The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-19

haired "old timey' negro took the wit ness chair. Alfred Brown, suh. Where d. live Alfred?'' Up a piece along the Oxmoor road, this here side O Walkers Gap, nigh 10 Green Springs-been Twin thar goin on fo'ty years. Ise one of the old citzens of Birmingham
 An expression of humorous interest glanced over the faces of the jurymen. Three of them leaned forward. "One of the old citizens of Birining- ham,, repeated the attorney. How old are you, Alfred?'
 Coin on sixty-five years old The good old darSey, wrinkled and wizened as he was, would probably never see 75 again
 Married, Alfred?'
 "Yes, suh. Tse been married mon 30 vears-to jes one wfe.' A note of pride sounded in the old mans voice. TT se done had zaclsly the same wife ali the time-aint never wanted no other-jes one wife"
 Right here the jury was with the old darky to a man. And laugh! Such hearty, genuine ripple as ran through the court room. The judge smiled that kindly. human smile of his.
 Alfred" the attorney for defendant | jury what you know about this case
 "Well, suh, it was this way: I was comin' long with my boy. David, this away from the bridge, an l seen the team fer the Franklin Pipe company comin across the bridge"
 Were the mules going fast, Alfred running away anything?'
 NO. suh They was walkn'. But only one team can cross that bridge at time, so l pulled up my mule an waited. Then up behind me come this man in bug gy-"
 MT. Alexander Smith, here?"
 "Yes. suh, Mistah Smith. He drove up an came past me, hurryin' to get on the bridge"
 Did he pass you on the left side or the right side?
 'On the low side. suh. He hadn't ought ter have tried to get on that bridge with the team nigh across it. He had ought ter hev pulled up an waited like me. l tol him so. He knowed better'n that an tol him so. Then the front wheel of the dray took an struck his buggy an broke the fifth wheel, an Mstah Smith, he ies' step out right off. An he com an took my name fo' a witness. l toi him if he took my name ez witness was gon' to tell on him. an tell 1es zackly how it happened. There want nothin in it fo' me an I would tell the truth an nothin' but the truth.
 The lawyer for the defendant turned to Mr Blank, counsel for the plaintiff.
 You can take Alfred" he said.
 MT. Blank fixed his glance on old Al fred You were coming along with your boy you say?'
 Yes, sir, with my lil' boy.
 sure he's your boy, eh?'
 -rhe old darkey looked disconnected. "Co'se he's my boy he said. he's my boy David"
 And how old did you say you were, old man?"
 "Ise goin' on sixty-five.'
 And how old is your wife?'
 She's the same ez me
 MT. Blank paused. great point scored with the jury to discredit the witness, very great point indeed And whats the boys name?' he asked
 "David," replied the old negro
 "David what?''
 "Jes' David"
 Isn't it David Brown, if he's your son?"
 "No. suh, jes' David"
 "But didn't you say he was your son?
 "No. suh. he aint my son at all. Hes my daughters son."
 ..Oh, your daughters son-not yoursY Thought you said he was yours?'
 "Aint if the same 'ez miner The good old negro raised his cotton-white head, "he,s my boy" he said ''I rig him an keep him with me-
 "Your daughters married?' asked Al torney Blank.
 "Yes, she's married. Shes Mrs. W
 "Well. isn't the boys name David W-?'
 "No, 'jes David.'
 After several more questions 1t devel- oped that the daughter had been married twice
 "Wel, then" insisted MT. Blank. what was the name of your first son-in-law!
 Ola Alfred pulled the curtain down over the skeleton in his closet "l dldn pother with his name, he said, an he don went off to Montgomery. But LOOK tne bey an kep' him. He's mine. An ms names David. ,., metic then followed as to the size of the bridge. the color of the horse, the style of buggy. etc. over which good old Al fred stumbled as matter Of course.
 And you say you tell the truth, said Mir Blank, nothing but the truth eh? Nothing in it for you, chr
 The old man looked up, again surprised. No suh," he said very simply, aint nothin' in it fo' me. I says I'll tell the truth, an notnln put the u o'i " told it."
 ."rhat will do,' sneered MT. biahk' nothing in it for you.
 'Yes. Alfred-that's all" said the coun7 sel for defendant. And the old man left the court room.
 Call Mr. Jones'
 OnA witness followed another. The wagon-maker and blacksmith who re- paired the plaintiffs buggy by order of the company concerned testified that only the fifth wheel was broken and few miner details. costing $4.50 in all to patch up. and that the vehicle which Mir Alex ander Smith claimed to cost $9O was only worth in his judgment, s35 The driver of the dray. negro, and the only other witness to the accident" corroborated old Alfred's account of how MT. smith .'stepped out" when the wheels locked. Two young white men, unwashed and un- kempt, swore with shifting eyes, many luried details, as to blood that covered the plaintiff as to how he was violently hurled to the side, as to how the buggy was utterly demolished, ''all stove in" as to how the horse was "all stove up." never any good any more and this and that and the other-lots of blood spilled. One of these plaintiffs witnesses got n,aintiffs injured eye mixed. whereat plaintih deftly reminded him, placing his band quickly to the injured eye move ment certain of the jurors caught.
 What sort of work does MT. Alexan- der Smith do?' inquired counsel for de- fendant of this last witness:
 Works for the law firm, Blank x Blank"
 What sort of work, I ask your Don't know"