Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-04-21
DOWN in TENNESSEE.

Jim Bronson had been arrested for
larceny, the charge being that he stole
q possum and a steel trap, belonging
to Charles Washington, and, pursuant
to his demand, was being tried before
a justice of the peace, by jury Of
six colored folks.
Washington, sworn, said: "Jedge,
sot trap near cohn fell side big
gum tree for to cotch er possum, which
all us colored folks need once in er
while When 1 go ter see de trap
dere's possum sign eroun', but de trap
am gone. Ell | see man tracks all er-
bout dat place.
ledge, sho' was mad. l took dat
track like err houn' an bymbye l see
dis hyah PENDANT on de road, wifi er
bag on his back. l done shook dat
bag, jedge, an my trap an possum
drapped out'n it. De possum l eat,
but dere's de trap an heah's de man.
ledge, yoh honoh. OATS all l gotter
say"
Washington stepped down and the
jury looked solemn. 1t appeared bad
for the defendant, but he was not in
the least downcast as he took the wit
ness stand.
desc hyah town dudes" said Jim,
pointing to the complainant, at whom
everyone in the court room gazed,
make me sick. Dey low as how dey
/, own ev'rything dat looks good to dem.
Dey amt satisfy at home, but dey
! come trapesing down heah acting big
CITY, tryin' ter put ober us cause we
all is country folks.
"Jedge, I likes possum myself, but
1 hunt i'm wild er dawg and er torch
like er game sport oughter.
Dat night l was shown er houn'
| pup how to foller er trail, when he Lit
, out, an 1 knew me an de OF CONAN
'ud have er possum fer supper. Jedge,
dess see dat possum rite TO- me in
| de dish, all brown"
The jury became intensely interest
ed at this point
II shst my eyes an see dat possum
wild sweet 'taters all piled round him,
jedge, and de gravy oozin-not run
min, jedge-but jes' a-oozin' out'n de
skin an drippin', drippin' all ober dem
sweet 'taters, an er jug en-
A yell from staid member of the
jury brought the recital to sudden
! pause
We'll, jedge, 1 jes' hatchery took
after dat fool huon', but he was plum
out er hearin', so I guy up an start
,, fur home. De day was jes breakin'
when 1 see dis possum right 'fo' me.
Den 1 look ergin, an see he foot in
er trap. Den 1 walk er way, cause /
won't take no mans possum, jedge.
when I git er iii way off, l look
back, an dat iii possum he er sittin'
up holdin' out his hans jes askin' me
ter take him erlong. Den l say, Jim,
you all amt goin' let dat lii possum
out hyah all be heself in de big
swamp, is 20? He don't belong to de
man what sot dat trap. He didn't
raise him. Dat man don't own de
land de trap am on. Postum he own
boss An den, jedge, 1 hor my bag
in front dat possum an dat iii cuss
walk right in, trap an all. 1 know
dat trap long some man, but eff dat
iii possum done brung if wifi him
into my bag, OATS no business OBJ
mine.
AN jedge, OATS de troof. I amt
touch dat trap. Dere it is wild re pore
lii possum's foot still in it. 1 amt
got er smell OBJ dat possum, an amt
stole nothin'.''
The justice read the law as to wild
animals and explained the meaning of
! larceny, and the jury, looking at each
other significantly, returned a verdict
of mot guilty" without leaving their
/ seats.-George Rowsey.