The daily Alaskan., 1904-03-15
CARPETBAG JUSTICE
lOrIgInal


 CT didn't kin nobody" said the prls- oner, a fine looking darky of twenty one.
 "Cau Oliver Burnet."
 An ebony hued man whose black eyes rolled restlessly obeyed the order and waited as If expecting a wildcat to spring at him. The prosecuting at torney arose and faced him.
 "Olyer Burnet whar was yo' on de night ob de murder2"
 Don know what night de murder was done"
 "Dls mornin'"
 "Ou dat night" said the witness, thinking hard and measuring his words with great care, "I war in my bed soun' asleep"
 What reason hab yo to t'ink yo war In yo' bed dat nighty"
 The witness rolled his eyes up in ear nest, then lowering them. responded:
 "Case l hain't sleD nowhar else sence l moved into dat cabin five year ago"
 "state to de cot what done happen dat night"
 q heard a chicken suuealin' an got up to fn' out who war de thief. l went to Jeb Masons yard an saw Jeb lyln' on de groun' daid. lt was black dark. am I couldn' see my han befo' my eyes. Den ! got 'feard ob de ha'nt ob de murdered man an run like de dick ems! On de road l run agin de pris. oner."
 "Yo' honah," said the prosecuting at- torney, "ef dat don prove fo' sartin dat de prisoner done de murder l don know nottln' bout law"
 "Yo' honah." said the attorney for the accused, "in de fus' place, how did de witness see de daid man layin' on de groun when it was so dark he could'n' see he han befo' he face? In de secon' place, what de sutenty ob de prisoners committn' de murder be- case de witness run agin him In de darkT
 The judge scratched his head before replying.
 "Iu de fus place. he said, ga co'pse -mebbe a ha'nt-a air SO terrifyin' dat any uigger with good eyes could see it ln de dark. In de secon place, it don stan to reason dat any lazy niggers goin' to be outen he bed in de middle ob de night onless he after chickens or watermillions"
 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 a verdict
 "Yo' honah. said the foreman in re- sponse to the usual question, dis air a 'culiar case. Deres some doot bout de prisoner committin' de murder, but dere ain't no doot bout de widder be- i'm ler in a bad fix. De verdic' is dat de prisoner has to marry de widder.'
 "Yo hear de verdic', Moses Washing ton. Yo' hab to marry de widder or hang. Which yo doY"
 This was a startler to the prisoner, who was exl&tlug to wed that very day a good looking colored girl who was present among the spectators. He deuberated tin the judge, becoming i'm patient renewed the question.
 "Lemme sec 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 a hum of sympathy for the prisoner. She was old, fat. blear eyed, whiskered- Indeed, she was a fright The judge stated the case to her, and she turned her eyes upon Moses.
 Judge. said the latter, "I reckon choose de hangin'.'
 stan up. Moses Washington, an hear de sentence ob de cot De sen tence air dat yo' be tooken to de jaii yard mex Friday am be hunged by de neck till yo air daid, am God hab mercy on yo' poo soul'
 The sherin took charge of the prls- oner and was about to lead him away when there was am unexpected entry, no less than the person of the murdered man. Judge, jury and spectators start cd simultaneously to run from the "ha'nt." Some got out others only part way out They were recalled to themselves by a realistic speech from the ghost:
 "Yo' Sairy, wha' yo' done foolin' yo' time away hyar? ! wan my dinner"
 "Fo' de Luwd" said the supposed widow, throwing mp her hands, q thought yo' was daid Oliver Burnet saw yo' layin' in de back yard"
 'Daid In de back yard! Wha' be come ob de co'pse?"
 The murdered man seemed us much surprised as any one and was troubled that he should have been seen dead.
 "Wba' was yo all dis timeY asked bis wife.
 Didn't l tole yo' las night l was goin' to git up airly am go to Curnel Turnlee's to beat carpets"
 "Sho' enuf, an I done forgot t."
 "Olver Burnet" said the judge, "wha' dat yo' didn' see in de back