Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CASE IN P'INT, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CASE IN P'INT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: We don't go much on lawin'
Last Line: "you can take the witness now!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Judges; Law & Lawyers


WE don't go much on lawin'
Here in around the mines? --
Well, now, you're jest hurrahin'
Like the wind amongst the pines!
Of course we allus aim to
Give "the prisoner" a chance --
Though sometimes a jury's game to
Ring a verdict in advance!

What wuz his name -- this feller
'At stold the Jedge's mare
Last spring? -- wuz tryin' to sell her
Down here at Rip and Tear,
When "Faro Bill" dropped on him,
And bagged him, sound and good
And biznesslike, dog-gone him,
As the constable a-could!

Well, anyway, his trial
Wuz a case in p'int: -- He pled
"Not guilty" -- a denial
'At his attorney said
Could be substantiated
On the grounds, 'at when the mare
Wuz "stold," as claimed and stated,
The defendant wuzn't square, --

But he'd be'n a testifyin',
Round the raw edge of a spree
At Stutsman's bar, a-tryin'
To hold one drink in three,
To "Jim-jams"; and he reckoned
'At his client's moral tone
Could not be classed as second
To the Jedge's -- er his own.

"That savin'-clause is timely,"
Says the Jedge, a-turnin' back
To color as sublimely
As I've seed him turn a jack. --
"But," says he to the defendant,
"Ef you didn't 'steal' the mare
I'll ask et your attendant
'Pharos William,' didn't swear

"You wuzn't 'full' when captured?"
Then, a-drawin' of his gun,
The Jedge went on, enraptured
With the trail 'at he'd begun, --
"I'll tax your re-collection
To enquire ef you know
That hoss left my protection
On'y jes' five hours ago? --

"In consequence, it follers,
No man as drunk as you --
And I'll bet a hundred dollars
To the opposition's two! --
Could sober to the beauty
Of the standerd you present
This writin' -- hence my duty
Plainly is -- to circumvent --"

And afore the jury knowed it,
Bang! his gun went! -- "And I'll ask,"
He went on, as he th'owed it
Up to finish out his task,
"Ef it's mortal?" -- then, betrayin'
Some emotion, with a bow,
He closed by simply sayin' --
"You can take the witness now!"





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