Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-02-02
CONVICTED AND ACQUITTED.

| CONVICTED AND ACQUITTED.
Was the Fate Of an Old Negro Who
Knew the Judge.
| Just as stepped into county court
room the other day, the kind prosecut-
ing attorney sat down, and as be mop
ped his brow with snow white twen-
ty-four pound -four sack. be gazed
triumphantly at the Judge and at the
six-foot young lawyer, who represent
ed old Sam, the prisoner, who was to
be tried for stealing young goat.
During the trial his eyes were set on
the Judge. "Fo' de good Lord from
heben, if dat amt old Mars Stephen, -
he had exclaimed when brought into
the court room by the deputy, and as
he gave an old time country grin, his
| mouth split from ear to ear, showing
his double set OF ivorys that could have
bit a nail in too. He was so pleased at
the sight of the Judge on the bench,
that he never took his eyes off him,
but continued to grin. He paid not
the least attention to the testimony
OF witnesses, and laughed scornfully
when the six foot young lawyer who
had been appointed by the court to
represent him. poured forth college
rhetoric.
"Stop your foolin' dar," he said tol
the young lawyer. "My old Mars
Stephen is gwine to fix it ALL"
just then the Judge Strengthened
himself up and wiped his face solemn
ly. "The prisoner is found guilty as
charged, he said. Has the prisoner |
at the bar anything to say to show
cause why he should not be sentenced?"
The stern and dignified look of the
court caused the old darkey's face to
fall, and as he stood up his teeth came
together like the jaws of steel trap,
while his eyes sparkled with indigna-
tion.
''Yes, sir, he said. has got lots to
say, and is gwine to say it rite out.
Now, look here, Mars Stephen, you
dun been knowed me for more den fifty
years, and l is knOwed you ebber
sence you was two hands high, and
you amt nebber done nnf1in real mean
in your whole born days until a while
ago. Desc here old cranks bring me
In here, and told me stole goat, but
neber did think nothing of dat, and
you neber did before till jess now, and
has come here aftah plain, honest
Justice, anu l thought l was gwine to
get it, case you. was de jedge. Now
Mars Steven don't you member dat
was your camp sarvant durin' de war.
Didn't I use ter hustle ter get grub fer
youand your mess when de hardtack ra-
lions got short, and didn't you use ter
smack your lips togedder ober my
,ookin and say, "Sam, de best foreger t
n camp" Why stole chickens, an {
lucks, an turkeys an pigs for you clean
rom Manassas ter Appomattox, an /
you didn't open your mouf agin it
'hen, no sar, you didn't. an l wants /
Ter know II it wer foraging den. how !
come it's stealin' now7 And don't you t
member. Mars Steven, dat one day {
you come ter me and say. "Sam, to- 6
morrow Thanksgiving an we must I
have good spread, an didn't I go |
right out an steal two shotes, an tur-
key an a jug sof ole rye? An didn't |
you vite your brudder officers in mex |
day an order things jess hugely en- s
make 'em all open dar eyes in stonish-
ment? If all dis wer foraging durin {
de war, how come it stealth nowY |,
Now, Mars Steven, LOOK ole Sam in
de face while I tells you somthin' [
tuchin'. My ole woman with six chill
den is ober here in log cabin benin
dat mountin, an dey hadn't had nuf-
fin ter eat for week, SO when comes
thrugh Mars Smiths farm I spide
little goat hung In de fence, an makes
up my mine ter forage him for de sake
OBJ my family. Now, Mars Steven you
can't call DAT stelin' no how. case is
gwine ter pay Mars Smith back jest as
soon as my ole sow goat has kids.
Now, I knows you amt gwine ter
send your ole camp sarvant to de Jail
jest for dat, now, is you Mars Steven.
There was silence in the court room
for moment. The old Confederate
lawyers who had at first laughed at
what the old darky said, were now
very quiet. They thought of the trials
troubles and hunger on their long
marches from Manassas to Appomat-
tox; the stern features of the judge and
commonwealth s attorney had relaxed,
there were tears in their eyes, and af-
ter the judge, sat for moment in a
deep study, he said: "The court has
considered a motion for new trial and
the same is hereby granted. The pri
soner is hereby released upon his own
recognance. Mr.. Sheriff, adjourn
court. Sam, come over to my house
and get some provisions for your fam
lily, and take this bill and buy yourself
and wife some good, warm shoes and
socks.
Pain Killer, so justly celebrated was
introduced to the public about sixty
years ago, and now enjoys populari-
ty unequaled by any other medicine.
For the cure of dysentery, cholera
morbus, rheumatism, coughs and colds,
scalds, burns, ETC., it is without an
equal. Sold by all druggists. Avoid |