Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
FUN IN THE COURT.
Scene Before a Picturesque Judge in
Richmond's Black District.
THE DIGNITY OF A FALSTAFF.
Forensic Displays Interrupted by Dog
Who Was Flea-Bitten.
4 FAIR PRISONER WELDED A RAZOR

|
the Rebellion, never sees and that is to-
familiar to the native to be appreciated
It is the City Court Here criminal case
are tried and all the humorous characters O
the city figure. The colored cicerone doe
not see the points of the attraction, how
ever, for he breads the place as the local
judgment seat for the colored sinners.
The building is long, raking shanty
erected to take the place of the old classic
City Hall torn down to make way for the
new granite palace contrived by the Knights
Of Labor some years ago and now nearly
completed. The Judge of the Hastings
court is q Napoleonic-looking person OF
Falstafan proportions, festive withal, and
zone of the boys" whom men Of high and
low degree call ''Sam" until he gets into the
| court house and then it is "Judge," even
| from his most intimate friend Of the
"wards." The Commonwealth attorney
| is also zone of the boys" and the same ap-
plies to the sergeant and the clerk and the
constable.
TWO ATTORNEYS oT COLOR.
The lawyers vary in rank from the first
class practitioner to the police court shys-
lawyers. Among the latter is the famous
counselor, Giles jackson, a coal black, bald
headed old darky, an ex-slave and q
prophet among his people. The other col
ored lawyer is of the new regime, Henry
Crutchfeld. When they are pitted against
each other 1t is q drawing card, and "Old
Sans Matinee" as they call it, is crowded
with mottled audience who often get re-
buked by the Court when they applaud q
fine point, and not unfrequently 90 to the
dungeon cell for contempt. When one
strolls into the matinee at the height of the
season, at the time when vagrants seek or
are brought to justice, he beholds the omi-
nous sign 'tCity Taxes, " and opposite to it
''Treasurer's Office" and "Gas Inspector 3
Office" and the legend, ''Bills paid next
door,
Counselor jackson had been examining a
colored witness and presently the younger
colored lawyer tried to put the thumb
screws to an aristocratic darky who was
called for the other side. The elderly aris-
tocrat stood it for a while, then he growled
out, rolling his eyesat the rising young bar
rister.
REBELLION IN TIE BOX.
"Look heah, boy, you know who yo'
talking to? You sass me one bit more I
mash yo' mouf for you, shore, you niger,
you, mine eff don'tP'
"T'l put you in Jail for contempt of
court, says the Judge sternly.
'Judge, I begs yo' pa'don, didn't mean
no ofeniousness to the Cote, sab, excusin'
that low down nigger's owdacious jaw. AS
l were remarkin, gentlemen, dis heah gal,
de prisoner, were sparkin' wild de boys right
dere on Bird street, an one of 'em took an
insulted her like, an she jist took de razor
an make slipe at one of 'em's jaws"
'That's enough; stand aside" said the
Commonwealth attorney.
Counselor Jackson-Well, now, gen 1e-
men, we admit de razor, but jiss study on
de provocation. Heah, sab, is young
lady in de bloom OBJ youf an health, unfur-
seen like insulted by dis yere owdacious
little black nigger and vaganpunt What
could she do to vindicate her honah, sahP
Was she to took it jis SO like brazen
cipirony? Or Babalony scarlet female?
She couldn't blush fur shame cuz she war
black, so she jis out wild de razor natural
like an took a slipe out OBJ de defamer's
jaw.
HAD THE RAzoR PRoMISCUoUs-LIKN.
A juror-Did she have that razor with
malice aforethought?
''The witness say he dunno. She 'peared
to have it promiscuous-like an !jis reached
out at de boy what insulted her."
"What had he said to insult her?''
"He say he lowed she had de measle."
At this stage a dog that had been taking
q great deal of interest in the proceeding
was diverted from the case by the insidious
attack of flea and went for the fugacious
insect with such spirit as to attract the at
tention of the Court, jury and audience.
Remove that dog" says the Judge.
But the canine, being favorite Bohemian
of the city, encouraged by the presence of
friends, would not recognize the
sanctity of the place or the authority of the
law. He vociferously protested against ar
rest, and as the sergeant attempted to flank
him he seized the minion of the law by the
leg. The constable seized the dog by the
tail, and even the ''tender young lady at the
bar" as the counselor termed the prisoner,
was obliged to show her ivories in mockery
of his distress.
PUTTING IN THE PATHoS
The dog being finally arrested and 70