Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1886 — Bowers Didn’t Kneel. [ARTICLE]

Bowers Didn’t Kneel.

A policeman encountered a grayhaired colored man hanging around a street corner with a club in his grasp.. The matter looked suspicious, and the officer demanded: “What are you up to now?” “Waitin’, sah.” “Waiting for what?” “Fur the ole man Bowers to come out. Libs in de little brown cottage dar.” “What are you doing with that club ?” “Dis club am to assist my remarks, sah.” “Are you going to hit him ?” “Oh, no. Fur de lbs’ two y’ars de ole man has been slanderin’ me. He says I’ze got three wives. He says I’ze a bilk an’ dead-beat an’ liar. De time has now arrove when he’s got to take it all back in a lump. "Tie’ll come out purty quick, an’ as soon as he turns de co’nqr he’ll find me an’ rush at him wid de upraised weepin’ an’ shorn: “ ‘Ole man, you has slandered and belied me! Get down on yer knees an’ take it all back or I’ll brain de top of yer head 1’ “He’ll claw right down fur de sidewalk an’ beg my forgivenness, sah, an’ he’ll nebber dar slander me no mo’.” The officer warned him to be careful or he would get into trouble, and then walked around the square and , took post where he could see the performance. In a short time old Bowers came out. He was picking his teeth after a hearty meal, and- walked like one well satisfied with himself. When he turned the corner the waiting assassin rushed upon him with uplifted club and the speech he had prepared in advance, but somehow old Bowers didn’t fall down on his knees as predicted and expected. On the contrary, the watching officer saw him shoot out with his left, and the club-lifter took a tumble into the ditch and laid there while the other passed on. He was sitting up as the officer arrived and walked around him and remarked :

“Well, it didn’t work, did it?” The other looked at him a long time, and then dizzily replied: “White man, go ’long! When lis attacked wid dese faintin’ fits an’ falls in de street it makes me tired to be talked to!”— Detroit Free Press.