The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-11
WAS A SCOUNDREL.
A Case Where a Judge Found Sud- den Cause for Changing His
 Opinion.

"l doan know why l'se fetched heah, ae Lavd kno~s dcar," exclaimed old Powell. "Wuz jes' erbout gittin' ready fur ter go ter de camp-meetin' whar her been pinted ter 'zort, when dat constable come up and spread his hans out on my garments. Doan like DO sich acshuns CT dat, an deman's right heah ter know why hab been fotch up afore dis nig- ger whut is ez black CT is, ebery day in de week."
 "Neber mine turin ter de color O de jedge," said old Napper Parker, justice of the peace for Catnip township. "De bench O de Ian, sah, takes no congersi- zance O whut sorter hide justice wars. l'se black, it am true, but yer'll fine my 'cisions mighty true, sho's yer bornd, yer will"
 "Wall, den, jedge, we won't 'skuss de question O color, but premit me ter ax why's fotch inter dis heah cou't?"
 "Oh, yer'l fine dat out. Er man neber comes up heah an goes erway widout gittin' CT putty good idee O why he wuz fotch. De charge, Parson Powell, IS flung ergin' yer by de railroad comp'ny."
 ct am ?"
 "It an, sah."
 "Whut's l done ter de railroad com. p'ny9"
 "Dats whut we wants ter 'vestig ate, Mir. Dissatisfied Prisoner at de bar"
 "Wall, go erhead, den, jedge. l ain't done nuthin' ter de blame road, an yer kain' prube it."
 "Wall we'll jes' swar de witness, Mir. Parson."
 The evidence was substantially as fol- lows: Some time ago, a railroad train ran over a cali that belonged to Powell. The old man claimed that it was blooded animal and that he did not think twenty dollars would compensate him for his loss. The company, not caring to go to law about so small a sum, paid the money. Shortly afterwards, startling disclosure was made. A young negro man who worked for Powell, went to a railroad official and told him that Powell had ob- taired the money by fraud. The calf, a scrub at best, died in the woods. Powell found :. jus. before dark one evening. Dragging 1t to the railroad track he se- creted himself. After dark when he saw train coming, he placed the calf on the track. The company did not sue for the recovery of the money, but had Powell arraigned for criminal action. There was no white justice of the peace in the township, and as it could not be proved that Napper Parker was Prejudiced, a change of venue could not be obtained.
 When these facts were made known to the court, the judge asked.
 "Now, Mir. Dissatisfied Parson, whut yer got ter say7"
 "Whut's got ter say7"
 "Yas, whut's yer got ter say 2"
 Wall, sah, coul' go on an say CT heap. couP string out skripter ter yer till yer woup think dat Moses had handed down dem slabs O stone, but I'll fine myself ter CT few words. Dis heah young nigger Jake, de main witness in dis heah case, ain't no deah frieu' O mine, femme tell yer. Dat young nigger wouldn' hiz- e1tate ter take de las mou'ful O braid outen my mouf Doan wanter 'sult dis coa's, bst dat young sennermss is es daim scoun'rel."
 "Yer mustn't talk dat way in dis cou't, sah."
 "I knows dat, jedge, an dat's de reason why ain't gwine ter do it. Tell yer what dat young gennerman am got ergin me. I'se got a mighty likely daughter, sab. De young scoun'rel wanted ter marry her. ST, mo, yer kaint marry dis chile. She's CT eddy cated pusson, an yesse'f ain't got no larnin'. Co ter college CT while an when yer gifts de rsplomer, come back am take de gal It am dangerous fur CT man ter gin his arnly chile ter CT oneddycated pusson.' Dem wuz de berry words 'sklaimed, jedge, am da 'peered ter satify de daim sooun'rei-'skuse me, jedge-de young genneman, an he said he would muscle on CT way an' take up laznin'. Bout two weeks axter dis he come hack.