The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-18 00:00:00

JUNE 18, 1847.

PRICE SD.

GUILTY—BUT DRUNK."
Many years ago, while the state of Georgia was still
in its infancy, an eccentric creature, named Brown, was
one of its circuit judges. He was a man of considerable
ability, of inflexible integrity, and much beloved and
respected by all the legal profession, but he had one
common fault. His social qualities would lead him, de-
spite his judgment, into frequent excesses. In travel-
ling the circuit it vas his invariable habit, the night
betore opening the court, to get " comfortably corned,"
by means of appliances common upon such occasions.
It he couldn't succeed while operating upon his own
hook, the members of the bar would generally turn
in and help him. It was in the spring of the year ;
taking his w le—a model of a woman in her way—in
the old-fashioned but strong "carry all," that he jour-
neyed some forty miles, and reached a village where
court,,a as to be opened the next day. It was late in
the evening of Sunday that he arrived at the place, and
took up quarters with a relation of his " better half," by
whom the presence of an official dignitary was consi-
dered a singular honour. After he found man • old
friends, call( d to the place, like himself, on important)
professional business, and who were properly glad to
meet him. " Gentlemen," said the Judge, " 'tis quite a
long time since we have enjoyed a glass together—let us
take a drink all round. Of course, Sterritt (addressing
the landlord), you have better liquor thau you had the
last time we were here ; the stuff you had then was not
fit to give to a dog." Sterritt, who had charge of the
house, pretended that everything was right, and so
they went to work. It is unnecessary to enlarge upcn
a drinking bout in a country tavern; it will quite answer
our purpose to state that somewhere in the region of
midnight, the Judge wended his very devious way towards
his temporary home. About the time he was leaving,
however, some young barristers, fond of "practical jokes,"
and not much afraid of the bench, transferred all, the
silver spoons of Sterritt to the Judge's coat pocket.
It was eight o'clock of Monday morning that the Judge
rose. Having indulged in the process of ablution and
abstertion, and partaken of a cheerful and refreshing
breakfast, he went to his room to prepare himself for
the duties of the day. "Well, Polly," said he to his
wife, "I feel much better than I expected to feel after
that frolic last night." " Ah, Judge," said she, reproach-
fully, " you are getting too old—you ought to leave off
that business?' " Ah, Polly, what's the use of talking?"
It was at this precise instant of time that the Judge, hav-
ing put on his overcoat, was proceeding, according to
his usual custom, to give his wife a parting kiss,
that he happened, in thrusting his hand into his pocket,
to lay hold of Sterritt's spoons. He jerked them out.
With an expression of horror almost indescribable he
exclaimed, "My God ! Polly !" " What on earth's the
matter, Judge ?" " Just look at these spoons ?" " Dear
me, where d'ye get them ?" " Get them ? Don't you
see the initials on them," extending them towards her,
" I stole them." " Stole them, Judge ?" " Yes, stole
them." "My dear husband it can't be possible ! from
whom ?" " From Sterritt, over there, his name is on
them." " Good heavens ! how could it happen ?" " I
know very well, Polly ; I was very drunk when I came
home, wasn't I." " Why, Judge, you know your old
habit when you get among those lawyers." " But was
I very drunk ?" " Yes, you were." " Was I remark-
ably drunk when I got home, Mrs. Brown ?" " Yes,
Judge, drunk as a fool, and forty times as stupid."
" I thought so," said the Judge, dropping into the
chair in extreme despondency. " I knew it would come
to that at last. I have always thought that something
bad would happen to me—that I should do something
very wrong—kill some one in a moment of passion, per-
haps, but I never imagined that I could be mean enough
to be guilty of deliberate larceny." " But there may be
some mistake, Judge." "No mistake, Plly. I know
very well how it came about. That fellow, Sterritt,
keeps the meanest sort of liquor, and always did—liquor
mean enough to make a man do any sort of a mean
thing. I have always said it was mean enough to make
a man steal, and now I have a practical illustration of
the fact," and the poor old man burst into tears. " Don't
be a child," said his wife, wiping away the tears, go
like a man over to Sterritt, tell him it was a little bit of
a frolic—pass it off as a joke—go and open court, and
nobody will ever think of it again." A little of the
soothing system operated upon the Judge, as such things
usually do; his extreme mortification was finally sub-
dued, and over to Sterritt's he went with a tolerable face.
Of course he had but little difficulty in settling with him
—for aside from the fact that the Judge's integrity was
unquestionable, he had an inkling of the joke that had
been played. The judge took his seat in court, but it
was observed that he vi as sad and melancholy, and that
his mind frequently wandered from the business before
him. There was a lack of the sense and intelligence
that usually characterised his proceedings. Several
days passed away, and the business of the court was
drawing towards a close, when one morning a rough-
looking sort of a customer was arraigned on a charge of
stealing. After the clerk had read the indictment to
him, he put the question, " Guilty or nut guilty?"
" Guilty, but drunk," answered the prisoner. "What's
that plea?" exclaimed the Judge, who was half dozing
on the bench. "He pleaded guilty, but says he was
drunk," replied the clerk. " What's the charge against
the man?" "He is indicted for grand larceny." "What's
the case?" " May it please your honour," said the pro-
secuting attorney, " the man is regularly indicted for
stealing a large sum from the Columbus Hotel." " How
is this, and he pleads -" "He pleads guilty, but
drunk." The Judge was not fully aroused. " Guilty,
but drunk! that is a most extraordinary plea. Young
man, you are certain you were drunk?" " Yes, sir."
" Where did you get your liquor?" "At Sterritt's."
" D'ye get none anywhere else?" " Not a drop, sir."
" You got drunk on his liquor, and afterwards stole his
money?" " Yes, sir." " Mr. Prosecutor," said the
Judge, " do me the favour to enter a nolle prosequi in
that man's case. That liquor of Sterritt's is mean
enough to make a man do anything dirty. I got drunk
on it the other day myself, and stole all Sterritt's spoons!
Release the prisoner, Mr. Sheriff. I adjourn the court."

SIR GEORGE POLLOCK.
The following letter and resolutions, relative to one
of our distinguished warriors, have been transmitted to
Sir Peter Laurie:—

" Calcutta, March 8, 1847
" Sir,—Under the instructions of the Committee ap-
pointed to carry out the intentions of the inhabitants of
Calcutta, I have the honour to forward to you a copy of
their address unanimously voted to Sir George Pollock,
at a public meeting, held at the Town-hall, on the 7th of
December, accompanied by a copy of the fourth resolu-
tion, also passed at that meeting.
" I am further directed to forward to you a copy of
the resolutions of a special meeting of the Committee,
held on the 18th inst., by which you will observe that
you are invited, with other gentlemen, to form a com-
mittee in England, to carry into effect the fourth reso-
lution, and prize specified, which you will perceive is
to be awarded to meritorious cadets at Addiscombe, in
honour of Sir George Pollock, and is thus intended to
mark at home, not only the high sense entertained by
this community of the Gallant General's great and suc-
cessful military services, and private worth, but likewise
to stimulate young Indian soldiers to follow his great
example.
"The Cammittee direct me to add, that they are in-
duced to hope the Hon. Court of Directors will be
pleased to grant some pecuniary assistance in support of
this prize, and they therefore earnestly solicit your per-
sonal interest in obtaining this aid. Tbey further request
me to beg that you will co-operate with the Hon. the
Court of Directors, and the gentlemen named, in carry-
ing out (in the spirit of the resolutions herewith sent),
the other important objects which the subscribers to the
Pollock medal and prize have in view.—l have the honour
to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
" A. ROGERS, lion. Secretary.

" Sir Peter Laurie."
Copy of resolutions passed at a meeting of the Corn,
mittee of the Pollock Prize Fund, held at the Town
Hall, on the 18th February, 1847 :
" 1. That the following gentlemen be invited to form
themselves into a committee in England to carry into
effect the fourth resolution passed at the public meeting
held in honour of Sir George Pollock, at the Town
Hall, and other business connected with the same, with
power to add to their numbers :—General M`Leod, Col.
Young, E. M. Gordon, Esq., Brigadier Frith, Colonel
Irving, Henry Moore, Esq., and Sir Peter Laurie.
" 2. That the subscribers to the Pollock medal and
prize be requested to meet at the Town-hall, at four
o'clock, to-morrow, the 19th inst., and proceed to wait
upon Sir George Pollock previous to his departure,
and request him to co-operate with the committee
appointed in England to carry into effect the
i fourth re-
solution passed at the public meeting of the inhabitants
of Calcutta.
"The SECRETARY stated that he had waited upon Sir
George Pollock that morning, and suggested the course
proposed in the above resolution was likely to be adopted
by the committee, and that Sir George requested him,
if such a compliment was proposed, to offer his grateful
acknowledgments for the honour intended him, and beg
the committee to adopt some other less public means. of
conveying their sentiments and wishes towards Min.
He said that neither his health nor the state of his
spirits would enable him to meet the subscribers
as
he could desire, nor as his feelings would dictate, on this
occasion.
"On this explanation being given, an amendment,
No. 3, was proposed and carried.
" 3. That as the state of Sir George Pollock's health
will not permit him to receive the subscribers to the Pol-
lock:medal and prize, Colonel Forbes, Captain Rogersl
and the Honorary Secretary be requested to wait upon
him with a copy of those resolutions, and request his
co-operation with the committee in England.
"4. That the Honourable the Court of Directors be
respectfully solicited to become trustees of the Pollock
Prize Fund, and to add to its importance by affording
pecuniary aid, and by presenting the prize annuully at
Aacuscombe.
"5. That the balance in hand, and amounts as
realised, be invested in the new Five per Cent. Loan,
and held accumulating at interest until the pleasure of
the Court is known, and the arrangements of the London
committee are completed.
" 6. That a copy of these resolutions be given to Sir
George Pollock by a deputation of the committee.
(Slgned) "W. N. FORBES, Chairman.
" Town-hall, Feb. 18, 1847."
resent at
Sir George Pollock will, we understand, be
the next Court of Common Council, to receive the friee-
. p
don of the city, voted to hic3 some tizie ago amdet
etivaticim,