The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-03-23
Trial by Jury
By MARTHA V. MONROE
Copyright. 1911. by American Press
Association.

Jim Iurnlee," said the cooreu
Judge, ''yo' is cha'ged wild de KILN
OBJ Nose Harkins. De persecutin' Mt.
to'ney mus do eberythiny he kin to
conflict yo.' an yo' lawyer what de
cot glib yo' has got to do eberythius
he kin to get yo' off. Mr.. Persecutin'
Attorney. open de case"
The prosecuting attorney rose and
said:
Jim Turnlee. wha' TO- yo' kill Nose
uarkins:"
Il didn't Kill Nose Hark ms" replied
the accused. much excited.
Eyes. yo' did: yo' know yo' did"
Turning to the court: I'VE shall prove,
yo' honah. dat de prisoner done de
deed wild malice afterthought. on de
impulse oh de moment. In lie early
mawnin' he heered rooster CROWN,
an he dreamed Oh fried chicken TO
breakfast. Wild blood in he eye. lie
got up an went to de fam OBJ Nose
Harkins. opened de henhcuse do.
Went in an grab a chicken by lie leg.
De squawiin reused Nose Harkins lie
got out oh bed. frowed up dc winder
an looked out. De dawn was break
in. an Jim Turnlee. he bein' inside
de penthouse. didn't see Nose lookin'
out Oh d. w.nde': but. hearin' de winde'
go up, he stail in de henhouse to
hide. Nose so way from de wiadc'
an git he shotgun an shoot into De
henhouse. Den jim he shot, too. an
Nose drop back daid. Dat am dc cir
cumstanti;,ls oh de case. Jim Turnlee
he done de murder, an if he counsel
prove to de contrary dc jury wont
beiebe i'm"
The state attorney sat down. and
the counsel fer the defense arose.
"Jim Turnlee!' he said savagely.
The prisoner started.
"Wha' yo' loOhin' wild out OBJ dem
eyes oh yourn TO-? Yo' hain't gwine to
fight riciment oh wildcats; yo' gwine
to prove dat you didn't kill Nose Har-
kins."
If this was intended to restore the
prisoners equanimity it failed. Jim
looked more than ever as if he must
defend himself by killing the Judge.
jury and spectators. His counsel pro.
ceeded
"Jim Turnlee, tell de cot wha' 20
were on de mawnin' dat Nose Har-
kins was killed."
II was in ma bed"
"What was yo' dom in bed?"
"Sleepin'.''
Hold on dah." interposed the pros
ecutor. IF yo' was asleep how do
yo' know wha' yo' were? Might "A been
stealin' chickens"
The prisoner looked ready to break
and run.
"Yo' honah." said counsel for de-
Tense. de gentlemen said in de Open
in argyfyer dat ma client was dream
in OBJ fried chicken TO- breakfast
How he knew wha' ma client was
dreamin' bout. I like to know? An
de prosecutor said dat Jim was in T.
henhouse. If Jim was in de henheuse.
how did Nose know it was jim, what
shot him?'
II didn't say Nose said Jim shot
him. Nose was dad ennyhow.''
"How yo' gwine to prove dot de mig
ger in de heEhouse was Jim?'
GLOW I gwine to prove dat?''
eyes. How yo' gwine to prove dat ?"
"Yo honah, hab got to prove twas
Jim in de henhouse when Nose was
killed."
The Judge looked puzzled and final
~ said:
"Mose was killed, wasn't her
"Sartin. sure-'
can niger in de henhouse shot
him?"
"Yes, judge"
"Den since Jim hearn de rooster
crow an dreamed OBJ fried chicken
TO- breakfast de 'pinion OBJ de cot is
dat Jim got up an went to de hen
house TO- to git chicken. OATS wha'
cherry niger would "a done. An II
Jim was in de henhousc when Nose
shot in dar berry likely Jim shot back.
Ennyhow. would If I'd "a been dar,
yo' bet"
"Much 'bliged. yo' honah, TO- gibin'
me ma line Of argufyin'. De groun
on which ma client stands is self de-
Tense"
How yO' make dat eut?' asked the
prosecutor.
"Ef a niger was shootin' at yo'
wouldn't yo' shoot back?'
-YcS-nO"
Il leabe it to de gentlemen oh de jury
1t dey was in henhouse stealin' chick
ems an de owner oh de chickens was
shooun' at 'em wouldn't dey shoot
back
The jury consulted, and finally the
foreman gave their reply.
de jury thinks dat If dsy was in de
henhouse an Nose Harkins was shoot
In at EN- dey wouldn't need to shoot
back. 'cose Nose couldn't hit BAN"
This decision was quite backset for
the defense, but the prisoners counsel
was equal to the occasion.
"Yo honah." he said. "ef Nose could
MT hit BAN how cum de use OBJ Um's
ShOOtiN' hack 2"