The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-22
THE
WITNESS
BY OSCAR cox


there was ruin among the planters o
the south. Randolph Etheredge,
young man whose father, CO 'onel Eth
eredge, had been killed at Shiloh ant
who himself had been wounded a.
Winchester, returned after the surren
der to his plantation and endeavored
to restore 1t to something like order
The fences had been burned for camp
fires; the outhouses had been torn
down for lumber with which to build
temporary quarters for the sick and
wounded, and the negroes were scat
tered.
A few, 1t is true, remained, but they
were so old as to be useless Freedom
TO them meant reliance on them
selves at the close Of their lives to
which they had never been accustom-
ed. They chung to the old plantation
because 1t was home. The young own
er made them as comfortable MS he
could. but to provide food and clothing
for them was no easy matter.
James Lynch, a former overseer. had
saved money and when Colonel Ether
edge needed a loan had taken a mort
gage On the plantation for funds adj
vanced. Now that the new south was
opening he was DESTROYS of taking the
property to himself and running 1T on
the free labor principle. There being
long accumulation of unpaid interest,
he went to the owner and demanded 1t.
Etheredge asked for time. Lynch re-
fused. Etheredge, knowing that his
creditor was indebted to the colonel,
his father, for all that he was, re-
preached him angrily. There was
quarrel, and Etheredge knocked the ex-
overseer down. Lynch sued Etheredge
for assault.
The only witness Of the scuffle was
Moses, a white haired old darby
whom Lynch summoned for the prose-
cution. When Moses took the stand he
fore him and looked at the assembly
mildly.
''Uncle Moses" said the prosecutor,
-where were you on the Goth of June
last, the day that Mr. Lynch visited
Mr. Etheredge and quarrel occurred
between them?"
Don't know no sech pusson."
There he is" pointing to Lynch.
Dat no Mr.. Lynch. Dat Jim Lynch,
oberseer. We used to call um Hard
heart Lynch"
Never mind what you used to call
him Tell us what you saw on the day
he visited the Etheredge plantation"
II saw de oberseer come ON to de
veranda, and Mars Etheredge he come
out to meet him. Lynch he say to
Mars Etheredge, i want ma money |
what / loan de cunnel' Mars Ether /
edge he say: 'Fust thing got to do
Is git some salt polk and con pone TO
de helpless niggers wots too ole TO
wo'k. Ma ladder TUX yo' in when yo'
war starvin' and paid 20 big wages
fo'"--
II didn't ask you what was said. l
asked you what was DONE" interrupted
the lawyer, endeavoring by his severe
tone to overawe the witness.
How / gwine tole yo' wot war did
befo' tole yo wot war said?"
Ibid you see Mr. Etheredge strike
Mr.. Lynch?"
mo, sab. didn't see no fight be-
tween de oberseer and Mars Ether
edse"
Yes, you did You were there when
/ occurred"
II seen somp'n goin' on between
Mars Etheredge and dat low down
BOO white trash oberseer."
What did you sect" :
II sor Mars Etheredge point de An
yer OBJ soon ut de oberseer and say de
tunnel sabe him from starvin' ~
stop there. II you don't tell me
What you saw and not what you heard
III ask his honor to commit you for
ontempt OF court"
His honah's not gwine 70 commit !
ne 70 contempt o. nuttin' but dat c
nis'able specimen OBJ poo white trash. ,
i'm lynch"
BY this time the faces OF the Jury !
nd the spectators wore a broad grin.
he witness looked placid and the !
rosecutor very much embarrassed.
lie would have dismissed the witness.
ut he was the only person who saw \
Is client knocked down. and he must
Ither make him so testify or lose the
ase. He returned 20 the work. but
or. rather. strategically: n
Uncle Remus. did you ever see q ?
ian knocked DOWN v
"what dati. =
Like this" The lawyer drew back !,
Il arm and struck the afr. +,
NO. sab. I nebber sor a man do :.
uttin' like dat"
Tell me-remember you are under "
ith.-did you not see Mr.. Etheredge -
D that 20 James Lynchr ia
mo. sahi Mars Etheredge rot sump'n q.
sfter 20 do dan swingin' de am ag'in q
} wind =
This was too much for the specta- Z
~. who burst into a roar. Etheredrs
'0ke = few words 10 bis counsel who
-ose and said.
Your honor. ny client hes request.
me 70 refuse b proceed further IN
lie case. N convicted be yin pay
hnterer enc your honor chooses %
lpose
case Dismissal sid the tsdrs.
here being no evidence % the
Isres~