The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-27
An Injustice
Righted
BY OSCAR cox

There is ii region in Mississippi that
is occupied almost exclusively by cot
ored people. In the interior of this
region the only way to dispense jus
tice has at times been for the negroes
themselves to organize court and try
some case of such Importance as seem.
ed to demand attention As for small
breaches of the law, such as stealing
chickens. watermeIons and the like.
the individuals dispossessed were ex.
pected to attend to the matter them
selves.
One day gentleman from Vicks-
burg, who was travelling through this
region, had occasion TO speak with
certain colored man and was told that
he was sitting In a woodshed con-
Quoting murder trial Going TO the
humble courtroom, the visitor looked
In and saw the court in session. TAX
ing a back seat, he observed the pro
ceedings.
Caesar Henderson. black as coal,
was on trial for the murder OF TIE
cumseh Rodmnn, rival for the affec'
tons OF Dinah ochiltree, The rivals
had visited Dinah during the evening
before the murder and had left to
gether. They were heard quarreling
on the road The next morning TIE
cumseh WA missing. Since be did
not turn up COR some days Caesar was
aecused OF bis murder. and. there be
ing no regular court within many
miles. he was tried by his peers in the
woodshed Dlnah, the object OF con-
tention. was being questioned by the
Judge. who also acted as counsel for
the state and the defense. he was
also the twelve iurymen.
.Dinah." be said severely. "wha' TO
yo' bab two lubbers hangin' roun' 20.
persuadln' 'em to light TO- yo'g Don
20 know dat wo'se'n MURDER
Il couldn't help dey fghtin' 10 me,
replied Dinah. with toss OF her head.
"wha' time did dey leab 20 dat
night when Caesar killed Tecumsehf'
Il didn't KIN Tecumseh." protested
Caesar
~shet up" cried the judge. glaring
AZ the prisoner from under a pair OF
heavy gray eyebrows. ''or hne 20 70
contempt oh cout'
The question having been repeated.
the witness said that she reckoned the
two men left her between leben
O'Clock and some time In de mawnin.
she reckoned Il was near the lattef
How do 20 know dat?' asked the
judge.
aKase heard zeb Parker, dat hb
mex doc 70 me. comm bone from
chicken huntin'.-
How 20 know Deb been chicken
huntin.fr
-Kase / bearn de squawkin' q Dc
chickens be was bringin' home"
md 90 see Zebf"
NO. sab: / didn see Zeb. De ahrk
and zeb war - Dc same badness
Il thought 20 said y war maWuiu' Z
50 I dif Zeb nebter goes chiek-
20 huufin' 'cspt fust ilefo' dnF break
The witness was excused. and len
Barker uas called 60 the sfnnd
Len saba the 8udce booking at ne
-4ffrrs -trH a. cgut bow 20 know
Caesar kIIief Tecumseh.
~KaHs hearm ZEN hgbtin
awt8eh var mckin a. u6csr
Hos I tnow datf ! oouida 49, ~
fxftir 30 ~ dsrk-
Den 20 know no no 'bnut %
frtt1
-rqw aar' tuou noihin' e 81
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aae -wns . ehitln nH % oEne $50
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Tesan rHnnt wss sesrllse ere tes-
ssrt ft4 rrH - hf~ ~ tias rssnls wns
msas hr~lnr 10 aa-E - - tana1
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suaz. sanss n1.an fias r-a1.sf r. sfat,d
a. ana lmHE aasFHss 1880 g.