St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1905-03-25
District Court.

+
trict Court ended last Saturday
and those convicted were sentenced
on Monday.
Joseph Jenkins, black boy
about Is years Of age, was the first
to face Judge Lewis. He had
plead guilty to the charge OF bur-
glary, i. e.: breaking into his un.
cle's barn and appropriating to his
use chunk Of picked hog meat
In answer to His Honor's usual
question as to whether he had
anything TO say why sentence
should not be passed upon him,
Joseph frankly said: @Jedge, I
wus hong gry, an I jest hab ter
git piece OBJ dar dar poke. An
den I wus 'customed ter git meat
dar--fur me an my little wife q
jest bin marrid two weeks) San
my Uncle nebber sed nuthun, an,
Jedge, sure 'bleiye dat de onliest
reason he made dat dar 'fidayeet
'gin me dish hyar time is bekase ]
tuck too much meat--I tuck bout
twelve pounds of hit-Yah, Jedge,
dat's de bekase oh HIT" His Honor
gave the resourceful benedict year
in the pen for being hong-gry.
James Thompson, an old null
alto, was sentenced to 3 months
parish jail for hog stealing. His
Honor doubtless took into consid-
Grafton the fact that this was the
old negro's first appearance before
a court of justice, and gave him a
light sentence.
Jean Gallien, an old-time French
negro, was also martyr to the
races fondness for fresh pork, and
got three months In the parish jail.
The old darkey could not speak nor
understand the English language,
and in answer to the usual ques-
tien by the Court, answered "Tayw
(the niger patois for "What")
The hog in question was found in
the old darkey's hog pen, but he
was so positive in proclaiming his
innocence that he impressed the
Court and spectators. According
to his tale the father was suffering
for the sin OF the son instead of the
son suffering for the sin Of the faith
er even unto the third generation,
as he claimed that his boy put the
shoat i'm the pen and when caught
saddled the affair on old dad.
Cappel Norton, young negro,
was sent to the parish prison for
six months for shooting with in
intent to kill.
Ellie Thibodeaux, white, was fin
ed $25 andscos for violating Act
81 of 1886 and c. g. W. He admitted
having fought at a ball, but says
that he only amixedn with the
other fellow when he (the other
fellow struck him in the head
with a life-size cocktail bottle
while he 1thibodeauu) was dancing
with his (the other felloW's) sister.
Henry Cropper, white, got of
with fine of $40 and costs for vio-
lating Act 81 of 1886. He says
that he was the victim OF knock
out drops, and did not remember
the occurrence.
Willie Godfrey celebrated New
Year la mode in Chicot, for
which Judge Lewis charged him
$25 and costs or 60 days.
Evariste Manuel, colored, got on
spree In Arnaudville and woke
up next morning diked up in a
brand-new coat. Didn't know how
or where he got it, but Roger Bros.
identified itas their property. Ten
days parish jail.
Homer Whatley, assault with a
dangerous weapon, $40 and costs.
VIM. Lumpkins toted a pistol on
Christmas day and had good
but rather high-priced time. He
il town coon, and that fact
brought him under the jurisdiction
OF aDoctor Buster as well as Of the
abig court" Both got a lick at
him-$25 and costs.
Another Chieot negro, Louts
Griffith, got in trouble, and had
to contribute $50 and costs for the
fun of carrying concealed weapons.
Arnold Fontenot had sad tale
to relate to the Court, and His
Honor said that the prisoners
statement impressed him to such
an extent as to warrant extreme
leniency. He was charged with
hog stealing, but he stoutly claims
that the hog was his property, and
that the prosecution was born OF
malice and backed up by fixed wit