The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-25
SPIKE" is A BORN LAWYER.
ALL But GOES FREE RI CROSS
EXAMINING ACCUSERS.

zen for his case to be allied One after
Another the young offenders who we're
brought down from The Society rooms
with him early in the morning had been
led into the court room and arraigned.
Some OF them, upOn conviction and passing
Of sentence, had returned to the pen, ready
20 begin their term in the Protectory or
the Refuge, a few beat their cases. and
didn't come back.
-wotcha git2' asked a Freckle faced lad
Of a little negro.
sAh gifts a skier in the Protect, " nswered
the black boy. "Wha' did yuh git?'
-Ohi 1 gifts a long s~tretch-two years
In de Ref; but l amt kiokin'. Ii wuz comm
tor me-
Spike felt i'll at ease. He had never been
pinched before, and the talk Of the old
offenders preyed heavily on his mind. He
had been arrested on a charge of stealing
40 burlap bags from the cellar OF his fathers
bouse. 557 Grand street, the bags being the
property Of Saul Fink Spike had done
the trick along with several other lads and
the bags were sold to Mrs. Eugenia Suhier
Of 10 cannon street for 81.
Not long before Spikes case was called
the youngster, who is II years old, decided
10 unburden himself to the freckle faced
LAO ne NOlu nOW uc diu ub pdib O.
BROKEN a window in the cellar and forced
the lock. he told how the bags we're carried
Of and sold to Mrs. Suhier. and Of the fine
time they had on the proceeds of the plumber.
Den dey has yuh right" whispered
Freckles, when Spike had told all. But
vuh needn't give up de ghost while there's
n chanst. Wen yuh gifts up afore de ledge
jist lie like he'll. Cry likes yuh has a STUN
waHoLx a,ha and W'ap IL nan rz lka ylh lin
chew de rag give de ledge a spiel about it
bein' de foist time yuh wuz %pinched."
But de woman wot we sold de rags ter
h hep ter me-" Spike broke in.
Does she wear goggles?" asked Freckles.
Sure she does. " replied Spike.
Der work along dat pipe an bring il
out dat her peppers is ter de bad an she
can't see straight
At this point Spike was called and taken
down stairs. The crowded court room,
his mother and father sitting on one Of
the benches. Justice Zeller in his sombre
black robes took Spikes nerve away. He
tried to follow Freckles's advice ard cry,
but not a tear could he force. He heard
the testimony OF Fink. who told how the
cellar was broken into and the bags stolen
and that Spike was seen experimenting
the carting away OF the plumber. Mrs.
Suhier swore that Spike sold the bags
"a her and declared that he told her he had
been sent by his father.
When all the evidence was in it looked
pretty bad for Spike, and Judge Zeller was
iust about to pass sentence when the lad
spoke up.
"Jedge, yer Honor, dey amt got me ter
rights on dis" said Spike, ar | wants
ter ask dem people wot ser | stole de stun
some questions. Dis is a frameup; dey
put dis up ter me cause | lives in de house,
and / kin show yuh dat | amt done no
wrong
Go on, H~arry"-that's Spikes name in
private life-said the Justice, -and clear
yourself il you can"
Spike then turned to Fink, who was
standing on the bridge, and put him through
a course Of sprouts that surprised and
amused Justice Zeller, the court attaches
and every lawyer in the room. The lad,
with all the skill and cunning OF a lawyer,
tried 10 break the testimony OF Fink, but
the witness stuck steadfastly to his original
testimony that he had seen Spike carry on
the goods:
on me since | walloped yer boy key after
he hit me wild the brick2" asked Spike.
well, ] dldn't think it right for you to
lick key, answered the witness.
Amt yuh had a grudge again me cause
] did wallop him? And amt yuh made
de crack da, youh'd git even wild me fer
it," chirped Spike.
DO | have to answer these questions?"
asked Fink, turning to Justice Zeller.
Certainly, replied the Court; the de-
PENDANT is conducting the examination
and is doing it we'll.
admit / felt Vexed when you licked
key, said Fink, but have no grudge
against you"
Yuh says yuh seen me and odder lads
ZAv4s,H d. gRnH nWuoxy ~ who n ia
odders?"
Il Ion know them"
How long yuh live in de house?"
Five years"
An yuh seq de lads WIZ from de neigh
borhood an I'm de only guy wot yuh knows
In de bunch?"
Yes"
Don't dat show yuh, Judge said Spike
turning to Justice Zeller, dat dis bloke
is trying ter HAND me a lemln cause l
ticks his boy key? He see all de odder
guys. but meself is de only one he kin pick
ont. He's sore on me, Judge, an dis is
de way he's tryin' ter git hunk
Well, we'll let you examine Mrs. subier
row i" said the Court, -and hear what she
has to saw"
Mrs. Subier was recalled to the stand
and Spike put her on the rack.
,W .Ofa y y,6 be bet y yer sr, llf ssE d Ia tbs w y0u de guy
Yes, answ Mrs, Subier.
'luh wears spectickles?"
Yes"
Yer eyesight is on de blink?'
Sometimes it's good; sometimes it's
bad
But sometimes yer lamps is 50 bad dat
yuh kinnot see anytingp"
Not as had as that
Were did yuh see me afore?'
In my house" ,
'Wud yuh take an oat' dat it was mes
Well, the boy that sold me the bags
looks very much like you"
"Wuz II a dark place dat you seen de
guys " ere dey sole de stuf?'
1t was in the hall-not a very light place
Den, wild yer bum lamps an de dark
yuh cud "a made a mistaken
i don't think 30. I'm sure you are the
hoy that | bought the bags from"
The witness was then excused, and Spike
called for his mother and father to testify
. as 70 his good character. They gave a
good account Of him, and then the lad
started in to sum up.
ledge, dis is a lemin, an dere amt no
mistake about it, Spike began. Likely
Fink t'rows a brick at me one day and
socks me on de COCO. | nails him an hans
him something fer it. His ole man gifts sore
and says he'll git hunk. Den he sees some
guys swipin' de bags, an he gifts a bunch
datl be a RoOd chanst ter cit g0uare on