Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-23
PIONEER "REMINISCENCES.
TANNING A DEFENDANT.

District Attorney" We are ready
sir"
Judge Is the defendant in Court
! (No answer.) Mr. Marshal call the de
fendant in this case"
The Marshal left the room, and after
a few moments absence returned lead
ing Mr.. j. by the arm. The prisoner
looked as if he was walking over boul
ders about the size of nine-pounders
| and hence the assistance he was re-
celving was very acceptable. When
the prisoner reached the bar the Judge
addressed him in a mild and pathetic
tone.
Judge" Mr. j, you are charged
by Indictment, with selling liquor to
the Indians"
J.-Gnterrupting)-"I never done
it sir, by Cd"
Judge" Silence, Mr. J.. Have
you any counsel"
j." Counsel, what in ell do YOU
want wi counsel?"
Judge Ga little riled'O-" You are
to be tried on an indictment for sell
ing liquor to Indians. If you have nc
counsel, and are not able to employ
any, the Court
j." Hi am able to pay hall my
debts, sir, by"
Judge Cooking ferocious)- Hush
silence, sir. Mr.. Marshal, you must
keep the prisoner quiet, Qurning to
j. If you are able to employ
counsel"
j. .(again interrupting)-" can pay
all my debts, sir (with blow at space. )
What in the ell do you want me to
pay money for nothing for; hi don't
no no man sir, by -, sir. l never
done hit. They's hall pack O. id
lies they's been tellin' on me. Prove
hit, Judge, prove hit"
While delivering this small bit oI
an Grafton, the orator WAS frequently
interrupted, and requested to be quiet
When he found the audience entirely
unwilling to listen to him, he brought
to Il halt. The Judge then remarked
that he discovered Mr.. j was in
toxicated. "The Marshal will see him
confined and kept from the use OF
spirituous liquors until he is SOBER"
j." No, hi haint drunk. Hi jist
took my reg'lar dram. Hits hall the
same wi me. Drunk or sober, him
always old j. You won't never
git me no soberer. Iii will take my
DRAM"
Judge" Mr. Marshal, you will have
to put the prisoner in irons and see
that he is not allowed to take his
DRAM"
j. (violcntly)-" Then who the ellis
going to take care of my pigs, hand
chickens, hand cows. You must send
somebody down there to feed 'em. Hi
don't want 'em to starve. Hand who's
going to pay me for my time. Hi
don't want none OF your county scrip
for it haint worth a d-n. Hi wants
cash hup, hi duz."
This peroration was delivered to a
delighted audience, while Mr.. j
was being ushered out of the court.
room by stout bailiff, to be placed
under the influence of Maine liquor
law. Three or four days in irons, with
cold water for his only drink, sufliced
to sober Mr.. H J., nearly. AT
any rate he came into court without
any assistance, and was recognized to
appear at the next term of the Court
Next term came, and came also the
defendant, Mr.. j.. The slight
touch of the Maine law he had re.
ceived had had its effect. A wonderful
change had come over the prisoner al
the bar. He answered when the case
was called. He was humble, respect.
full, and extremely poor-not able to
pay counsel, but ready, willing and
very anxious to go to trial. Counsel
was assigned him and the trial went
on. While defendants counsel was
closing his defence to the jury, giving
his client reputation which Neal
Dow, himself, might envy, or Father
Mathew be proud of, J. slid out
and hit the old adrisary hard lick
OF course the old .fellom struck back
Mr.. J. returned to the courtroom
just as his counsel closed, hearing un.
mistakable marks of the blow he had
received. One more such blow would
have made him unable to hear the yer.
dict. He did return, though, and with
Il desperate struggle held his tongue
until the verdict of "not guilty" was
read. The Judge put on II pleasant
smile and addressed the prisoner
Mr.. J-you are discharged. Mr.
Clerk, enter the verdict. Next case on
the docket is L. S."
J. Gnterrupting)-" But who the
ellis going to pay me for hall the hex.
penses of comm hand staying here
hall this time, hand for hall my pigs
hand chickens that has died. Hain't hi
going to git nothing for hall this. Nc
horders, nor nothing?"