked all summer
for,my son-in-law, and durin' that
time he never stole a burned thing,
nor never done nothin', but when he
cleared out he took four mustangs,
an bran new saddle. Now, Mr..