Democratic banner., 1847-05-10
'But | was very drunk?'
sYes YOU was.'

Eyes you was''
sWas | remarkably drunk, when ] got
home, Mrs. Brown!2'
yes, Judge, drunk as a fool, and forty
times as stupid
81 thought so,' said the Judge, dropping
into a chair in extreme dependency, q
knew it would come to that at last. l have
always thought that something bad would
happen 10 mc-that l should do something
very ~wrong-kill somebody ira moment of
passion, perhaps-but l never imagined that
could be mean enough TO be guilty Of de-
Hibernate larceny
'But, there may be some mistake, Judge
mo mistake, Polly. know very well
how it came about. That fellow, Sterritt,
keeps the meanest sort of liquor and al
ways did--liquor mean enough to make a
man do any sort of a mean thing. l have
always said it was mean enough to make a
man steal, and now nave a practical illus
I~tratinn 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 frol-
ic--pass it off as a joke-go and open
court, and nobody will ever think of it a.
gain"
A little of the soothing system operated
upon the Judge, as such things usually do.
His extreme modification was finally sub
Idued, 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 Judges integ-
rity was unqucstionable, he had an inkling
of the joke that had been played. The
Judge took his scat in court, but it was OBJ
served that he was sad and melancholy, and
that his mind frequently wandered from the
business before him. There was a lack Of
the sense and intelligence tina, usually char
scterised his proceedings.
Several days passed away, AM the bust
ness 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 usu-
al question:
Guilty or not guilty?'
sGuilty--but drunk answered the pris-
oncr.
sWlra,'s that plea?' exclaimed the Judge,
who was half doing on the bench.
'He pleads guilty, but sayshe was drunk
replied the clerk.
whats the charge against the man?'
Gle is indicted for grand larceny
whats the case"
MAY it please your honor,' said the
prosecuting attorney, 'the man is regularly
indicted for stealing a large sum from the
Columbus Hotel
sHe is hay? and he Pleads
sHe pleads guilty, but drunk
The Judge was now fully aroused.
sGuilty, but drunk! that is q most extra
ordinary plea. Young man, you are GER
tain you were drunk?'
sYes SIR
sWhere did you get your liquor?'
AT Sterritt's
sD'ye get none no where else?'
sNot a drop SIR
'You got drunk OF his liquor, and after
wards stole his money!
Eyes, sir"
sMr. Prosecutor said the Judge, edo me
the favor to enter a nolle prosequi in that
mans case. The liquor of Sterritt Is mean
enough to make a man do any thing dirty.
I got drunk on it the other day myself, and
stole all Sterritt's spoons-release the pris-
oner, Mr.. Sheriff. / adjourn the court
"Of all professions" says Goldsmith, Il
do not know a more useful or a more homo
rable one than that of a schOolmaster; at
the same time l do not see any more gen.
$50