Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — Petit Larceny. [ARTICLE]

Petit Larceny.

A man, charged with running away with his neighbor’s wife, was arrested and arraigned before a negro justice of the peace, a great black fellow, celebrated among the negroes on account of his extensive learning, having during many years, been a servant in the family of a college professor. “Your Honor,” said the lawyer employed by the defense, “you cannet hold this man. There is no law under which he can be punished.” “ Wall, arter studyin’ de statures I conclude dat I mus’ hoi’ him on de charge o’ petit larceny. De stealin o’ de lady wuz larceny, fur all theft is dat, an’ is petit larceny ’case petit means little, an’ de lady whut wuz stole is er little ’oman, so we’ll jes’ hoi’ de thief ter wait de action o’ de gran’ jury.”— Arkansas I'raveler.