The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-02-17

sorrowful air with sympathy for Uncle
Billy manifested in every movement of his
Adonis-liBe person, and in tones as gen
tie as dove and with ineffable tenderness
said: "My dear friend, certainly no man
on this living continent believes for mo-
ment that you are in any way related to
the prisoner at the bar, or to any other
negro, as for that matter. | know. the
court knows, everybody knows that you
are a full-blooded 'Anglo-Sexton, but
the law makes it imperative that these
questions should be asked they are asked
every juror. Now, when [ ask you the
question please just frankly say no, or |
am not, and we will proceed Are you
related, by blood or marriage, to the
prisoner at the bar?"
Uncle Billie glanced piteously at the
sea OF faces which stared at him from
all parts of the room, but found no COM
fort there. ALI, all seemed to rejoice at
his impending fate. He mutely appeal
ed with beseeching eyes in vain for sym
pathy Yes, he did find one sympathet-
l. glance. His despairing eyes at last
fell upon the solicitor-general, whose
benignant glance. with its alluring ten
derness, wOoed the old man from his
death like stapor, and making one su-
preme effort he shrieked out lin his ago.
ny, "Pm not related to the prisoner az
the bar, by blood, or by marriage, or by
anything else on the top side of the uni
verse, and, by grannies, any living hui
man being that dares to- "Silence, :"
Numbered the judge. 81 am only try
in to answer the question Judge" SAID
Sherman, meekly. "You have already
answered it to my satisfaction" said
Crisp. "Now, please answer this ques-
ton: Are you opposed to capital pun
ishment?" THAT depends upon the
crime" said Uncle Billie. "Ploase an
swer yes or no" said Crisp, imploringly.
Said Sherman: "When nigger goes
a-prancing around with a pistol
"See here,'' harshly spoke the judge, 81
warn you that if you keep This up I'll
send you to jail. Go on, Mr.. Crisp"
care you in favor of capital punish
ment?" said Crisp persuaSively. "Well, y
said Sherman doggedly, ''some niggers
ought to be hung and some white peo-
pie ought to Oe, too, as for that matter,
and they amt fur from here, neither,
and if" Take him to Jail, Mr.. Sher-
if, we can't bear with him any longer, -
said the judge.
But at this critical juncture the clerk,
who had been comforting with the sher-
if, called out: "May it please your
honor, that man Sherman's name isn't
in the jury box" "Well, for Gods
sake, Mr.. Sheriff, see that his name new.
er does get in there. Release him, Nj.
Sheriff. I'll remit your $50 fine Sher-
man, and now get out of the bar and let
me see you here no more Even the
Spanish inquisition with all their instru-
ments of torture couldn't extort an an
swer from you. The court will now
take a recess, said the Judge, YEARLY
rising
"Well," said Crisp to me as we walked
ont of the court room, "I'li never forget
Uncle Billie; he's the toughest one
ever handled. But made him answer
TWO questions, didn't I?'' Eyes, said
Colonel Hawkins, dryly, you made him
answer two questions, Crisp, but you
coached him. 1t wasn't exactly fair, for
with all your arts and Establishments,
Crisp you never would have trapped him
on this Giving continent, if you hadn't
admitted to him that he was full
blooded 'Anglo-Sexton.'