Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-03-26
CARPETBAG JUSTICE
[Original.l

de crime OBJ KILN ION Jefferson an
oh robbin' de wife oh her libin."
II didn't kill nobody" said the pris-
oner, a fine looking darky of twenty
one
"Call Oliver Burnet."
An ebony hucd man whose black
eyes rolled restlessly obcycd the order
and waited as if expecting a wildcat
to spring at him. The prosecuting at
torncy arose and faced him.
"Olivcr Burnct. whar was yo' on de
night oh de MURDER
"Don' know what night de murder
was done"
dis mornin'."
ION dat night" said the witness,
thinking hard and measuring his words
with great care, Il war in my bed SCUM
asleep"
What reason hab yo' to t'ink yo'
war in yo' bed dat night"
The witness rolled his eyes up in ear
nest. then, lowering them, responded:
cease l hain't slep nowhar else
sence | moved into dat cabin five year
ago"
cldtc " tlc " w lldt uOilt ldDDtu
dat night"
Il heard chicken squcalln' an got
up to fin out who war de thief. | went
to Jeb Mason's yard an saw Jeb lynn
on de groun' daid. 1t was black dark,
an | couldn' see my han befo my
eyes. Den | got 'feard OBJ de ha'nt OBJ
de murdered man an run like de dick
I'm Il 7 do ,.;e
oner."
''IO' hOnah," said the prosecuting at
torney, "ef dat don prove fo' sartin dat
de prisoner done de murder | don
know nottn' bout law"
"Io' honah," said the attorney for
the accused, ''in de fus' place. how did
de witness see de daid man layiu' on
de groun' when it was so dark he
couldn' see he han befo he face? In
de secon' place, what de sutenty OBJ
de prisoners committin' de murder be-
case de witness run agin him in de
dark?'
The judge scratched his head before
replying.
"In de fus' place." he said. "a co'pse
y
any ngGcr with good eyes could see it
in de dark. In de secon' place. it don
stan to reason dat any lazy niggers
goin' to be Outcn he bed in de middle
OBJ de night onless he after chickens
or watcrmilliOns."
The court called for more evidence,
but, as there was none forthcoming,
the case was submitted to the jury.
The twelve marched into an adjoining
room. where they remained an hour be-
fore returning with verdict.
"YO' honah," said the foreman in re-
Spouse to the usual question, dis air
a 'cular case. Derc's some doOt bout
de prisoner committin' de murder, but
dere amt no doot bout de wilder be-
in lcf' in a bad fix De verdic' is dat
de prisoner has to marry de wilder"
"Yo' hear de verde, Moses Washing
ton. Yo' hab TO marry de wilder or
hang Which yo' do?"
This was STARTER to the prisoner,
who was expecting to wed that very
day good looking colorcd girl, who
was present among the spectators. He
deliberated till the judge becoming i'm
patient. renewed the question.
"Lemme see de widder," said the
condemned man.
The court directed that the relict Of
the murdered man be summoned
When she came into court, there was Il
hum of sympathy for the prisoner. She
was old, fat blear eyed, WHISPERED
indeed, she was fright. The judge
stated the case to her, and she turned
her eyes upon Moses.
Judge" said the latter, 81 reckon
choose de hangin'."
"Stan' up, Moses Washington, an
hear de sentence OBJ de cot. De SEN
tence air dat yo' be Token to de jail
yard mex Friday an be hunged by de
neck till 30 air daid, an God hab
mercy on yO' poo soul"
The sheriff took charge of the pris-
oner and was about to lead him away
when there was an unexpected entry,
no less than the person of the murdered
man. Judge, jury and spectators start
ed simultaneously to run from the
"ha'nt" Some got out, others only
part way out. They were recalled to
themselves by realistic speech from
the ghost:
"Yo' Sairy, wha' yo' done foolin' yo'
time away hyar? wan my dinner"
40 de Lawd," said the supposed
widow, throwing up her hands. Il
thought yo' was daid. Oliver Burnet
saw yo' layin' in de back yard"
"Daid in de back yard. Wha' be
come oh de co'pse?"
The murdered man seemed as much
surprised as any one and was troubled
that he should have been seen dead.
"Wha' was yo' all dis time" asked
his wife.
Didn't | tole yo' las night l was
Eoin' to cit up airly an go to Curnel
Turnlee's to beat carpets!"
"Sho' cnuf. an done forgot t."
"Olivcr Burnett" said the judge,
"wha' dat yo' didn' see in de back
yard?
dat was me sho' 'nuf, jedge," said
jefferson. "Pcte Cate he come to my
hencOop to steal 4 chicken. / hit him
tween de eyes, an he hit me on de
nose an knocked me down. Dat de
reason thought l might "a been
killed"
There being no further explanations,
the judge, turning to the prisoner, said:
"Moses Washington, de cot done yo'