The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-08-26
A WISE
JUDGE
BY OSCAR cox

When the war between the states
ended and the colored man was en-
dowed with citizenship n grave re-
sponsilJility was placed upon him for
which he wasn't prepared. In one OF
those regions where the negroes were
very numerous and white men very
few one Of the former found himself
IN possession Of a Justices court.
The makeup Of this dispensary OF
Justice was somewhat crude. A judge
was found who had done the cleaning
Of the courthouse, "A prosecuting attor-
ney In one who had belonged to n law
yer, but for counsel no one could be
obtained except few darkies who had
been tried for various offenses and had
by observing lawyers methods picked
up here and there bits Of court routine.
Moses Doggett, late the property OF
Colonel Redfield Doggett, was the
Judge before whom n negro with no
other name, so far as was known, than
Pete was brought on o charge OF hav-
ing III treated his wife, Susan. She rs
the principal witness was called to the
stand.
Tell the cou't wha' Pete gone done
to you," said the Judge.
pete he de mos good TO muffin mig
ger IN de state Of Alabama. Now he
got free he t'ink he hain't got nottin'
to do but sit out in de sun an sleep.
says to Pete, Git up an go to wo'k.
How yo' spec desc chin gwine to git
ANYTHING TO eat eff 20 don't earn not
tin'Y Pete he say: 4 hain't got no
wo'k Yo' go on wild de washin', an
! taxi It TO do owner an bring back
de pay | jist pick up a rollin pin,
an split it on he skull"
"Yo' honah," said the defendants
counsel, Il thought it was Pete mis-
treated Susan, not Susan mistreated
| Pete"
"fo, Pete" said the judge, ''yo' take
de stan an tell de cot yo' side oh de
question"
Pete obeyed the order and stood roll
ing his eyes about till admonished to
speak in his defense OF the charge
made by his wife.
| "Hain't got no WIFE, he salu.
"Hain't got no wife? How dntT'
ana wife, Chloe. wha' married fus'
down in Louisiana, air de only wife |
got. When | was sold an separated
from her an de chiln ma heart was
broke. De mex year | married one OBJ
de Niger women belongin' to ma new
marster."
"Yo' didn't get no divo'ce from 20
fus' wife?' asked the defendants coun-
sell
II didn't get no divoce. jest mar
ried ag'in. Two years arter dat ma
marster lose cotton crop an we was
all sold out. me an ma wife bein' sold
to different marsters. Den l married
anudder wife"
"An' 20 didn't get no divO'ce from
de second wifer asked Pete's counsel
mo, sab. l didn't get no divo'ce
from de second wife. I didn't keer 70
no divo'ce from none OBJ 'em. Ma
heart was true to ma fus' wife. Chloe
How many wives have you gOtT'
asked the prosecuting attorney, with
a view to condensing this diffuse state
ment.
81 don't know. / had de bad lucl;
TO change marsters mighty often, an
every time was sold married new
wife"
"ls Susan de las'T'
Sue, she de las"
"Yo' honah," said defendants coun.
sci, 81 ask fo' de discha'ge OBJ de pris-
oner on de groun' dat he couldn't mis-.
treat he wife when he hain't married
to de wife he mistreated."
How many husbands have you
had, Susanr' asked the Judge.
Il got one In Mobile. anudder In New
Orleans an anudder somewha' In Soul
Carolina"
How 10 you know they are In thosa
places?"
81 don't. l married 'em dar."
The Judge looked up at the boards
which constituted the ceiling In mute
deliberation. lie was n grave looking
old darby and in his heart aimed &c
be just. But the problem was how
to he just legally. The two In this case
seemed incompatible.
de persecutin' attorney will sum VI
an de counsel 70 de prisoner will sun
up, den de cou't will glib her decision
II hain't got nuthin' to say" said tn,
prosecutor. "'cept dat Pete won't wo'k
an his wife an chin am starvin'
DE cou't oughter make him wo'k or &
to Jail"
"An' amt got nuthin' to say" sai>
the prisoners lawyer, "'cept dat In d'
fus' place Sue an Pete hain't married
Pete bein' true to Chloe, somewha' II
de souf In de secon' place, 1t wan
Pete dat mistreated Sue. but Sue mis-
treated Pete when she split de rollin
pin on his head"
The Judge again looked at the hoard
above, rolled his eyes and finally gav'
his decision.
de new law Of marriage among u
niggers since he Emancipation procla
nation am different from de ole law
Under de new law Sue am Petes wife
an he boun' TO TAX keer oh her an d
chillun. De cou't derefo decides da
Pete got to 60 TO wo'k or go to jail"
II peal de case" cried Petes coun
sci.
"Yo' kin list go on 'pealin' de cas-
till kingdom come" said the Judge
"Pete. yo' 20 to wok. Sue. ef he dor
go to wo'k you split anudder rollln' pi
ON his head"
II hain't got no mo- rollin' pins. bu
got some fatirons."
"De cou't decides dat fiatirons an
As legitimate as rollin' pins. Cali d