Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-03-01
Convicted and Acquitted.

mopped bis brow with a snow-white,
twenty-four pound -four sack. He
gazed triumpbantly at the Judge and
at the six-foot young lawyer, who rep
resented old Sam, the prisoner, who
was to be tried for stealing young
goat.
During the trial his eyes were set on
the Judge. 70 de good Lord from
heben, if dat amt old Mars Stephen,
he had exclaimed when brought into
the courtroom 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 two. He was so pleased
at the sight of the Judge on the bench
that he never took his eyes off OF 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 repre-
sent him, poured forth college rhetoric.
"Stop your foolin dar," be said to
the young lawyer. MY old Mars
Stephen is gwine to fix it all.
Just then the Judge straightened
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 dignifed look Of the
court caused the old darksys face to
fall, and as he stood up his teeth came
together like the jaws Of steel trap,
while his eyes sparkled with indigna-
ton.
"Yes, sir, he said, 81 has got lots to
say, and is gwinS to say it rite out.
Now, look here, Mars Stephen, you
dun been knowed me for more den
fifty years, and is knowed you ebber
sence you was two hands high and you
amt nebber done muffin real mean IN
your whole born days until while
ago. Desc here old cranks bring me
in here, and told me | stole goat,
but I neber did think nothing Of dat,
and you neber did before till Jess now,
and has come here aftah plain hon
est Justice, and thought was gwlne
to get it case you was de ledge. Now
Mars Steven, don't you member dat |
was your camp sarvant durn de war?
Didn't | use ter hustle ter get grub
fer you and your mess when de hard
tack rstions got short, and didn't you
use ter smack your lips togedder ober
my cookin and say, Sam de best for
eyer in camp. Why stole chickens
an ducks an turkeys an pigs for you
clean from Manassas ter Appomattox,
an you didn't open your mouf agin it
den, no sar, you didn't, an wants
ter know if it wer foregoing den how
come its stealth now? And don t
you member, Mars Steven, dat one
day you come ter me and says Sam,
tomorrow is Thanksgivin an we must
have a good spread, an didn't ! go
right out an stesl two shotes an tur-
key an jug Of ole rye? An didn't
you yite your brudder officers IN mex
day an order things jess hugely an
make EN- all open dar eyes in ''tonish-
ment? If all dis wer foreging durln
de war how come it's stealth now?
"Now, Mars Steven, look ole Sam
in de face while l tell you somethln'
tuchin. Ny ole woman with SIX
children is ober here in a log cabin
benin dat mountain, an dey hadn't
had muffin ter eat for a week, so when
l comes thrugh Mars Smiths farm /
spide little goat hung in de fence
an l makes up my mine ter forage
for de sake OBJ my family. Now, Mars
Steviu, 700 cant call det stelin' no
how, case l is gwius ter pay Mars
Smith back jest as soon az my ole SOW
goat has kids.
Now, I knows you amt gwino ter
send your ole camp servant TO de jail
Jest for dat, now, is you, Mar. Steven?'
There was silence in the courtroom
for a moment. The old Confederate
lawyers who had just laughed at what
the old darkey 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 attorney had re-
laxed, there were tears in their eyes,
and after the Judge sat for moment
in deep study, he said The court
has considered a motion for a new
trial, and the same is hereby granted.
The prisoner Is hereby released upon
his own recocnizancc. Mr.. Sheriff, ad-