The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-29
PLAYING POKER ON THE ANVIL
Washington John Stebbins, Colored, Tells the Whole Story to the Judge

Judd Mortimer Lewis in the Chicago
 News.
 washington John stebbens---is that your name?"
 "Yessuh, jedge."
 You are accused of having commit ted assault and battery on the plain tiff. Now--' ifs
 "Who dat jedge?"
 "On the plaintiff.9
 Hedge, somebody ben fabricatin' to yo'. suh Dat ain no plaintiff. An done know dat nigger all his life Dat nig- euhs name am Moses Henry Jackson, jedge."
 Are you guilty or not guilty?
 Am An whut jedge?"
 Did ycu do it or didn't you do 1t?
 "Do whut, jedge?"
 Commit assault and battery on the person of Moses Henry Jackson"
 "Nossuh. jedge, An nevuh."
 Then you wish to plead not guilty?"
 "Nossuh, jedge, An wishes for to say dat An didn't commit muffin on Moses Henry Jockson Yo see, jedge. Willie Tom Jones, dat lir duck laigged nigguh ovuh yondeh--"
 Did you assault Moses Henry Jack son or did you not?"
 "Nossuh, jedge. An Jes' fetch him a lick on he haid with sledge, den he hung a hossshoe on nah face, an den Ah traded him hoss shoe fo hit. Den he got nah thumb in his mouf-"
 Are you guilty or not guilty?"
 "Da's des whut An was a-tellin' yo.' jedge"
 Very well. Tell me about 1t in your own way"
 'Yassah. iedge Hits dess lak An was a-sayin'. WillieN Tom Jones he come into nah blacksmif shop when An wasn't lookin,' iedge, an he slips foh moh aces into nah deck O kyards yas- suh, jedge. he done so. Den, jedge, Moses Henry Jackson come in nah place an he go proieclSin' 'roun', sayin' he kin beat any nigguh in town playin' polSuh, fuh bread crumbs or chickens, jedge. ledge, no gentleman could stan dat, so we glts down by de anvil an he run de kyards.
 "Ah gifts free aces an a seven an a deuce, jedge, an Ah opens fo' my razoh an nah tie pin. He see me. jedge. with dolluh an a pain ob cuff buttons an raises me a hat An calls his hat, jedge. an An raises him a pain ob pants. He calls muh pants, jedge, an we draws. An draws two kyards, jedge, an gifts two kings. Moses Henry Jackson, jedge, he draw one kyard. An lays nah watch on de
 
 raises it coat. Den, jedge, An skins nah han an sees his coat an raise him a shirt an pain ob galluses He sees nah raise, iedge, an raises me q pain ob shoes. An sees de shooes, iedge, an raises him a hatchet. Moses Henry sees de hatchet wiv a pocket knife an a dirk, jedge, an raises me wid pie ture buttom ob his gal.
 "Ah calls dat bet wiv pain ob tongs an we lays down. An jedge. An has frees aces an a pain ob kings, an when dat nigguh lays down foh aces, iedge, de big ting dess nachelly come off.
 "Ah bounces sledge offun his haid. he hangs a hoss shoe on nah face, an An trades him e lick wiv anuther shoe, den An feels round fo' a rasp toh soteh discourage dat nigguh wiv an he clinches an gifts nah thumb in his mouth an chews hit
 And then?'
 "Den. jedge, nah other han fins de pain ob tongs. an An say: Moses Henry Jackson, Huff go ob nah thumb'' An. jedge, he doan leggo. Den An say Moses Henry Jackson, luff go ob mall thumb an git outen hear 'fo' An tells yo' tuh git outr But, jedge, he dess teah off nah shirt, an keep chewin nah thumb. Den An say: Moses Henry Jackson. if yo' is gentleman Huff go ob nah thumb, An he doan' luff go, jedge, an Ah bounce dat tongs on his haid."
 ''rhen what?'
 Den, jedge. he gib muh. back muh thumb, da's all---Ah gits muh thumb back, muffin else"
 q am going to let you off for fight ing
 "Thankey jedge.''
 And fine you $5 and costs for gam bling. Gall the next"
 Hedge, des a minute"
 "Well?"
 "Ah vans tuh pay s1O, jedge.s
 What fors'
 'Foh dat lil' duck laigged niggah, Willie Tom Jones, whuts projeckin to- wards de doah oveh wonder. Ans gwine bounce rock offen his haid.'