Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-05-15

@Why judge, you know your old
habit when you get among those law
yers.'
/" Was very dr0nks'
I" Yes. you was.
Was remarkably drunk when |
got home, Mrs. Brown?'
"Yes, Judge, drunk as a fool, and
forty times as stupid.
i 81 thought So said the Judge, drop
ping intoa chair.in extreme despon-
dency, i knew il 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 pas
sion, perhsps-but never lima gined
that could be mean enough to be
guilty of deliberate larceny
"But there may be some mistake,
Judge
.. No mistake, Polly, | know very
well how it all came about. That fell
low, Sierritt, keeps the meanest sort Of
liquor and always did--liquor mean
enough to make man do any sort OF
a mean thing. have always said il
was mean enough to make man steal,
and now | have a practical Illustration
of tie fact"-and the poor old man
burst into tears.
Don't be a child said his wife,
wiping away the tears, go like man
over TO Sterritt, tell him it was a little
bit of frolic-pass it off as o joke
go and open court, and no body will
ever think Of it again.
A little Of the soothing system oper-
ated upon the Judge, as such things
usually do. His extreme modification
was finally subdurd, and over to Ster-
ritt's he went, with tolerable face. =
OF course, he had but little difficulty
in settling with him-for aside from
The TACT that the Judges integrity was
unquestionable, hs had an inkling
Of the joke that had been played. The
Judge took his se;d IN court, bat. il
was observed that he was sad and mel
ancholly, and that his mind frequently
wandered from the business before
him. There was o lack Of the sense
and intelligence that usually character
lied his proceedings.
Several days passed away, and the
business Of the court was drawing to
wards close, when one morning a
rough looking sort Of customer was
arraigned Oh a charge Of stealing. AT
ter the clerk had read The indictment TO
him, he put the pal question
Guilty or not guiIty?'
Guilty but drunk answered the
prisoner.
WHATS the plea?' exclaimed the
Judge, who was half doing on the
bench.
{. He pleads guilty, but says he was
was drunk, replied The clerk.
whats the charge against the
man?'
+" He is indicted for grand larceny
"What's the case?'
May il please your honor said
the prosecuting attorney, 'the man is
regularly indicted for stealing large
sum of money from the Columbus Ho-
tel
.'He is, hayl and he pleads
He pleads guilty, but drunk
The Judge was not fully aroused.
Gully, but drunk! That is a
most extraordinary plea. Young
yon are certain you we're drunk2'
Yes SIR
Where did you get your liquor''
At Serrilt's.'
"Dye get none no where elseP
Not drop, sir
You got drunk on his liquor, and
afterwards stole his money!
Yes SIR
"Mr. Prosecutor said the Judge,
do me the favor to enter DnlEe pro-
seoul in that mans case. The liquor
Of Stcrritt is mean enough to make a
man do any thing dirty. ] got drunk
Oh it the other day myself, and stole a.!
Sterritt's spoons --Felease the prison
er, Mr.. Sheriff / adjourn the court"
From California.
Pv the bark Il. Mirg. arrived N