Morris tribune., 1903-01-03
THE TRIAL AT
"OLD POP CASTLE"

the war to ride along the road pas
"Old Pop CASTLE" I observed
large and excited concourse of col
ored people standing under the ia
nous oak at that place.
Upon approaching and making
inquiry learned that Uncle Ce.
phas, now Squire Bolden, who, along
with some others of his race, had
recently been appointed magistrate,
was about to hold his first court.
Elbowing my way through the
dense crowd till I reached and
mounted one of the gnarled roots
OF the oak, was enabled to over
look the sea of heads and survey
the court.
! On the safest corner of very I'M
steady shuck frame was perched
the presiding magistrate, his ebony
forehead, which bowed back with
out limit over his ball pate, covered
with an appropriate frown.
The rest of the frame held the
six jurymen, who leaned against or
sat upon it, according to each ones
confidence in its. stability.
The prisoner, a vagabondish but
harmless looking man, on whose
crow black face fright was imprint
ed in an ashy cast, was wrapped up
in ropes and placed in the middle Of
the shuck frame for safe keeping.
l had scarcely gained my posi-
ton and taken in the surroundings
when the court opened.
''De court am now adjourned en-
will perceed to bizness," cried IN
Gle Cephas in loud voice as he re-
moved his hat and dropped it on the
ground. ''Let whomsomedever gwi'
pussycute dis pussun hyere in de
Bhuck frame now speak up er f'rever
hole his peace!" he continued, with
Solemnity.
A young mulatto, the smartness,
of whose dress eliminated in a high
ly glazed paper collar, slowly arose
from one of the oak roots, cleared
his throat in the most approved
legal fashion and announced that
he had been engaged to conduct the
prosecution.
"Well, den, shoot, Luke, er give
up de gun" exclaimed the court
after the counsel had wasted a good
while fumbling through his pockets
in a perfunctory manner.
'|Mistah Magistrate en- genermen
oh de jury began the prosecutor
after this warning, 'you am dissem-
bled tergedder hyere dis purity day
under dis blue sky en- desc green
Ieabes to deform one er de highes'
iuties er freemuns en- Teller citi-
zens."
Ode gentermuns better not take
quite SIGH er big chip en- chop er
i'P closeter to de line," put in the
court.
E'You am dissembled tergedder,"
continued the counsel, in no way
abashed, ''hyere to see dat er pus-
sun dat needs jestice wess'n any
body in de succle er my whole in
telligence gifts it en- gifts er plenny |
oh it, heaped up, sheken down,
in en- runnin' ODER.
CEN EFF de law didn' inquire
dat some confusions must perceed |
out'n de mouf er de pussycuter |
ev'y word dat would be necessary
would be, fHyere's Nickydemus en- |
OATS de linn er grapevine, point |
ing to stout grapevine which lay
on the frame near the magistrate.
"Ev'body knows he's done broke
ev'y law dat been made sence dey
fust started to maxim laws, sides
all sights en- stacks un UNI dat neb-
Der "a been made. He's broke um
straight way, en- broke un sideways,
en- broke UNI crossways, en- broke
am sloperdicler, en- broke UNI pup
uppendicler, downendic-
Ter, en- roun'endicler tWel he's nate
" wo' UNI out to er FRAGILE.
"But es de law do inquire some
,onfusions to perceed fun de mouf
er de pussycuttin' lyyer I will per
,eed. Fustly, who is dat in de
,huk frame? Nickydemus Wag-
staff! What is he excused OBJ? Ev'y-
hing in God Ermighty's worP
cep'n one theng, en- dat is dom
light. Eben de biggis' liar 'twixt
Roanoke en- Tar river never excused
Jim er dom dat.
'FWho'Il come to yer house en-
roller tull he'll make yer walk two
niles from yer work en- mebbe wade
lie crick en- den des want to borry 5
cents?
"Who en- gin er thousan' reasons
1a,.3 l>,,>, an Ia |