Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-19
JOHN HENRYs
TRIAL.

AT an experience meeting one night
John Henry confessed:
"pze broke ebry one ob do Ten Com
mandments over'n over agin; but, Lawd
| D. praised, the dcbbil can't take away my
81 uni"
Finally young Bloodgood Of the general
store undertook John Henry's Information.
He decided upon plan OF action that was
highly original and Let number Of young
| follows, scions of the Bushrods, Washing
tons and Cutters, into the secret. Life
was not overly exciting In the county, 30
that all entered heartily into what seemed
b. give promise Of a good Joke
Young Emslie, who had just come down
from Baltimore TO visit the Bushrods, was
unknown 70 John Henry, so that the deli
rate commission OF Turing him on was In
trusted 10 him John Henry proved inno-
sent and unsuspecting and his confidence
Mas secured by means OF gift Of paper
Of bad smoking tobacco and a pint of
worse whisky Then Emslie said myste'
riously
Look here, uncle, has any one died re-
Gently In these partsi"
\ mo, Mars Emslie," said John Henry,
with start. None but ole EphuIn, who
was buried ovah month ago"
"The very thing" said Emslie. Can
| i trust you with a secret, John HenryP'
| Decd an you kin, sah.
| well, IL Isn't known here, but I'm u
medical student in Baltimore. What
came down here for Is oadayer. You
| know what that Is, don't your"
| "It's bird, amt itf" said John Henry
| thoughtfully. 'Tain't buzzard, j rock
on"
Mono" said Emslie, sinking his voice
almost 90 n whisper. Its dead body.
| What want is old Ephraiin, and i II give
you SEQ If you'll help me get him."
| AN II we git caughtF said John
Henry obviously.
| "Oh, we'n bo hanged, OF course, said
Emslie cheerfully. Are you willing to
take chances for S20F
John Henry said he thought no was.
Very well, then, !" said Emslie. Meet
me at ~ tonight at the colored graveyard
and bring "a spade with you"
John Henry promised to do SO, and
| Emslie returned to Bloodgood and the
rest to report.
Tho black rascal" said Bloodgood In
disgust. Didn't ! tell you he'd rob the
| deadr'
The night was without a moon, and ev-
erything favored the iniquitous proceed
ing AT IL Emslio met John Henry at
the designated place, which was not o
cheerful one, to say the least, for an ap-
pointment.
well, you're here, ! see," no said.
"Have you brought q spade with your
| Now show me old Ephraim's graveF
| John Henry led the way through tan
| gle Of blackberry vines and creepers. His
knees were beginning to knock under him.
| Now dig" commanded Emslie when
| the other paused before a freshly made
| mound. Let's get through with this
business as soon as we can"
John Henry took of his coat prepara-
| tory 20 beginning his ghastly"rsork. Before
| nc pat his spade into tho ground he looked
around for another reassuring glance ut
his companion. But Emslie had mystic
riously disappeared.
Almost at the same time a number OF
| dark forms rose up as mysteriously on all
sides around him. John Henry was so
| frightened that he fell down on his knees.
| Hc thought they were the denizens OF tho
| place seeking vengeance until he heard n
| stern voice. which ho recognized rs Colo
| mel Washington's, says
| $50 we've caught you red handed you
scoundrell Light n lantern, some Of you,
| and Wen sea- who IL Is. >"
| III Jne RlhTt Ol inc ulhJCn JOnn lltnIy
| noticed that every one wore black half
mask and carried shotgun. He endeav-
| ored to collect his frightened wits.
Deed l amt did muffin wrong" he
| expostulated. "Fo' Gawd 1 amt, gem
| menP
Then what arc you doing here at this
hourI"
Il jus como In to weep ovah olo
| Ephum's gravel"
YES, and brought spade with you,
said Colonel Washington. why, as
live, it's the very spade you borrowed
| from me over a month ago."
| "Yassir, said John Henry lamely. 1
| wuz on my way ter return hit ter yer"
| What shall We do with him" asked
J Colonel Washington, turning to his COM
| panions. Hang him to the nearest treef"
| "Oh, hanging's too good for him, said
another. Let's cut him to pieces little
bit at a time"
mo, interposed a third; ''he ought to
| have fair trial Let's take him to Justice
Taintor's and give him fair trial"
| That's So" came the gruff chorus.
"Ie ought TO have fair trial Wen take
| him 20 Justice Taintor's"
| Justice Taintor was already prepared for
| their coming Nevertheless he pretended
| 70 be awakened from a sound sleep, and
| after awhile came down and lit the lamp
In the little bare room in which he hold
| court
| When the facts were made known to
| him, he consented to an Immediate trial,
| which proved to be exceedingly humorous
TO all except the prisoner. Colonel Wash
| ington made out a strong case for the
prosecution, and then Mr.. Blackburn, who
had been appointed to represent John
| Henry's interests, arose.
II admit everything Colonel Washing
ton has said, and more" he began.
"Hades Is too good for John Henry. The
devil couldn't keep chicken II he was
around. l hope you won't send him there,
| Judge, for by so doing youll only increase
the immortality OF the place"
/ The jury found the quaking prisoner
| guilty without leaving their seats, and
| then Justice Taintor turned TO him and
| said:
John Henry, If the law took its proper
course. you would be plunged like human
doughnut In a vat of boiling oil But we
| haven't any vat of boiling oil, so I'm going
~ give you n chance. Gentlemen, go out
side and have your guns ready. AS the
! prisoner runs blaze away at him as many
times rs you like, and II he gets of with
| his life well and good"
| John Henry started, and for awhile IL
| eonpdo1 lika bnIluun tiunaa Once ha fall