The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-10-16

for the accused. Don 20 know dat
dere is a law dat no person is obliged
to crimidate hisself?"
eYo, Phil Tomkins" said the Judge.
''did Lem steal 20 muler
eyes, sab
How d yo know" put In the pris-
oner's attorney, "dat he didn't borry
it7 How do yo' know dat be TUX de
mule at all? How does de cot know
dat de mule belonged to yo? How
does de cot know dat yo' didn't steal
de mule yo'selfY'
With this preliminary legal flourish,
which was based on observations of
how white lawyers threw dust in the
eyes of white juries, the attorney sat
down
"What efferdence is dere," asked the
Judge. "dat Phil stole de muller"
"Yo honah," put In the prosecuting
attorney, Il didn' know dat PHI Tom
kins was bein' tried / tink 80 fin by
examerin' de statutes dat Lem Jinks is
de prisoner"
"Wha' yo know boot de statues?
Dom yo' s'pose / know somepin boot
de statues m'self? Does de lawyer
know mo dan de jidge? What kind Of
a cot would dat be. ! like t know
''Yo' honah, cried the lawyer for the
defense, catching at the advantage CIV
en- him BY the judge, II air prepa'ed {
prove dat Phil Tomkins is de biggest
liar In de county. / got my winessers
right hyar. Tom Blinker, take de stan I"
Tom Blinker, reverend looking old
darby. stepped out in front Of the
judge.
"Wha' yo' know boot Phil Tomkins?'
asked the latter.
"Phil Tomkins don got no mule"
'Wha'l Don't own no mule? How
Lem Jinks go en- steal Phil Tomkins'
mule wha' Phil don goti'
Il hain't hyar, judge, TO t displain
improbable facs only hyar t glib my
everdence."
Both the prosecuting and defending
attorneys sprang to their feet The
Judge looked from one to the other, UNI
certain which took precedence; but, be
ing a wise judge, he found an expedi-
ent to determine the matter
"Yo' gentlemen set down, and when
/ say Jump yo' git up 5 quick s yo'
can. Den / glib de 20 to de niggah
wha' git up first"
The nimbleness of The attorneys was
thus tested and resulted in a victory
for the prisoners counsel who was
younger and more active than bis oppo-
nent
''Yo honah,' be said, Il brought a
witnesser wha' proved dat Phil Tom
kins hain't got no mule. Derefo'
proved dat Lem Jinks didn' steal It.
Derefo' Phil Tomkins is wha' said
befo'. de biggest liar in de county
The judge scratched his head The
| question was, what nextI' The pros
! ecuting attorney seemed equally be-
wildered. The counsel for the defense
was the only bright man in the lot.
Besides, he had once been Janitor Of a
court room and was familiar with the
tricks Of the trade.
MAY 1t please yo' honah," be began
His honah was certainly pleased al
/ being addressed so respectfully and
when one Of the jurymen blew his
| nose overload raped on the board
with his Ratchet
May it please yo' honah, | goin' tc
unratile dis case wha' on count oh de
stupidness OBJ de prosecutin attorney
spite 20 honah's tryin' to pervent him
hab got into tangle like de reins oh q
runaway hoss VIVA we goin' to do in
dis county eff cherry niggah wha hain'i
got no mules kin take up de vaFable
time OBJ de cot cusin' honest niggahs
like Lem Jenksy
"Yo' hear dat, Phil Tomlsins, yo' TIL
fin niggah? said the judge sternly.
UNDERSTANDING yo' honah's knowl
edge oh de law. understanding de rul
ms Oh de cot our valuable time wha
might better be tuken up sittin' In dt
sun smokin' dc cob, Is wasted hval
listenin' 10 de charge OBJ man 70
hayin he mule stole wha' haint got
no mule Now, 10 honah knows dt
law well 'nuH to know dat Phil Tom
lkins has been a breakin il, and 70
honah knows dat de penalty OBJ break
in de law is hangin'"
'Hor on dar, niggah,n cried the pros
ecuting attorney, awakening to the fac
that the trial OF Lem jerks by the
adroitness Of the opposing counsel mac
been converted into the trial of Phi
Tomkins. Il like to ak de cot who's
bein' tried2 ledge, yo don know nj
mo bout law
The mallet came down with bang
on the board, and the learned prosecu
I tor suddenly became aware that be hat
made a mistake.
"Dere's too much variable time beck
| wasted by de cot already De iina
| judgment is dat yo' Phil Tomkins, b
token out from hyar and hanged.
/ Tomkins, who had kept his eye OF
the door ever since the case had gont
against him, here bolted and before ht
could be caught disappeared in a thick
ct near the court room. Then The cour
adjourned to smoke the cob In the sun
CLARENCE STORMS SHALER