Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-24


The deputy United States marshal came
across a novel type OF rusticity In summon
Ing witnesses to appear against Sussex
moonshner, few days ago. Atter the
arrest Of the dispenser OF bad whisky had
been effected the witnesses were gathered
up. Two men whose testimony were I'M
portant to the prosecution resided neur
Millsboro, In Sussex county and subpmnas
were accordingly made out for them and
served. The witnesses were father and son,
natives to the manor born. The sire was
quaint old specimen of rural simplicity. He
had never been more than 10 miles from
home In his life, and in his life had never
spent u night in any bed but his own. The
son was something more OF traveller and
boosted OF having in early boyhood visited
Laurel. This journey was one OF the
epochs OF his life only surpassed by re-
cent incident when he had ridden q few
miles on q train. The parent had seen ''the
dern keers and heered them" but walking
was good enough for him, so he never ven
tured to step inside conveyances.
When the deputy read tue summons to
the, cold man" he shifted his quid, and lis
tened with an air which eloquently bespoke
his entire Ignorance OF the deputys mis-
sion. "Well, what Of it" he replied, after
the form Of the legal paper, and Its mysti--
flying useless verbiage had been exploded
at him. A simplifcation In the form OF an
explanation was made, and the old man
grasped the meaning. After inquiring how
far "d'ye reckon IT'S to Wilmington" he
said he couldn't get there by next morning,
but might walk it in two days If the roads
were not too bud, He was told his ex-
penses would all be paid, and that he could
make the trip on the cars. Then he kicked.
He'd lived this long without "ridini on them
blank keers," en- would set to and walk"
The opportunities to get the witness to ride
! by rail to this city put the notion into his
head that he would come at all, and he
| mildly but firmly calculated, BE burned If
l CO." The heroism required to brave o
refusal to comply with summons, was
casually mentioned, also that the court
would lock him up for the contempt, but
| primitive simplicity "lowed me and me
| boy could whollop the jedge Of he
come down here trying to serve him with
i speneas.'"
| After much protestation and the inter
vention of a neighbor in whom the Sussex
i men had implicit confidence, the two wit
nesses consented to go to Wilmington on
the cars. The ride up was one which fur
i nished amusement for all their fellow pass
engers. The fathers courage began to fail
| as he approached the car, but after careful
| survey he seemed to satisfy himself it was
all right and he clamhered aboard and took
seat. The locomotive drew out and, as it
pulled away to increase its speed, the old
man grew terror-stricken. His face turned
an ashen hue, and with both hands he con-
i vulsively clutched the seat and held OH as
II his life depended upon the firmness OF
his grip. When the whistle would sound
the rustic would give u frightful start as II
to spring from his seat, and then
would give an appealing look among
his fellow-passenger who were con-
vulsed with laughter. The Sussexian
doubled up on the seat, u verita-
BILE rustic eouchant and did not open his
lips during the entire trip, his face wearing
an expression which indicated that his
first car ride was attended by all the mental
and nervous agonies in the category oi
human ills. The son affected an air Of in-
difference yet was far from being at ease
End the voice of the deputy marshal was
frequently heard in reassuring tones. Wher
the cars stopped at Wilmington the old mar
relaxed his grim grip upon the sea-
of the car, and beads of perapira
ton notified his brow. He gave {
sigh OF relief upon alighting ant
seemed exceedingly grateful that HI
had not been killed in transit. Everythinf
in the city was strange and new, and at thu
| street cars he naryelltd. When In th,
court room he viewed everything with 1
nervous suspicious air and evidently die
not like the dignity which pervade thu
department OF Justice. He complained o
sickness and wanted to turn about and sc
home but did not care to go back on TIN
cars. After giving testimony, the fathe
and son were taken back to the depot pu
on the train for home and the last seen o
the pair by the deputy the old man ha,
gripped the seat and had braced himsel
for the trying ordeal of the journey home