Page:Zora Neale Hurston - Lawing and Jawing.pdf/2

2. (Reading )

Cliff Mullins, charged with assault upon his wife with a weapon and disturbing the peace.

(As CLIFF is led to the bar by the officer, the JUDGE glares ferociously at the prisoner. His wife, all bandages, limps up to the bar at the same time.)

So youse one of dese hard-boiled wife-beaters, huh? Just a mean old woman-Jessie! If I don't lay a hearing on you, God's a gopher! Now what you cut such a caper?

Judge, I didn't go to hunt her. Saturday night I was down on Dearborn Street in a -

Aw, at Emma Hayles' house.

Oh, yes. Go on.

Well,

(Points thumb at wife)

she come down dere and claim I took her money and she claimed I wuz spending it on Emma.

And dat's just whut he was doing, too, Judge.

AW, she's tellin' a great big Georgia ole lie, Judge. I wasn't spendin' no money of her'n.

Yes he was, Judge. There wasn't no money for him to git mine. He ain't hit a lick of work since God been to Macon. Know whut he 'lowed when I worry him 'bout workin'? Says he wouldn't take a job wid de Careless Love Lumber Company, puttin' out whut make you do me lak you do, do, do.

So, you goes for a sweet-back, do you?

Naw suh, Judge. I'd be glad to work if I could find a job.

How long you been outa work?

Seventeen years -