The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-29

said Judge Alb, before we start to shake, rattle and roll the docket for the day, please find out what is on the mind of that old woman standing in the doorway"
 The high sheriff approached the old negro and suggested that If she was looking for information, Judge Abernethy could probably enlighten her.
 The old woman immediately en- tered the courtroom and approach ing the judges bench again repeated her former exclamation: "Is I right, CT is I wrong?'
 That's a question. auntie, that on it's face has puzzled the sages of all ages, from ancient Egypt to the pres ent day But even ' if your name was Wright. you could still be wrong. What's on your mind?"
 Are yo' Jedge Abernassy of de susprim cote?"
 T are and I ain't The first part of your question is a perversion of my cogomen; as to the second part can truthfully say that mine Is the highest court in Jefferson county, as it is located on the fourth floor of .he courthouse and higher you cannot go. What is your trouble?"
 No trouble CT tall, jedge. l jest wants yo' toe turn nah baby chile loose, what yo' white folks is got locked up in the county jail"
 What is the charge against him?
 "Ah dosn't know but Ise willin' toe pay hit, if hit ain't toe much" "
 T mean what was he arrested for?"
 'Tse not sho' jedge, but de ossifer waht tole me nah chile war in jail said hit war for shootin' de bones, an I kaint see no harm in shootin' CT bono is he wants toe
 .'Sometimes man does less harm In shooting the bones than he does shooting the bull, but the law looks at 1t different. Your son, auntie, IS charged with playing the most ancient of the games of chance; Tn fact, it put the skids under the prodigal son and sent him back to his fathers home. In other words' your son is charged With gaming ps the medium of dice
 II neyah brung up nah chile toe do dat away, jedge, an If yo' will turn him loose dis time. will take him horne an, give him dc wust whoppin' dat he evah had"
 "That sounds good to me, auntie' but are you sure you can carry out your intentions?"
 Hedge. I done raised dat boy on de strop, an in course l kin do what I tells yo'."
 'Sheriff Jack go down to the coun- tv iail and escort this infant prodigy to the court for personal hter- view.' x
 While the court was waiting for the return of the bailiff With the
 made other plea to Judge Alb for the release of her son on the grounds that he was "an orfant."
 What do wean by an orphan!
 well, I ain't seed his daddy in ID years, an he has been nah mainess support since dat time. Don't oat make him CT orphant?"
 '.The court declines to commit him self on this question at this time what the"
 The courts interruption and sur prise was occasioned by the entrance of Sheriff Jack and the prisoner. The latter was an unusually large negro. six feet high and weighing over 200 pounds.
 "Dats nah baby" came from the old woman.
 Looks more like a whale than a baby" said Judge Alb. Now if there is one characteristic about Judge Alb more pronounced than another it is his ability to re- member faces of those who have been before him. even though years inter- vene The moment his eyes rested on the angel child" his memory got busy.
 "What is your name?" asked Judge Alb of the defendant. Nah sho' 'nough name ar Jake Mallett, but dey calls me Stump fur short"
 How many times have you been before me?"
 "Ah disremcmber. jedge, but not mo- thar thrO1 Ar four" You haven't paid the last fine imposed, have you?"