The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-12
A THANKLESSDR|NK
After Firing Up by Co.
fields Kindness, Britt
JaiIs His Friend.

Because Nr. JnO. BTU, VINO WORKS
at Caraleigh Mill and has a sullen face
and a dangerous ewe-because Mr..
Britt tanked up on Illicit booze and
was pinched for a fine. Jno Cofeld,
an ancient darkey with a limp. a
politely soft and injured voice. a bald
head with creases in it. who satisfied
the Britt morning thirst is waiting
trial on the charge of retailing liquor.
From the evidence of Mr.. Britt
who talked in voice that sounded
IKE a challenge to fight and half shut
one eye to intensity the glare of the
other which was cooked and red ana
staring, Jno. Cofield was undoubtedly
guilty of the charge, though he eX-
planned that Mr.. Cotield was mistaken
IN his man: that he had a misery
which he was nursing at home at the
time of the sale alleged that 'ef /
didn't even have no drink er ticker
for myself. how kin 1 sell a pint to dat
gemmun ?"
Mayor Powell. however. was plainly
bored with the evidence of Jno. Co
field, preferring that of the positive
Jno. Britt so he sighed at the end
ana sent the old darkey on under
bond OF $50.
And this is how it came about In
Mr. Britt. Mr.. Britt as | have said,
has a fierce eye that is cooked and
red He had, too, Il week s growth
Of beard that was far from beautiful
and he had forgotten to see either his
barber or the manicure. Mr.. Britt
nair was a wilderness that engulfed
his ears and shaded the eyes of him;
and his hands were in deep mourn
.ng Not so his voice. That was as
SERGE as his eye. One jumped and
wished one had his gun 1t had fight
in its every rasping tone: one knew
that it meant both knock downs anG
eye-gouges. 1t was insulting and in
solent in all but words. The mayor
listened like a prisoner arraigned and
Jno Cofeld chartered with his teeth
and tugged his kinky gray beard in
fear. Perhaps Mr.. Britt knew he was
mean and was so-therefore.
Yes said Mr.. Britt explOsively. u
bought pint of liquor from that man
on Sunday morning. I had been
drunk on Saturday night and | was
sick and l wanted it. l wanted some
bad and | had got some LIQUOR from
him before and l gave him fifty cents
and he brought me a pint bottle. Nc
wasn't too drunk Sunday not to
have my mind clear. He was the
man. alright"
When Mr.. Britt stated that he had
been drunk. he glared as one to dare
Il.
went into the details of his sickness.
he spoke as one whose memory is
unimpaired. When he identified Jno.
| Cofield as the Samaritan to his thirst
one knew that the occasion had been
one to fix his attention. 1t was blach
! for Jno Cofield.
The latter questioned Mr.. Britt:
"What time was it?''
| eff | could tell you. Ia have told
4 said Britt in a voice to
break the bones in his auestioner
| body.
de reason what l asks de time,
said John sis dat I've got witnesses
to prove de truth of what l SAYS. J
cone woke up Sunday wild misery
| an / comes up to de shoe shop look
ing fer er drink an dey want none; ana
/ den 1 goes home like a martin to its
! eourd and washes NAH face an goes
to bed Yes sab! 1 doan't misdoubt
! de ticker what yer got but you done
| kotch de wrong man."
Chief Mullen having fixed the time
] and Dispensary Clerk Pool having
testified that Cofeld was a regula.
! customer who sometimes bought as
M h as eight pints at time. the
mayor did not hesitate in his decis-
! ion.
| Cofield gave a worried laugh: q
shore ought to had dem witnesses,
| he said.
Cofield was caught by reason of the
perfidy of Britt. who awakened Sun
day with shaking nerves and tor
ment within his system, sought on
! his s,lrcease of sorrow and theF
"neached" in the man who had allie
waited his woes
Surely the retailer is more in dan
DER Of his customers than of the law
itself.
She Stole Il Dress.
white dress which had once be-
| longed to Mrs. S. P. Norris, but which
! had been appropriated and used by
Ella Major. black, figured in the mex
case. DR.. Norris identified the dres.
ana it was in evidence that Ella IA,
/ admitted the charge. She was placed
under $50 bond.
An elderly negro woman. with
protruding lip and Mortified expires
SION of countenance, stood near The
bar
kin I give de bond?" she asked
In her blue waist which bulged witt
cookly Dimensions. the old woman
looked robust but scarcely solvent AM
the mayor declined
''De lawde." exclaimed the would
be bond signer as the significance O
the refusal sank into her head.