Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-11-10

|
| the monster inIemperance-the mark OF the
beast y as stamped upon his counlenance, which
gave Ii a vivid and unnatural glare. He was
placed in the box, with others who were 10 be
arrsioned upon the indictments preferred against
them All the others had plead not guilty (as
I is usuan and day was sci srlheir trial. The
defendant was lold to stand up, and the clerk
iread 10 him the indiclmenB which charged him
win having, on The OH day OF August passed
10 one Patrick Gnea, tounterieit bill purport-
ing 10 be issued by the I'D Municipality of the
civ of New Orleans, for the sum of three dol
lars; and upon being asked the question, guilty
or not gully! he reslled, guilly-guiliy p
Then. turning TO the court, he remarked that,
as this was The last time he ever expected TO
appear in court, he you'd be glad if he could
| be allowed 10 make afew remarks The Judge
! told him TO Proceedi Alter pause, in which
he was evidently eFdeavorng 10 calm his feel
ings, he proceededas follows:
May it please the Court-ln the remarks |
shall make will hot attempt to extenuale my
crime or ask at ybur hands any sympathy in
passing sentence upon me. know tina, have
violated the laws bf my country, and justly de-
serve punishment nor would | recall The past,
or dwell upon tie bitter present, for my own
sake. A wish to do good for others is my on
ly motive.
SHALL with he indulgence Of the court, give
brief narrative Of my life, with hope that
those young msn around me may take warning
by ii, and avoid the rock upon which | have
split. was born of respectable parents, in the
Stale of New Jersey, and during my childhood,
received everJ attention that fond parents could
beStow upon an only son. 1t was early dis
covered tina, Ihad lonlaess for books and my
father, although in limited circumstances, de-
termined TO gre me liberal education. | was
sent TO higt school in the neighb0rhood and
such was my progress, that at twelve years of
age, my precepter declared me qualified for
college, and | accordingly entered one OF The
oldest universities Of The country. Here dis
iinguised myself that, at sixteen, graduated
with The second honors of the institution, and
returned home with the brilliant prospect of
success that lay before ne. sosn after com
menced the study of ths law, and when only
in my twentieth year, Il obtained license TO
practice.
| Acting upon the advice of friends, deter
mined TO try my fortune in the west. | ac
cordlngly arranged my Affairs for departure ear
/ ly in The fall OF 1888 will not delaIn YOU
with All account of myseparaiion from those
held mosl dear-suffiq ii TO say, that recev-
/ ed The blessings OF NJ parents, and in return,
promised faithfully aaI honestly 10 avoid all bad
company, as well as heir vices. Had kept
my promise | shOull have been saved this
shame, and been lreelrom the load of guilt that
hangs around ne chtinualIy, like fendish
vulture, threatening 10 drag me to justice, for
crimes as vel unreeaed But, 10 return, |
/ Be-. uv .4rv home where all had been sun
shine and mere mypalhway had been srewed
wish flowers 20 lry Gv fortune among strangers,
and u ~ sy slreEn in .bufierng he storms
ana -mpesis OF tn. world With light heart
! ] Looked forward . The future; and taking the
usual roa;e I so01reached Wheeling, where
/ took passage an dboat for Louisville. On the
( boa. game OF IDS was proposed for amuSe
alsat, ;U3 ahlouh | had promised faithfully 10
avoid such thing, still argued 10 myself, there
was no harm in laying game for amusement
/ Accordingly,l joined The party, and We kept
up the amusemhI most of the way down. AZ
ter We left Cinlnnati, it was proposed 10 bet Il
! bit at a game, merely, as 1t was said, 10 make
it interesting My first impression was TO
leave the tabs but was told that it was only
d bit--fhat | ould not lose more than one or
two dollars. This argument prevailed, FOR
/ lacked moratourage TO do what was right. ]
| feared my chpanlons would say | was siingy
of little n5ney Influenced by these feel
ings, playH; and, as the fstes wonld have ii,
! | won Bdore we reached Louisville, we had
twice douttd the stake, and found my luck
enabled nao pay my passage out Of my win
nings 1t vas the first time ever | had bet
money, AMI my success ruined me. Again
played, an was again successful: and in short,
| conlinus TO play for amusement, until had
acquired Sthrst for gambling. settled in d
thriving ylage in Tennessee, and commenced
rhe practe Of my profession under fatlering
auspice7I and my first appearance in q acriminal
court vi highly compllnented, and | soon be-
came 4 bwn throughout the circuit. Things
went d thus for more than year, and be- |
Iieved Myself fairly on the road TO fame and
fortune occasionally played cards; but |
consoid myself with the idea that only played
with entemen for amusement.