The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-27

That's right But I sho' didn't
want to"
Suppose" said Coroner Dod-
son, in his pleasant. deep voice.
you tell you exactly what did
happen. Andrew"
|. Check Ibis testimony" said
Lieutenant Gregory to Roberts.
Andrew looking appealingly
first atme,. then at Bill We'll,
sir" he began, 81 was in the
breakfast room after dinner last
night done went in there TO put
UP some hnen we brung out from
town what belong in that room.
We been So busy forgot all about
it. Then see il in the kitchen
after dinner and / say TO Bessie,
Law, Bessie, if Miss Sally see
this, she'll git after me, sho'.'
All right, Andrew" Lieutenant
Gregory prompted. "You can
skip that. Just tell US what you
heard"
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. but / just
want to show how come l was in
that room, I wasn't tryin' to hear
no white folks business. AT first
| didn't pay no attention to talk
IN outside the door. Natchully
they is pasSin' and repaSsin'. Then
l notice Miss Maggie'S voice and
it seem to me she sound worried
about Somethin'. She talk louder.
but still don't hear what she say.
/ hear a man, too - Andrew
looked over az Bill, as though he
realized fully the import of what
he was saying and did not wish to
go on.
"All right, Andrew" Lieuten-
ant Gregory prodded.
We'll. / can't understand what
the man. say. Seem to me they ar
gum about Somethin'. ! never can
tell who the mans voice Is. Then
I hear Miss Maggie say. Don't
you dare lay hands on me. VIII
lie"
Bill. whose eyes had been fixed
on Andrew ever since his recital
began. now asked. How can you
be so sure she said Willie An
drew?"
"'Cause, Mr.. Bill. she say it
louder'n she done say anything
else Like she plum scared"
did you hear anything else,
Andrew" Mr.. Dodson asked.
No, sir. l sell out and get
away from there. / know when
white folks fight. II amt no place
for me-"
'What did you do afterward,
AndreU9 Did you tell anybody
about this?"
No. sir. When 1 60 back to the
kitchen, Miss Sally in there talk
in to Bessie bout what we goin'
to have for breakfast next morn
in Bimeby. Miss Sally go on out
through the breakfast room and
find Miss Maggie dead on the
floor. She call Bessie to come
there quick cause Miss Maggie
tainted. We brung along a pitcher
OF water. but we amt able to re-
vlve her. She done dead. Then I
know | must not say nothin' to
Bessie never. Cause women can't
keen no secrets"
You mean" asked Mr.. Dodson,
that you didn't intend to tell
anyone about all this?"
No. sir. When folks gets mad,
they liable kill somebody 'thout
meanin' to. Mr.. Bill wouldn't
harm nobody in his right mind.
And Miss Maggie could be right
wOrrisome sometimes"
How do you mean, worri-
some?" asked Lieutenant Gregory
quickly.
Andrew scratched his head. "Just
worrisome." he repeated, like old
folks is sometimes. Miss Maggie.
she talk about family trees all the
time and she want everybody to
look after her"
Not quite grounds for murder.
you will agree, Lieutenant" said
"Any more questions, Coroner?"
the officer asked. "All right, you
can go. Andrew. But stay within
call"
ooh. Mr.. Bill" Andrew begged
from the doorway. please don't
think hard of me. They could have
drug me over red-hot Goals"
That's AL right. andrew" Bill
interrupted 81 know
INTERRUPTION
"VOU can easily see Andrews
point" said Mr.. Dodson when
the door had closed Andrew
can understand violence when II
Is not the premeditated variety.