Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-06-26
L0WLAND FOLKS.

In which tho prisoner IL found not
guilty. but read moral lecture.
When reached Lcster's Croasroads II
was to ilnd the score or so of people com.
prising the hamlet very much excited.
and their numbers had been rc-cnforced
| 10y dozen or moro farmers, who had
come In on mules and In OK carts. got
accommodation at JcfTcrs. and In a few
minutes Mrs. JciIcrs had posted me as TO
tho cause OF tho cScitcmont
"Thar's gwine to be tho powerfulcst
law suit nobody ever hearn toll Of" she
explained. "Tliar's gwinc ter be M many
as ten witnesses. and tho lawyers will
gab. and tho squar' viii boss cycrybody.
and II will be the cxcitingest time we ever
had. I'm SO giad you got yerc In time. 4"
The squar'. who lived milo out OF the
hamlet, took dinner with us: also the
lawyers, both OF whom had mado>n ri,ic
Of fifteen miles in the interest of thcir
respective clients. The squar' was on lis
! dignity. md the lawyers were looked up
to with all the reverence and respect due
the president Of the United States.
School was dismissed that the trial might
take place In the school house, and when
wc nll found seats the place was packed.
When the case was stated Thomas An
drews. q ''squat farmer" was charged
with having stolen. killed aud converted
to his own use ono hog belonging 10 and
the lawful property Of William Aims
worth. another squat farmer" The
squar' opened his own court as follows:
"lIcar sc and look ycrci This court
ar now opcn fur bizness. and it's agin
tho law to fuss or trifo. Them niggcrs
and all otlicrs IL warned to bc powerful
quiet. and II AIRY purson be in contempt
he will git the full extent OF tho law.
Hank Stovin. kick that ar big dog OF
your'n outer doors.r
The prosecutor then charged tho pris-
oncr with having. between tho 9th and
Goth of tho month, stolen, killed and
eaten, In Whole or In part. one hog be.
longing to tic plaintiff, and described as
black and white. 9 years old. weight i15
TO i20 pounds. and Ia good health and
fair condition. He was followed by the
other lawyer. who denied the charge I'm
toto, and intirnated that ho would provo
conspiracy to down the defendant. 10
tho injury OF his name ard fame as an
honest citizen OF tile commonwealth. Tho
plaintiff w.us put ON tho stand, and when
told to go ahead, he said:
81 know that hc 'un stole my hog, and
wantcr SEQ him sent ter prison."
why do you suspect him Of stealing
the bogY'
"Hain't lac shiftless and oneryf'
''ls that why you stIspected himY'
''It ar'. And l know the hog went
over iifs way tho last I seed Of him."
Tho plaintiff hadn't made out much.
bat he had witness who swore that ho
ate fresh pork at Andrews cabin ON the
i2th. IIo also save hog bristies and hoofs
on the ground near tho cabin.
"You declare that on your oath. do
your
''Sartin. rvc got 20 tell IL as Il was,
though Tom and hev always jiggcred
tgot aiong) without worsi."
a second witness sworo that ho called
at Andrews cabin ON tho 18th and tho
wife had fresh pork IN a kettle. Heasked
II Tom had been killing. and she seemed
confused and did not reply. That wns
the case for tho prosecution. II looked
slim ln ono scnsc. and yet everybody
know that Andrews WINS a shiftloes, sus.
picious character. not above hog steal
ing. When the opposing counsel got
hold Of the plaintiff hc asked.
WAS this hog ranging the country1e
"Yes, ho was loosely about and
around"
Went where he pleased. didn't her"
Reckon be did"
well, how do you know he Il deads
How far have you hunted for hluiY'
''Three miles"
''Dut Dc may 10 alive aud well and four
miles away"
"Couldn't be. Tom Andrews killed
him"
That's only your Suspicion. Can you
swear that that hog inp't homo tlis very
minuteg"
'Mebbe ho ar. but shant dun give
ln."
Tho witness who had sworn 70 eating
pork at Andrews table was asked,
Can you tell pork from a 2ycar-old
hog from pig meatY'
mo, sab.
Dare you swear that tito meat You
ate that day wasn't coon or bear meaf2'
Reckon twas pork"
"Yea. you reckon, bot do you know Il
wasg"
"Dasn't dun sw'ar any harder, eah.v
Tho second witness wns also tangled
up on cToss-examinaiion. and then An.
drews was put on the stand,
TON, did you ever sec this hog h
question: asked his lawyer.
"Iawd, nor
"Iiow long since you had any frcsh
pork at your houseY
almost bofO' tho wah. sah."
what meat did Miner eat there that
dayT'
''Ccon. sab"
"what about those brissIcs and hoofs
be says he sawT'
Tom produced q lmalI package and