The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-20
A DivorceC Case
By EVAN BURLING
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association

Ginnle Washington. De correspondent
is Aaron Arnold. De lawyer TO- de
husban Josiah Hicks, is poo white
trash pettyfogger. De lawyer TO de
wife is Tom Barber, niger. II
Mist Hicks thinks kaze he was gradi
waited at de University Of Virginny be
kin teach de cot how to try de case
he mighty much mistaken"
The judge paused and glared at Mr.,
Hicks, as much as TO say that If he
presumed to find fault with the courts
rulings he would be jailed for con-
tempt.
"De fust evidence is TO Geo'ge
Washington to say why he want to
git rid Of Ginnie." the judge contin.
ued, and Mr.. Hicks, knowing that his
time had come, called William ellison,
very black negro, to the stand. Aft
err getting in the preliminaries the law
yer asked:
Where were you on the 18th of
October last?'
"Walkin' by Geo'ge Washington's
house"
Tell the jury what you saw on that
OCCASION
81 saw Aaron Arnold go into de
yard, and | saw Mrs Washington
washin' clothes in tub just outside
1 de kitchen. Aaron he stole up behind
Mrs. Washington, put he arms around
her and hug her"
Gentlemen Of the jury" said the
lawyer. II would explain that Aaron
Arnold is the correspondent in this
| case"
The jury looked at one another.
Then the foreman glanced appealingly
at the judge.
| "De correspondent" his honor inform
ed them, ''is de rascill or de gal what
comes into de family to break 1t up"
Exactly, your honor" said Mr.,
Hicks. Now, William ellison, tell the
jury how Mrs. Washington received
Aaron Arnolds caress."
4 The witness looked wildly about
about him, as If afraid Of something.
1t was evident that the word caress
had frightened him.
"Caressin'," the Judge informed him,
"is what Miste' Arnold done at de
washtub Now. tell de cot what Gin
ME Washington done to de corre-
sponder,"
"Missus Washington" said the wit
ness. summonng courage. "she up an
hit Miste' Arnold ober de haid wild de
washboard"
This bit Of evidence was unexpected
by the attorney for the plaintiff. He
didn't seem to know what TO say next.
Presently he decided:
"Call George Washington.
George Washington" be said when
the husband took the stand and had
answered a few preliminary questions,
you say you saw the defendant enter
your yard, steal up behind your wife
and hug her. Now. did your wife re-
ceive his endearments as the last wit
ness tesdfedT
"No, sab"
slow did she receive themT
"She didn't need to take de wash
board She got knuckles lax iron.
She jist hauled Off and tux Mlste' Ar
mold under de jaw and sent him sprawl
In on de grass. Eff you don't beliebe,
jedge, how hard ma wife kin hit all
70 got TO do is to bring her into cot
and let her try it on yo'self. Look
hea'."
He pointed to a scar on his cheek.
The plaintiffs attorney was again
nonplused. The judge took up his
cause
"Geo'ge Washington, wha' TO- 20
TAX up de time OBJ dis cot tryin' to git
divo'ce from yo' wife on account of
such evidence as disf Do yo' reckon
to prove yo' wife bad woman kaze
when Miste' Arnold Put he arm about
her she hit him7'
"Yes, judge. / want to prove dat
ma wife might hard CONAN to lib
wild"
The judge looked puzzled, but was
equal to the occasion.
"Ginnie Washington" he said, what
TO yo' hit yo' husban', who befo' de
Lawd yo' promise to Tub, honah an
obeyf"
"Jedge / neve' hit ma husban' dat
way but once. Dat was when Plnkey
Smith was washin' clothes and seen
Geo'ge come up behind her and put he
arms aroun her and give her smack"
There was another pause.
"Why didn't you apply for di-
vo'cer asked the judge.
''Kaze | didn't want no divo'ce no.
how. kin TAX keer of my OF man,
and don't want no cot and no lawyer
to help me- Wheneber ketch him
foolin' jist put my fist on him. and
he don't do it no mo-, for a spell any
way. De wimmen bring a heap of
trouble on themselves. jedge-anyway
de weak ones does, and chen dey
might do bette'-by not trainin' DER
husban's. Lots of fool wimmen alters
tryin' to lead odder wimmen's fool
husban's off. but dere hain't no neces-
satory To- it. Ennyway, my husban'
dom try dat on ag'in after / hit him
once, And what's de, cot good fo'-to
glib de husban' a divo'ce and let him go
of wild anudder woman and leabe he
wife to TAX keer OBJ de chillenT
This harangue had marked effect
on the judge.
"Geoge Washington" he said. ''yo'
good fer nothin' Niger, yo' git out of
dis co'troom. 90 home and behave yo'-