The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-05-22

MS wHe parung 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 indescri-
fbable he exclaimed:as ~. a
my God, Pollyy z
!. 'What on earth's the matter, Judge?'
Just look at these spoons.'
Dear me, where'd we get them?'
Get them! Don't you see the initials on
them?. extending them towards her--I stole
them!' bs ssa
Stole them, Judgs!'
sYes, stole them!' 49,.
my dear husband, i can't be possible; from
|whomq'
! From Ster,itt,. over there--hls name is on
them.'
! Good heayensl how could il happenp
sIknow very well, PolIy---I was veiy drunk
when came home, wasn't ~ -
why Judge, you know your old habit when
you get among those lawyers !. s. ii.
'ButI was very drunk?'
/ yes, you was'
WAS remarkably drunk, when got home,
Mrs. Brown?'
'Yes, Judge, druns as fool, and forty times
las stupid.'
4 thought so,' said the Judge, dropping into
a chair in extreme dependency, 4 knew it
would, come to that at last have always
thought that something bad would happen to
me-that should do something very wrong
kill somebody in moment of passion, per-
haps-but | never imagined that | could be
mean enough to be guilty of deliberate lar
l|ceny.'
I But, there may be some mistake, judge
No mistake, Polly. know very well how
| it all came about. That fellow, Sterritt, keeps
the meanest sortNof liquor and always did
liquor mean enough. to make man do any
sort of mean thing. l have always said il
was mean enough TO make man steal, and
now have a practical illustration Of the fact,'
and the poor old man burst into tears. Il
-Don't be child, ,said hiswife, wiping away
the tears. Go like a man over to Sterritt, tell
him il was a httle bit ofga .frolc-pass it off
as d joke--go and open court, and nobody will
ever think of il again.
A little Of the soothing system operated up
on the Judge, as such things usually do. His
extreme modification was fnallyssubdned, and
overto Sterritt's he went, with toerable face.
OF course, hehad but little difficulty in set-
ling with h,nVfer. aside from the fact that the
Judges integrity was unquestionabIe, ne had
an inkling Of the joke that had been Played
The Judge took his seat in court, but it was
observed that he was sad and melancholy, and
that his mind frequently wandered from the
business before him. There was lack Of the
sense and intelligence that usually character
Used his proceedings.
Several days passed away, and the business
of the court Yves drawing towards close,
when one morning a rough looking sort of
customer was arraigned on a charge of steal
ing After the clerk had read the Indictment
to him, he put the usual question:
Guilty or not guilty.!
.Gulty-but drunk answered the prisoner.
whats that ,pleap exclaimed the Judge,
who was half doing on the bench. 4
HE pleads guilty, but says he was drunk
replied the clerk.
SWhats the charge against the man"
HE isindicted for grand larceny
Whats the case!'
May it please yourh honor said the prosecut-
ing attorney, the manis egularly indicted for
stealing large sum from the Columbus Ho-
tel' M
HE is, ha? and he Pleads 3
'Hepleads guilty, but DRINKS
The Judge was now fully aroused.
Guilty, but drunk! That ls.a most extraor-
binary plea. Young man, you are certain you
were drunk!' /
yes sir, So /
'Where did you get your liquor!,f
sAt Sterritt's.' 3gs
Dye get none no where else?'
Not drop sir.' E
'You got drunk on his liquor, and afterwards
stole his money! ~.
yes, SIR k
'Mr Prosecutor,' said the Judge, do me the
favor to enler nolle prosequi in that mans
case. The liquor of Sterritt is mean enough
to make man do anything dirty. l got drunk
on it the other day myself, and stole all Ster-
rett's spoons-release the prisoner, Mr.. Sheriff
! adjourn the COURT ,,.s ,sst,t.