Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-25
DAILY. STORY.
THE WITNESS FOR
THE PROSECUTION

most lovable people, a poor financial
an officer of the law who had levied
on his household effects under chat
tel mortgage. Zachery Taylor, an old
darby, who had been Il slave on the
plantation before Gordon Wynne was
born. was called for the prosecution
and took the stand
Uncle Zachery,' said the prosecutor.
were you on the plantation on the
18th of June lastI"
Fac looked hard at the ceiling, as If
trying to remember. War that befo'
de full OBJ de moon, sah?'
why do you ask that. uncle"
"Beca'se l plants NAH gya'den boot
dat time-nebber OH de runout OBJ de
moon"
The attorney paused. ''Iour honor
he said, Il ask your indulgence. l
shall have difficulty with the witness
on account of his superstition, which
always goes hand in hand with ig-
torrance"
Sup sticionw exclaimed Fac. "YO'
plant ON de dark ob de moon an yo
see VIVA yo' git"
The questioner concluded to try an
other line.
Did you ever see this man. po.nt-
ing at the rather despicable looking
deputy. who says that Mr.. Nynne
assaulted him?"
Yes, sab"
What was he doing"
He come TO nah cabin and wanted
TO glib me two bits 10 let him into
mars house"
The questioner bit his lip, looked
down at his toes. then up with sickly
smile. and proceeded:
Did YOU see him at any other time"
Yes, sah.''
What was he doing then"
"He was waikiki up to mars house.
He TUX a pistol outen he pocket an
looked at de primin'. den put it back
wha' he tux it FROM
The jury gave way to smile, the
attorney forced Il smile, and the eX-
animation was renewed.
I'VE shall get at the bottom of this
| matter presently" the attorney said,
| trying to make Il show Of confidence.
Now. Fac. state what you saw after
| the gentleman reached the house"
Il went into NAH cabin. | heered a
| barkin' outside and went out to see
VIVA de match. | saw dat man run
| min, wild he coat tails flynn behind
him, de dog keepin' in DER shaddeh.
| De gentleman didn' wait TO go through
IL, a. a
fence. De dog got de coat tall
The attorney for the defense inter
rupted: 1T should be noted that it was
the dog and not my client that relieved
| the plaintiff of part of his clothing.
| The prosecutor was getting angry.
did you see Mt; Wynne stand on
the gallery and shake his fist at the
| gentleman there?"
NO, sab: went back into de cabin
| befO' | saw dat
"You mean you did see it."
| NO, sab"
| "Was there not window In your
cabin through which you could see the
house,"
"Yes, sah.''
Did you look toward the house"
Yes, sah.''
Estate what you saw"
Il saw misses calm off de dog"
Fooled again, the attorney pretended
to be looking for Il paper on the table
beside him TO gain time To frame an
| other attack. This he made on diff
| ferent line.
''Zachery. do You understand what
an oath is?''
Yes. sab; Is swo'e myself"
ION the Bible:''
"No, sab; it was when dat low down
poo white offc'ed me de two bits"
Another pause and suckers from al
present except the attorney for the
plaintiff.
"Do YOU know that if you tell the
court lie you will have to go to jail
for perjury"
"Wha' dat"
Living"
81 wouldn' lie nohow."
"State-under oath. mind you
whether you saw Mr.. Wynne strike
this gentleman"
"Fo' de Lawd. didn'."
COR kick him?'
The witness showed plainly that thu
question was likely to wreck his efforts
to save the case for his beloved mas
ter. lie rolled his eyes TO the ceiling
then lowered them to the floor. TheI
he said feebly:
Il saw dat specermon oh poo Whit
trash kicked"
A CLEAN Of joy lighted the ques
toner's face.
by whom?"
"a boot"
Whose boot?"
Dunno. When I was loOkin' fro,
nah cabin winda' saw de poo whit
gentleman comm through de do lax
rocket on de Fo'th o. July. A boo
come afte' him, liftin' him unde' d
coat tails. He come down withou
tOuchin' none OBJ de steps on de ga
> lery nohow.'
ITO the best of your knowledge an