The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-18
CASE OF ANANIAS
 IN POLICE COURT
CREEK WHO SAID HE CoULDNN'T SPEAK ENGLISH REMINDS B. M. ALLEN OF THE SACRED WRIT INGS.

The difficulty, as well as the facility with which some newly-arrived immi- grants speak English was illustrated in the Inferior criminal court yesterday in a way that made the face of almost every one in the courtroom wrinkle with laughter
 Two Greeks and an Armenian were at the bar of justice. A stove pipe that ran through room somewhere in some house in the immigrant quarter had fallen down, and the soot from 1t had made some on uncomfortable. A quarrel had ensued and the parties to the altercation had come up before Judge Feagin to thresh out the whole thing.
 It became necessary that the two Greeks and the Armenian tell the court what they knew of the case, and in the course of the testimony, it became neces- sary also for all three of them to get on the firing line and face a sharp cross examination that was directed by B. M. Allen.
 Greek No. went down promptly be- fore Bee Ems unerring marksmanship. The Armenian, like the Cristobal Colon in the Santiago fight, faced the cross-exam- ination fire unfiinchingly for a while in a desperate dash for safety, but a we'll aimed shot hit him amidships, and he went reeling out of the witness chair.
 Then Greek No. 2 took the witness stand. He had been listening with in terest to what had been going on and tah ef his brother foreigner who had preceded him. The moment he took the witness stand it was plain that with his discretion was easily the better part of valor When asked his name he shook his head, moved one hand before his face and said some thing that sounded like, Me no speak English"
 Judge Feagin promptly pressed an in- terpeter into service. To the interpreter Greek No. 2 told his story glibly enough. In the course of it he related a conversa- ton he had overheard at the house about the stove pipe, the soot and everything that took place there. The conversation he had overheard was. he admitted, car ried on in English.
 Bee Elm" took him in hand with smile.
 You can't speak English?' asked Bee En-"
 NO, sir"
 Don't speak English?"
 'No. sir"
 Never spoke it?''
 "No, sir"
 Couldn't understand it if you heard it?"
 "No, sir"
 'Never have been able to understand it?"
 "No, slr.'
 "You heard the quarrel at the house?" "Yes, sir.'
 ',The parties quarreling spoke English, didn't they?"
 the Greeks fell.
 'They spoke in English, didn't they?' repeated Bee Elm"
 "Yes, sir
 ''Then how is it that you could under stand them and can't understand me?" No answer.
 How is it." went on the lawyer. that you could talk with them in English, but you can't talk in English here?'
 The witness was sadly in distress. He said something about his understanding them by their gestures, the movement of their lips and the tones of their voices.
 Bee Em'' let it go at that-for awhile. When the time came for arguing the case Bee Em' referred to Greek No. 2's in- ability to speak English.
 If your honor please, I suggest the court apply to this mans testimony the rule laid down in the Ananias case"
 What's that easel" asked the court, as if hearing indistinctly.
 "The somewhat obscure case known as Ananias,' drawled Bee Em.' ''It is re- corded in the celebrated reports known as the Sacred Writings.''
 Judge Feagin applied the rule"