The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-20
THE
WITNESS
BY OSCAR cox

the south. Randolph Etheredge, a
young man whose father, Colonel Eth
eredge, had been killed at Shiloh and
who himself had been wounded at
Winchester, returned after the surren-
der to his plantation and endeavored
to restore it 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, it is true, remained, but they
were so old as to be useless. Freedom
to them meant a 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 it was home. The young own
er made them as comfortable as he
could, but to provide food and clothing
for them was no easy matter.
James Lynch, 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 it on
the free labor principle. There being
a 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. Lyncn 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
laid a trembling hand on the rail be-
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 UNI Hard
heart Lynch"
Never mind what you used to call
him. Tell us what you saw on the day
he visited the Etheredge plantation"
81 saw de oberseer come on to de
veranda, and Mars Etheredge he come
out to meet him. Lynch he say to
Mars Etheredge, Il want ma money
what loan de cunnel.' Mars Ether
edge he say: 'Fust thing l got to do
is git some salt po'k and con pone TO
de helpless niggers wot's too ole TO-
wok. Ma fadder TUX yo' in when yo'
war starvin' and paid yo' big wages
fo'"-
II didn't ask you what was said.
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' l tole yo wot war saidT'
"Did you see Mr.. Etheredge strike
Mr.. Lynchf"
mo. sab. | didn't see no fight be-
tween de oberseer and Mars Ether
edge"
Eyes, you did. You were there when
1t occurred"
81 seen somp'n goin' on between
Mars Etheredge and dat low down
poo white trash oberseer."
What did you see?"
II sor Mars Etheredge point de fin
ger OBJ soon at de oberseer and say de
cunnel sabe him from starvin
stop there. If you don't tell me
what you saw and not what you heard
I'll ask his honor to commit you for
contempt Of court"
His honah's not gwine to commit
me TO contempt o. nuttin' but dat |
nis'able specimen OBJ poo white trash, |
lin Lynch"
By this time the faces Of the jury
Ind the spectators wore a broad grin,
he witness looked placid and the |
prosecutor very much embarrassed. |
he would have dismissed the witness, |
,ut he was the only person who saw |
lis client knocked down, and he must |
'ither make him SO testify or lose the
'ase. He returned to the work, but |
or, rather, strategically:
Uncle Remus, did you ever see a
nan knocked DOWN."
What dat?"
Like this" The lawyer drew back
lis arm and struck the air.
mo, sab. nebber sor a man do
Iuttin' like dat"
Tell me-remember you are under
ath-did you not see Mr.. Etheredge
% that to James Lynch2"
mo, sahl Mars Etheredge got sump'n
letter to do dan swingin' de am agin
q wind"
This was too much for the specta-
ors, who burst into a roar. Etheredge
poke few words to his counsel, who
rose and said:
your honor, my client has request
d me to refuse to proceed further in
bis case. If convicted he will pay
whatever fine your honor chooses to
npose'
case dismissed" said the Judge,
there being no evidence of the
barge"
The court adjourned, and all went
ut convinced that the defendant had
wen the plaintiff his just deserts. Old
loses found himself hero. He had
cen freed by the emancipation proc
lmation, but chung to the old planta-
on.