The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-06
WHICH IS WORSE
cow OR BULLDOG
Negro DamSelS Call Each Other
Names
CLARA SEEKS The TRUTH
Trouble All Started Over a Bulldog
Which Was Trying to Swallow
Daughter of the De-
PENDANT.
CLARA SEEKS THE TRUTH

With the words of the prophet pouring
in unlimited streams from their truth
full lips. calling in loud voice upon all
that is holy. and with calculations OF
hoiior and respect for the majesty OF the
law, Clara Williams, with a score Oh ae-
vout dus<y witnesses appeared before
Judge Feagln yesterday morning, ana Ill
no weak terms rcfuted the charges OF
abusive language which had been, malls
eiously she claimed, placed against her
by the said Belle Wilson. the prosecutor
in the case.
Belle claimed that Clara had called her
COW. But when the defendant was
placed i'll the chair she brought out the
fact that she had been first hailed by
the complimentary cognomen OF a Low
grade bull dog
1t thereupon developed upon the Judge
to decide which was the most abusive
of the two names before he could render
his all important verdict.
In time 1t developed that upon the low
grade bull dog was all the blame In the
case, anyhow. With his pugnacious mean
ness he started the row that resulted
In the breaking of friendship and separa-
ton of neighbors.
Hold UP your right hand" said Judge
Feagin.
Here is my right hand befo' de Lawd,'
replied Clara.
The witness stand had suddenly changed
into a pulpit and the orator was OF no
1t. oil
and from her lips poured a mighty de-
fense At times, when she wished to ehl-
phasize a strong point, she rose to her
feet and pointed an eloquent finger toward
the bar.
Wants to Tell the Truth.
"I'll tell you the truf bout dis, cause
dats what I'm here fer 1t was all bout
dat dar dog, may de heavens strike me
dead if it wasn't Dis here oman lives
next door to me- and dat great big. ole
bulldog TUX after my little girl, and he
bit holt to her dress, SO help me, en-
| thought he wuz 81 goin' to swoller her
YES, deed / did-en dat omans daughter
sat dar on de steps en- never move
muscle No, judge, she never
"Now, judge, | grabs up my chi an
7 hollers at dat oman dat if he don't be
tied up Ise gwlnt ter pisen it or have
policeman shoot It. Well, Belle, she tel
her girls to clean up their yard good
cause she say, dat oman Is goin TO try
pisen my dog; she amt no better than
a low grade bulldog herself
ooh. Judge. beins as lse here on dis
earth. lse got to die, but so help me,
didn't even say 'umph
"De next day. Belle sends me word to
prepare myself for a whippin, and
sends back dat | is ready. She comes out
en- hoIlers at me agln, You is low
grade bull dog en- ought to be tied up
yo' self
"'Well,' seq l. if 1 amt no better'n
low grade bull dog, you amt no better'n
cow"
Didn't you say black cow" asked
Attorney Smith
mo. sir. I never said black COW er
snaggle tooth COW, or any other sort OF
a COW. Just a plain COW. If | didn't say 1t
dar amt no God in heaven"
lplu not you ttll iptiiN iisAh - 80
were as black as she was you would go
off and scald yoursef?' questioned the
attorney.
"Whuts de matter wild you man, | got
mo- sense dan dat"
Takes Court BY Storm.
clara had one witness who took the
court by storm She entered the door with
straw hat perched back on gray locks,
arms bare and akimbo, and showing
white teeth behind big round face, black
as tar.
Josephine was her name, and she swore
as perfectly as did Clara. The policeman
attempted to keep her in the witness
chair. but as the tide rises, SO would her
body persist in standing upon the forum
and waving to the four winds her declara-
tions. She was the peacemaker, who had
interviewed between the two and averted
the fight She placed all the blame on the
poor dog.
In closing the case Attorney Smith ar
gued that among colored people nothing