Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-07
OLD TIMER TAKES
WITNESS STAND
Jefferson TidWeL Seventy-Three
Years Old, Furnishes HUI
NOR at Hearing.
EVERYONE HAS GOOD LAUGH.
Says He is as Fine as His Sons and
Describes White Arms OF
City Woman.

Jefferson Tidwell 70 years old and
a character, was on the witness stand
in the coal hearing this morning. The
old gentleman has a limitless store
OF humor, and a quick tongue despite
his advanced age, and as he told his
story in his own nimltable manner.
counsel for both sides and a number
of witnesses laughed almost continu-
ously. And Mr. Tidwell, stroking his
beard thoughtfully. would laugh
heartily at the word pictures he drew
Il events in the long, long ago. Con-
trary to usual method of procedure.
the aged witness was permitted to tell
his story as he chose and was inter-
rupted few times by counsel.
HIS FIRST TIME.
This was the first time the old-timer
has ever been in a court room, and
he was plainly under the impression
there is something behind It all. At
frequent iunctures, he would raise his
hands and say he and his sons always
respected, feared and oheyed the law.
who ever told you any charges
We're made against you or your sons?"
asked Judge Maynard of counsel for
the government, who began to think
the old gentleman had been told
something worrisome.
mo one as how 1 remembers" said
the witnesss I'm telling you all to
show no ons can"
ALMOST DRAMATIC.
Al times Mr.. Tidwell became almost
dramatic in his narrative. Gesturing
freely, half rising from his chair, and
with face lighted up with excitement,
he told of discovering coal in the
Sunset district, SunnysiGe, years and
years ago. 1T stuck out six or sew
on feet high and rods across and in
the sun of bright morning 1t gilt
tered like silver. / was poor; We
all We're poor, so it looked awfully
good to us. We dug and drilled and
worked until we were out of food, and
our feet were out of cur shoes. We
did the best we knew how sirs. We
did the best we knew how. We were
on unsurveyed ground so held 1t
Ivy work, We paid $50 and
figured that it was ours, just as you
would when you bought horse for $50,
Its yours to do with as you please isn't
it?"
The government brought out the fact
Tidwell family's agent.
HIS BOYS" PRESENT.
Mr.. TidwelI asked for drink of
water and when the government
and defense's lawyers arose as a man
TO bring the drink, the old man said:
'Sit down; sit down. One OF you boys
bring me q drink" and he looRed at
three middle aged men sitting In the
back. Turning to an auditor sitting
close by Mr., Tidwell, he said, They're
my sons; I've got four of 'em and
they're all fine men. but say, I'm as
fine as any one of EN-" His chuckle
came to an end in the upturned glass.
A question was asked, 'Tll tell You
when / get this drink" answered the
witness calmly.
In describing Holiday who was so
prominent as witness before the in
terstate commerce commission, Mr..
Tidwell said. "Oh, Holiday? He never
did anything as he agreed to in his
life"
Were ali alone-just few of us
boys together" said Judge Maynard,
n little later.
u wouldn't care If the whole world
was listening" said the old gentleman,
stoutly.
WOMAN'S WHITE ARM.
Just as the noon recess was about TO
be called. Mr., Tidwell was telling about
a government man coming down TO
Sunnyside with his wife. Woven in
with the story of how the government
man surveyed the ground was n laugh
provoking description of the govern
nent mans wife. my she had white
arms They glistened IN the sun. l
saw them one day; l saw them from
behind bunch of brush" And when
the old gentleman slapped his knee and
laughed the courtroom rang with mer-
riment.
COMPLIMENTS LAWYERS.
When told to be back at O'clock. the
pioneer told Judge Maynard he would
but he didn't want 10. II wish YOU
boys wouldn't bother me any more"
ChuclSling good naturally he went out,
leading his three sons up town to lunch.
proudly. zone thing. anyhow" he COM
mented, 'ithose lawyers are gentle
men"
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