The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-12-13

AL OuG Va tAc tdhCyo W hAS SNsS ~
the main spur of the Cumberland 1
stopped at q "huddle" of houses for
the night. was given bed in a
chamber with window looking out
on to the yard. and ten feet from the
window stood large apple tree. 1t
being summer, the window sash was
raised.
It must have been abont midnight
when a sound at the window uwoke
me. and I got out of bed to see what
was the matter. 1t did not take long
to discover that some one was planning
a surprise for me. A man had climbed
tile tree and from handy branch had
thrust out plank to reach the Sill OF
the window. 1t was the end Of the
plank dropping on the sill which arous-
ed me.
I stood back little to watch. and
presently the fellow. whose color 1
could not determine. started to creep
along the plank. didn't know exactly
what to do at f1rst, but finally decided
to give him a fall instead Of u bullet.
Waiting until he was midway between
the window and the tree. gave the
end of the plank shove. and down he
went, yelling in alright as he found
himself going. He had scarcely struck
the ground when some one seized him.
The house was alarmed. everybody
turned out, and when got down the
owner OF the house was standing guard
over the man and saying:
Nov, then, Jim Hivers. you un has
got yo'self into powerful fuss! You
I'M has been tryin' TO gilt inter my cab
In in the nighttime to rob the stranger.
an II you doan' dance high fur 1t l
doan' want no mo- meat|
Wasn't a-tryin' to git in" sulkily
replied Jim.
.Then what was you un doIn'f'
carter apples"
"Arter apples which hain't rs big as
ahucks ut this time o. var. Jim. yo' Is
bad-bad all the way up an down. I've
knowed It fur Vars. an I've knowed
that yo' would get cotched some day.
The cotchin' has arrove"
"Cawn't prove 1t ag'in me-" calmly
observed the prisoner.
You I'm just wait! I'm gwine to tie
yo' up till daylight and then take yo'
befo' squar' Taylor"
Jess meant to look In the winder,"
explained Jim. who was evidently be-
ginning to be alarmed.
ooh, yes! We understand! Now you
un come along to the smokehousc an
.doan' try any tricks on me-"
Next morning he was regularly ar
rested on warrant charging him with
intent to enter and rob. The examine
ton took place in the schoolhouse, and
the Justice conducted 1t without any
lawyers to bother. When jim was
asked to plead, he replied:
~ Jess didn't dun 1t. an I'll stick to
my fat If yo' hang tue"
"Then I'll enter plea of not guilty"
said his honor, and he asked me to
take the stand. testified as related
above. but all was not smooth sailing.
When 1 stated that I was aroused by
noise. Jim put in:
HE un doan' dun shy what sort of
noise, squar'. Thar's mo- than fifty
kinds Of noises, an he uns got to come
right down fine"
When said that looked out of the
window and saw man In the tree. he
interrupted with:
"Squar' Taylor. is you un gwine to
put that down sg'in me? Thar's var'us
sorts o. men. How does he un know 1t
wasn't a nigser2 Pin him right down.
squar'."
aCouldn't bin no Niger, nohow," said
his honor. Couldn't been nobody but
yous, kase yous the one cotched."
A$hen l testified to pushing the end
VIE plank OF the sill. Jim looked
&@ up for minute. Then bright
idea came. and he exclaimed:
"Hold he IN down. squar'. He says
planki How long was that plank?
What sort o wood? Who did 1t belong
to? Doan: give lie un no high ground
over me kase he looks peart."
The owner OF the house testified to
having been disturbed by strange
noise. and he had Just gone to the door
when Jim fell from the tree.
"Shore 1t was meg" asked Jim.
"Of co'se.'
s.'poan' reckon If was anybody else2"