The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-23
A MAYORS COURT RIGHT
GEORGE FRANKLIN TALKED "ENGLISH
DOG LATIN"
The Mayor Laughed Heartily but Georges
Offences Were Many and
GrievouS.

business: that the recruiting olHceES
had enlisted both the offenders that the
police have been accustomed to bring
before him and the spectators that daily
congregate to hear them tried.
This report, however, is untrue, as the
motley crowd that filled the court room
and the row of offenders sitting in the
bar Yesterday morning bore witness. And
those who were spectators, /
mean-had no cause to regret going, for
they found amusement equal TO that fur
nished by Il minstrel show.
The performance opened with the trial
of two pair of pugilsts and closed with
the arraignmcnt of Il negro tramp on
five counts.
The first nugists trotted out were
Rufe Pulley and Frank Hundley, mid
dle-aged white men. \ small financial
difference in the shape of Il debt due
Hundley from Pulley and many small
drinks OF mean liquor caused it all.
Hundley dunned Pulley. The latter indi-
Gated his ability to liquidate the indeb-
tedness but declared his unwillingness
TO do so at that particular time, and
not content with this he expressed some
rather uncomplimentary opinions rs to
the birth and origin Of the man to whom
he owed the amount. Naturally there
was Il fight and Policeman Ellison was
called on to ofliciate.
Both men submitted and the Mayor,
after hearing the statement of eye-Wlt-
nesses. said: "Get up here you two fell
lows and let me look ut you. One don't
nh II.
such short range. Now You men are too
old to be fighting on the streets, but 1t
doesn't appear that much damage was
done, so III allow you to pay costs ana
60"
The next two scrappers, also white
men, heavier in weight though, were
John Johnston and Henry w. Bagwell.
Johnston submitted. Bagwell asked
trial.
1t seemed that Bagwcl and his brother
were discussing politics when Johnston
walked IN. listened to the discussion
awhile and then called Henry Bagwell
= fool and liar. Thereupon. in the
language of one of the witnesses, 1.-TWO
ticks were passed. Bagwell hit john
ston and Johnston hit the ground. Mr..
Bagwell jest kinder tapped Mr.. John
ston wild is open hand and he jest keel
ed over on the shaft er de Vaughn and
drap down on de groun'. And Mr.. Bag
well Jest hilt to i'm ontwell de perlice
come"
Eyes, see," said the Mayor, 'this
is one of the things that grow out of
the primary. The affray was the sec
ondary and now this is the tertiary
stage. Let Johnston pay the costs and
be discharged"
The mill of justice had now ground up
to George Franklin, young negro tramp
and the star offender of the day.
Five counts lay against George: First
he stole an SS guitar from st. Mary'S
School and sold it for So. He claimed to
have bought it from man he never saw
before and never expects to see again.
Not believing this the Mayor sent
George on to court.
After possessing musical instrument
George decided he needed weapon TO
protect his property. so he pocketed Wal
ter Mitchel's gun. For this he is to be.
tried today.
As soon as he sold his guitar to Thos.
Thompson he tried to sell his pistol TO
Roy Glenn As the pistol was loaded
and George t0ted it in his pocket he will
have to answer Mt next term of court
for carrying concealed weapons.
Failing to sell his pistol George went
down to Boylan's bridge and played
craps with other tramps. When he got
ready to leave he found n young tramp
wearing a fine pair of button shoes.
George made the boy pull them off Eat
the pint Of the pistol and wore them
himself. He had them on at the trial
and probably will have them again when
he is tried for assault with deadly weap
on at the next term of court.
Strutting along with his new shoes on
his feet and his gun in his pocket George
came to Aunt Sarah Perkinson's place of
business. Now Aunt Sarah had just
contracted with n farmer for half a
dozen small watermelOnS. These Georg"
helped her take into her house from the
wagon. When she got them all in she
gave George Il dollar, told him To get 1t
changed, pay the man and bring her the
change. Neither George nor the dollar
ever came back. For this George will
be tried for embeZzlement.
''What did you do with that dollar,
George" asked the Mayor.
"Who me?
eyes you"
"What. that dollar she give meV
eyes that dollar she gave youT
Did she say she gin me dollar"
eyes"
ooh, that dolar-I tuck that dollar
to dc store and give it to a man to
change and | amt never seen dat man
to this day"
''What was his name?"
II don't know his name, but ia know
him"
What were you doing while he was
getting away with the dolIar?"
''Who me-"
eyes YOU
'Me? why / was tallin' English goat
Latin for some gemmen who promised me
five cents"
English goat Latin? Where did you
learn that accomplishments"
''In Savannah"
'Anybody else around here use that
kind of languageY
Il hears mighty heap of 'em try to
talk it,"
''Do you mind giving us sampler
George expressed a willingness to do
anything in his power to please the
court. Drawing mp his mouth he half
chanted the following words with a sort
of whistling accompaniment that made