JUDGE Well, quit looking so moufy. (to CLERK) Call de first case. And I warn each and all dat my honor is in bad humor dis mawnin'. I'd give a canary bird twenty years for peckin' at a elephant. (to CLERK) Bring 'em on. CLERK (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.) JUDGE 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 _made_ you cut such a caper? CLIFF Judge, I didn't go hunt her. Saturday night I was down on Dearborn Street in a nasty ditch *[Handwritten: nasty ditch crossed out in pencil, (buffet flat)]-- JUDGE A nasty ditch? *[Handwritten: A nasty ditch crossed out in pencil, (Buffet flat)] CLIFF Aw, at Emma Hayles' house. JUDGE Oh, yes. Go on. CLIFF Well, (Points thumb at wife) she come down dere and claim I took her money and she claimed I wuz spending it on Emma. CLIFF'S WIFE And dat's just whut he was doing, too, Judge. CLIFF AW, she's tellin' a great big ole Georgia lie, Judge. I wasn't spendin' no money of her'n. WOMAN Yes he was, Judge. There wasn't no money for him to git _but_ 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. JUDGE So, you goes for a sweet-back, do you? CLIFF Naw suh, Judge. I'd be glad to work if I could find a job. JUDGE How long you been outa work? CLIFF Seventeen years-- JUDGE Seventeen years? (to woman) You been takin' keer of dis man for seventeen years? WOMAN Naw, but he been so mean to me, it seems lak seventeen years. JUDGE Now you tell me just where he hurt you. WOMAN Judge, tell you de truth, I'm hurt all over. (Rubs her buttocks) Fact is I'm cut. JUDGE Did you git cut in de fracas? WOMAN (feeling the back of her left thigh below her buttocks) Not in de fracas, Judge--just below it. (She starts to show the JUDGE where she has been cut. He motions to stop her.) JUDGE Stop! (to Officer Simpson) Grab him. Put him in de shade. CLIFF Judge, I'm unguilty! I ain't laid de weight of my hand on her in malice. You got me 'cused of murder and I ain't harmed a child.