Part 39 (2/2)
”By the way, Squire, _just one more question,_ just where you stand; now I understood you to say”--repeating the answers already given; ”now just this question, did you see anything occur while the fight was going on, or after it was over, that would lead you to believe that this defendant had bitten off the ear of the prosecuting witness?”
The Squire, half down the witness stand, answered, ”No, sir, nothing uv the kind,” then, slowly and thoughtfully, ”nothing uv the kind”
A moment's pause ”Well, since you mention it, I do remember that just as Billy rizened up offen him the last time, I seed him spit out a piece of ear, _but whose ear it was,_ I don't pertend to know”
CIRcuood County of Scotland, in the State of Missouri, back in the ante-bellum days there lived one Solo The evils of this life were in his judgely to be attributed to this terrible habit It was his belief that if the Grand Jury would only take hold of the ht spirit, a stop could be put to the ”nefarious habit of _card-playing,_ which was ruining themen in Scotland County” This was the burden of his discourse in and out of season His ardent desire that he himself should be called on the Grand Jury to the accoratified At a certain term of court he was not only summoned upon the Grand Jury, but duly appointed its foreman
Upon the adjournment of court for dinner, immediately thereafter, one Ben Mason, the wit of the bar,--and not himself wholly _unacquainted_ with the pastis, and even queens,-- ardently congratulated the new fore him that now his opportunity had come to put to an end, by the omnipotent power of the Grand Jury, ”to the nefarious habit of card-playing which was ruining themen in Scotland County”
”And now, Squire,” continued Ben, ”I can give you the naentleman who doesn't play hi on, and he can tell you who plays, where they play, how hted at this apparently providential revelation, the Squire had a subpoena forthwith issued for the witness mentioned, one Ranzey Sniffle, a half-witted felloho had never taken or expected to take a part in the game himself, but whose cup of happiness was full to the bri the drinks, and snuffing the candle, he was per with apprehension at the dread summons to appear before the ”Grand Inquest”--if it had been three centuries earlier at Saragossa it could scarcely have appeared --the witness was ushered into the immediate presence of the awful tribunal over which Squire Davis was now presiding After taking the custoe, and where he lived, Mr Sniffle was questioned by the forea, within one year last past, within the said County of Scotland, and solee, to proceed in his oay, and tell all about it; to tell when and where it was, _ere present,_ and what a hian:
”The last time I seed them playin', Squire, was at Levi Myers's sto'; they sot in about sundown last Saturday night, and never loosened their grip until Monday ht”
”Now, Mr Sniffle,” interrupted the Squire with great dignity, ”will you proceed in your oay, to give to the gentlemen of this Grand Jury _the naed not only in violating the statute law of Missouri, but in violating the law of God by desecrating the holy Sabbath?”
”Well, Squire,” continued the witness, slowly counting off on his fingers, ”thar was Levi Myers, Sammy Hocum, Moss Johnson, Josiah Davis,”--”Suspend, Mr Sniffle, _suspend,”_ co to his official associates, he continued, ”I aentlemen of the Grand Jury, thatplayed, but he assures entleman, that he never _takes part,_ and doesn't even know one card from another Now, Mr Witness, do you undertake, under the soleed_ in the game? By the way, Mr Sniffle, do you understand the nature of an oath?”
”No, Squire,” slowly replied the witness, ”I dun know as I do”
”Don't you knoill become of you,_ Ranze, if you swear to a lie?” quickly asked a juryman from a back seat
”Yas, in course, if I swar to a lie, they'll send o to hell afterwards,” replied Mr
Sniffle
The _co, the foreman proceeded:
”Now, Mr Sniffle, do you, under the solemn sanction of an oath, undertake to say that ame?”
”I dun know as I adzackly understand the ame; but I seed Josiah a-dealin' the papes, when his ti it, and uv'ry now and then, _he rech out and drug in the chicerokued in the gaed!”_
JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE
Seldonificant words been uttered than those of John Randolph of Roanoke, when told that a certaine, _I never did him a favor”_
The voice of but one John Randolph of Roanoke has led in the contentions of the Great Hall That was no cause for regret, as for a lifetime he was the dread of political foes and friends alike
A colleague from ”the valley” probably reue, recently elected to fill a vacancy caused by the death of a nalized his entrance into the House by an unprovoked attack upon Mr Randolph The latter, from his seat near by, listened with apparent unconcern to the fierce personal assault To the surprise of all, no immediate reply was made to the speech, and the new e” was for once completely unhorsed
A few days later, however, Randolph, while discussing a bill of local importance, casually remarked: ”This bill, Mr Speaker, lost its ablest advocate in the death of ue, _whose seat is still vacant!”_
HORACE GREELEY
It will be remembered that the will of Stephen Girard of Philadelphia, after a splendid bequest for the establishreat University which bears his name, provided that no rounds of the institution