The Washington herald., 1907-03-24

Natures Comedy Company yesterday
presented a one-act farce. entitled The
Ten-Tale Brick; or. Who Threw It?" The
play was produced in the Juvenile Court
Theater yesterday before a large and
unfashionable audience. The production
was staged appropriately and acted most
realistically and effectively.
THE CAST:
Judge De Lacy the presiding magistrate
Irene Pleasure, accused Of heaTing the brick and
ether ufeases
Cornna Craige. accused Of mixing in.
Aiph0nze DE Soto Lacey, also accused
Attorney John A. Moss. counsel for COrinna and
Alphonze.
Alberta vietosia Lyles. aunt and "guardeen" o.
Alphonze.
Madeline LleWeilyn. aunt Of Corinna,
Julia Magnolia Lyles sister Of AiphoBze
CLERK Of the court. bailis citizens. peasants, men
alarms, babesn-ams. relatives and knfOlk Of pTin-
cipals
Play Opens Lively.
At the rise Of the curtain the entire
company are seen through the back win
dOws swarming up the street. with Attor-
ney Moss in the van, leading them on
ward with gestures and cries of Follow
mer' and Jus keep your mouths shut
until I or the judge ask you something!"
They pile into the courtroom and hll all
the vacant chairs, and begin eonversing
In an undertOne, until momentariiy
quelled by the bailif's knock as he opens
the court.
Attorney Moss rises and addresses the
court. explaining that he is present 60
defend two of the accused children. who
Of Tlo
'plcbs" are led forward and arraigned,
the clerk informing them that they are
charged with disOrderly conduct During
the reading of the arraignment it requires
the combined efforts of all the court on
cials and Attorney Moss 10 restrain
Alberta Victoria Lyles from interrupting
continually with eXclamati0ns such as
'Tain't so!' "Tain't de truf'"
Dere Amt NuGin' TO Tell.
Irene Pleasure is called to the stand.
Court-What about this charge? Tel me
all.
Irene-Der amt muffin ter tell. All desc
niggers in yeah is goin' ter lie bout me.
but deed An amt done muffin.
Court-Very well; Wen see. Take the
witness, Mr.. Moss.
The attorney. long. austerely dignihed
and coIored. unwound himself and pre-
pared to cross-eXamine. Being counsel
for the defense of the other two children,
1t became his duty TO endeavor to shove
ali the blame over on Irene.
Counsel-Where was you on the evening
of March p. 1907?
Irene-Suh?
Counsel-Where was you on the even
ing of March D. 1857? Las night, las
night (Peevishly)
Irene-Ah was home in Hinsdale.
Knows Dem Two LPH Niggers."
Counsel-Have you an acquaintance
with these other defendants
Irene-EVho you mean? Dem two I'm
niggers2 Yassah, An knows dem.
Counsel-Was there or was there not,
any alteration between you and either
OF these defendants last evening?
Irene-Huh?
Counsel dmpatienuy)-Wa you mixin'
with 'eTn-hghtin'?
Irene-Ah WuZn't hghtin' nobody Dat
lin niger hoy dere pointing at Alphonze
with great scOrn) run in his house an tell
his ant er lot er lies bout whut Ah sayd
an when he come out All slap his mouf
Counsel-Did you throw rock at his
aunt when she came out 10 see what was
going on?
Irene-NO sah. All neber fro no rock
Irene Explains About That Brick.
Counsel-What were you doing with
that rock I saw in your hand just before
the incident is alleged TO have transpired?
Irene-Ah weren't doin' muffin staI Dat
rock jus come inter NAH han widout
NAH thinkip' bout &C. All never done
muffin with it.
After consultation with the court Mr.
Moss has Irene excused for the nonee and
puts on Alberta in rebuttaI
please tell the court, Mrs. Lyles, just
what transpired after you went out to see
what was causing the fracas."
All stepped out oh de do and dere was
Irene Pleasure smackin' and beatin' Al
phone I call ter her ter cease disturbin'
de peace and she begun calm me eF lot
er names. She call me black niger, no
count trash. and er lot er names dat All
CANT bring inter repitition in dis cote
room befo' all desc ladies an gemmun.
and oh which All wuz in no ways guilty"
Calls Her a .'NRp-hnfded Niger"
''Ah remonstranees wild her some mo-
an she gets mo- an mo perniferous, an
all ter once She call me er nap-haided
niger an fru er rock at NAH haid II
An hadn't Jes bent NAH haid in. time An
wouldn't be yeah now tellin de Lord ;
truf ter yer hOnnor"
The Court-Have you any witnesses
that saw the rock thrown at yOu2
Counsel-We have no witnesses. your
honor but we have other proof. CTurn-
Ing to Alberta) 'Unwrap that package.
Behold Proof Positive.
Alberta unWTaps the parcel she had
been carrying throughout the trial. and
produced the better portion Of a brick.
With a gesture OF triumph, Attorney
Moss turns to the court ana says:
we expect TO offer this rock as Ex-
hibit a. 1t is the rock thrown at the
witness"
Alberta confirmed the attorney. and In
the face of such incontrovertIble evil
dence there is nothing left for the court
10 do but put the three defendants on
probation and dismiss the case
Washington Canoe Club smoker.