Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-14
CAUSED BY ~s7INGINEss.
Why DIR. Peter Jack Objected to Being Held
for Murder,

ASA~
is an old negro who is known as DR..
Peter Jack. To be known as a doctor,
that is, merely to be known as such, is
a condition harmless enough, but Peter
Jack was not only known as a physician,
but really attempted to practice medi-
cine. Recently he was called in to at
tend old B~ow-Legged Ben, the shuck-
collar maker. He remained but q short
time, but when he left, Bow-Legged
Ben was dead. DR.. Jack was arrested
and arranged before court.
How long have you been practicing
medicine ?" the Judge asked.
well, sab, bout five years, reckon
about five years?'
Oats whut 1 said."-
"What authority have you"
"Whut 'thority has ole Nelson out
yander to preach?"
"That has nothing to do with the
question. Any man may preach, for
preaching doesn't endanger life"
But it dangers de soul, sah."
I'VE don't know anything about that.
Il does. Preach de wraung sorter
doctrine, an de Lawdll get chen wild
you eff it takes forty years"
THAT'S all right, DR.. Jack, but for-
tunately this is not an occasion for the
expression of opinion, but for the get
ting at of facts. You were called on to
attend Bow-Legged Benz"
Oats whut L wuz, sah."
"And when you left him he was
dead"
"Yas, sab, dat is tolerable-I mean
de generman wuz dead"
"The evidence shows that you bleI
him.
"Wall, sab, de ebidence is about
right"
do you know the Judge asked,
chat you have committed murder?"
mo. sab, [ doan. rs bled many err
pusson an dar want nuthin' said about
murder"
But none of the others happened to
dep
"Ah, hah, an dis one did"
Eyes"
Wall, den, eff he jest happened ter
die, it want no murder"
That's for this court to decide. Now.
prisoner at the bar, you must show
cause why you should not be held over
to await the action of the grand jury"
Il ken do dat, sab. 1 wuz rousteI
outen my bed luther night ter go ter
see the generman in question. / went
an foun' him putty sick, sufferin' Wild
de dewpizen an de largement O. de
SPAWN"
"Of the what?" the Judge asked.
"O' de SPAWN, I said"
Whats that?"
"Neber mine whit it is. Eff you amt
read up OF dis case wy you amt fittin'
to try it,"
Proceed"
Yes, sab. Found de generman suf-
FERN wild de dew pizen an de SPAWN,
an seed dat he needed bleedin', so I
tuck out my knife an stuck it in his
joglin' VEIN"
and the man died" said the Judge.
Not necessarily, sah."
But he died?"
wall, yes, we mout say dat he died"
From the effects of the knife
wound!"
"Wall, fur de sake O. argument we'll
nit dat he did"
proceed"
Use dun stated de facts, sah."
"And I'll have to hold you over"
Dat may be, but you wouldn' eff Won
had er knowd dat man as we'll as I
does"
what difference would knowing him
make?"
MAKE er gooddeal DER diffunce, Gaze
youwould know den whut a stingy an
er graspin' man he wuz."
II don't catch your meaning, for I
don't see what his stinginess and grasp
ing disposition has to do with the case-"
Il ken mighty soon Tighten you on
dat pint. Wheneber dat man spent fl
cents he wanted er dimes with, an
when I cut dat hole in his ioglin' vein
he strained hissef to bleed modem his
moneys with an it killed him. Hader
acted like a liber'l man he woulder been
all right now, hadenter strained hisse'f
he w%onldenter died. See de pint now
sah?"
Yes, l see that I will have to hold
you"
Den 1 reckon L halter stay wild yorr-
Hope the time will come one deze DAVIS
wen de judges O dis Ian will hab err
little common sense Ell long with der
ignunce. Oars gwine be q riot roun'
yere eff you doan watch out. Folks
amt gwine stan dis sorter hardship
all de time. Dn may bow der heads
ter-mor', but de fust thing you know da
gwine fling off de yoke."-Arkansav