A COOL DARKEY.
An important case was to be tried before the criminal court of the District of Columbia. An old coloured man was on the witness stand. The district attorney had before him a long list of convicted criminals. After glancing at it, he thus interrogated the witness: " What is your name ? " " John Williams, sah." " Are you the John Williams who wa sent to the Albany penitentiary for larceny? ' "No, sah—not this John." " Are you the John Williams who was convicted of prson, ano sent to tho Baltimore penitentiary." « No, sah." Tiaed of asking fruitless questions, the district attorney suddenly put a leading one. " Have you ever been in any penitentiary ? " "Yes, sah." All eyes were now turned upon the witness. The district attorney smiled complacently, and resumed. " How many times have you been in the penitentiary ? " "Twice, sah." " Where ? " " In Baltimore." " How long were you there the first time ?" "About two hours, sah." (! How long the second time ? " asked tho attorney, rather crest fallen. "An hour, sah. I went there to whitewash a cell for a lawyer who had robbed his client." The attorney sat down amid the laughter of the spectators.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2992, 27 January 1881, Page 3
Word Count
194A COOL DARKEY. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2992, 27 January 1881, Page 3
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