The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-09-20
VAGRANCY TRIAL
BY TOM JOHNSON

=
and our white citizens and then he
persuaded the po' deluded fools to
go down to the Community Chest
offices to start a rumpus with
those folks, when the good Lord
know tshey're doin' their best to
help the unemployed e.
The prosecutors soft voice rose
and he turned to face the crowded
benches. He no longer spoke to
the judge alone; with an expansive
gesture, he took the whole cours
room into his confidence.
after Pearson got done the
whole blame crowd marched right
down 21st Street, tyin' up traffic
and shown not only men, but white
women"
The prisoner Harry Pearson
leaned back between his guards
and smiled YEARLY. Old stuff, he
thought, but it's sure-fire down
here :. The dynamite in this Ne
gro question: No wonder Jack
couldn't get any of those liberals
to go our bail. Southern liberal
ism shattered on the rock of Ne
gro equality-darn if that isn't a
good line! have to use it in an ar
ticle some day. They won't believe
it in the North-that old bastard
cheek-nei her would I month
ago Oughta take notes on this
guy, expose him when l sum up
Another week in that lousy can
without a bath or shave and I'll
go fruit.
The prisoner Gene Ferris thought
of his wife :. She sure raised he'll
when she come down to the jail
house but she's wrong just
don't understand, that's all, and
afeerd for me. Reds amt like the
white folks down here, they'll stick
by US colored else how come
the Law is so set again 'em? An
We'll come clear May lose out
with ole Judge Had, Harry says
but we'll take it an another cote
an Harry's smart as whip =.
Onliest thing is he don't believe in
the true God :. Lawd, Lawd, he's
yo' chile, make him to see the lite!
The prosecutor was concluding:
"Of course several officers haC
been detailed to observe the meet.
ing-if I'm not mistaken the Chief
himself was there-and they fol
lowed the crowd down. The police
was most lenient-too lenient
would say-but when the Grove
tried to force their way into the
Chest offices they did arrest Pear
son and this niger Ferris fol
leadin' 'en. We have established
the fact that these men are vag
rants with no means of support
from a reputable source and I vii
ask for the maximum penalty un
der our laws"
| The Judge looked up at the de
PENDANTS. "Bob, for once I believ,
you're wrong" he said. ''That DO,
don't look to me like burrhead.
believe he's a Chinaman!" (Ferris
face was a light bronze. He hac
high cheek bones and his hair wa
almost straight). The Judge thel
turned to Harry. $50 you're on,
of those Rooshian Reds, Ell? FRS
time I ever had a look at one O
you critters" Outlaws shook tn
courtroom. ("Ole Judge1lh she
sock it to that nigger-loving bas
tard.") The Judge didn't bottle
to rap for order this time.
"Well, how do you boys plead !?
"Not guilty" Harry answered TO
beth.
'Have You an Attorney"
mo. we will defend ourselves"
A procession of beefy cops, sew
eral in plain-clothes, passed fror
the benches to the witness chat
and back again. Yes, they had
been present at the meeting an,
had followed the crowd to the Com
munity Chest. What had Pearso,
said at the meeting? Take
against the gov'ment-Said that
niggers were as good as white
folks-Said the COMMUNISTS stoo
for social equality-Said that the
aimed to take this country owe
fer the niggers-Had they ever
seen him before the meeting. Ono
or twice, with that Teller Layto
that come down before him-Eve
see him working ?-No never did
Any idea he does work or hold an
regular job ?-No he's too bus
stirrin' up the niggeTs-How aboU
Ferris Hes a local niger. Ust
work at Chalmers No. A mine. H
amt worked fer a year now. Jei
hangs round loafin'. Lately he
jined up with them Reds
Each time, when the prosecute
finished Harry dismissed the wit
ness with a curt ''No questions,
but he paused before the last wit
ness, Chief of Police Holmes hin
self.
"You say you have seen me sev
eral times before the meetin,
Chief. Why didn't you arrest m
then"
"You weren't dom nothin.'
'Why did you give the order I
arrest me last Thursday at tn
meeting?"
Because you was stirrin U
them niggers and I was afraid
there would be a riot"
"Then you didn't arrest me fl
vagrancy, but because I was lea,