The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-23
ALL A JOKE.
A coiored Gentleman Delivers an Earn.
 est Argument in his Own Defense.

I
 est Argument in his Own Defense.
 Bill Singleton, colored gentleman whose depredations and whose intensity sf complexion are well known in the Sand Swamp bottom, shot and killed Thick Lip Anderson, who used to work on the Pepperton place. Bill was ar- rested, and, for preliminary triaL was ar raigned before . justice c: the peace. The magistrate, after hearing the evi- dence, turned to the prisoner and said
 "You have the right to testify In your own behalf. What have you to say in Justification of the awful deed which you have committed ?"
 Look heah, jedge, look hsah l" ex. claimed Bill. "Dis heah thing is dun gone fur ernuff. Dat whole thing wuz CT joke"
 "A jcke?"
 "Yas, sab, CT joke"
 "It was a terribly bloody joke"
 "l 'knowledges, sab, dat dar wuser few draps O blood spilled, but It wuz all CT joke. Lemme tell yer: Me an dc dead pusson had allus been frien's. We uster war each uders shirts, sah. He had on one O my shirts when he wur shot Does yer think dat CT pusson would wanser tar one O his own shirts all ter pieces Thinks, does yer, dat CT man Is go, 90 much cloze desc hard times dat he waats ter 'ssroy 'emi wants yer ter answer dat question, sah."
 The question has nothing to do with the case"
 "Wall, l reckon 1t do. studied law CT little while myself, an I've ioun' da. 1t hab stood me nightly in hans. Hsdes- ter been fur de law what I knows dc white folks woulder dun runned ober me laung CT go."
 eff you have nothing to say in your defsnse," replied the magistrate, closing the revised statutes and placing a tin ruler on the volume, "l will commit you without further ceremony"
 @Neber mine,' squire, jes' hole on CT mint. Er pusson whut Is allus in CT hurry makes mo- mistakes den de man whut takes his time. Er dog ken git on de track O CT coon an run % fas' dat he misses de tree whut de coon hab dun clim', but de slow an steady dog pokes erlong like he want keerin much an de fus' thing yer know he hab dun treed dc vsrmint. Now, I'll 'splain: Me an dat unfortunate gennerman whut owes me CT dollar dis berry minit-say, jedge, does yer reckon dat CT sensible pusson wants ter go roun' de country killin' folks whut owes him, hah? Does yer 'spose dat money is 90 plentiful dat es man in pol sarcumstances wants ter a,ng CT debt erway3 1 wants answer ter dis question, sah."
 "The question is irrelevant"
 "Whut's dat7 Wy, jedge, ter heah sich CT word drap outen yer mouf puts me in mine O de time when teached school 'cross de bayou"
 "I have to commit"
 @Hoie on CT mint, sah hole on."
 "Well, out with what you are going to say"
 70 co'se. couldn' out wid suthin' whut ain't gwine ter say. Dat onfor- tupate gennerman whut de good Lawd seed St ter snatch erway frum dis heah worp O bad craps an p'iiticai sransaehun, wuz my bruder-in-de-iav. Nov does yer think dat CT pusson wants ter kill od all his kin folks Does yer reckon dat 1 wants ter kill my bruder-in-de-law am den halter s'port my sister, hah7 1 wants yer ter answer dis question"
 "Mr. Singleton" said the justice, "I sec that you can say nothing in paIiia- ton" "Hah whuts dat word Jedge, whar yer pick up all dem diskiveies2 | thought dat wus CT eddycssed passsa an dat coald grammar aroun' er little, but ysssef makes me sortes 'ahamsd Nov, I'm gvineser make sr mighty plais statement. Me an Thick Up, q tells yer, wuz good frien's no matter f ws wuz kin follu. He hil hisse'f es iittie esbovs 1 me kase he chawed seo' terbsckss aa' kase had ter put up vid laung grssn, but dat dids' make 10 difssen e wid me On d. arterroon when d. oafonnnate gsnnermsn tuck his 'tsrnai departure
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