Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-02-05
Guilty, Btst Drunk |.

J
used to "tell" of the stolen spoons ant
the Georgia Judge. Col. Bradbury, We
believe, once dressed up the joke and SCI
it a going, and partially in that gnise We
give it place in the annals Of the com
median:
Many years ago, while the State O
Georgia was yet in its fancy, an eccen
tric creature named Brown, was one o
the Circuit Judges. He was man o
considerable ability, of inAexible intcg
rity, and much beloved aud respected BY
alI tie legal profession, but he had one
fault. His social qualities would lead
him, despite his Judgment, into frequent
exccsses. In travelling the Circuit II was
his almost invariahle habit the night be-
fore opening the Court to get comiorta.
bly, corned," by means of appliances
common upon such occasions. If he
couldn't succeed while operating upon
his own hook, the gentlemen of the law
would generally turn and help him.
Z" 1t was in the spring Of the year, tax
ing his wife-a model of woman in her
way--in the old-lasIlioned, but strong
carry.all," he iourneyed some forty
miles. and reached the village where the
court" was to be opened next day. 1t
was along in the evening Of Sunday that
he arrived at the place, and took up his
quarters with relation of his "bettcr-
half, by whom the presence of the Off.
cial dignitary was considered singular
honor. After supper Judge Brown
strollrd over TO the only tavern in the
town. where he found many old friends,
called to the place, like hi;n$clt, OH I'M;
portant professional business, and who
were proper glad to meet him.
Gentlemen, sail the Judge, 'tis quite
a long time since we enjoyed a glass
togethcr-l"t us take a horn all around
Of course, Sterrit addressing the land
lord, you have better liquor than you had
the last time we were kcrc- the stuff
you had then was rot fit to give a dog"
Stcrri:t, who lad charge of the house,
50 taeY Went to work. is unnecessary
to enlarge upon It drinking spree in
country tavcrn-it will quite answer our
purpose to state that somewhere in the
region of midnight the Judge wended his
very dcvinus way towards his temporary
home. About the time he Was leaving,
however, somc young barristers, fond uf
a practical joke, and not much afraid Of
the bench, transferred all the silver spoous
Of Sterritt to the Judges pocket.
cit was eight o'clock on Monday
morning that the Judge rose. Having
iudulged in the process Of ablu;ion and
and partakcn of a cheerful
and refreshing breakfast, he went to his
room to prepare himself for the duties
of the day.
"Wcll, Polly, said he to his wife, !
feel much better than expected to feel
after that froIic of last night.
"Ah, Judge, said she, reProachfully,
you are getting too old-you ought to
leave of that business now.
"Ah, Polly, what's the use OF talking ?
1t was at this precise instant Of time
that the Judge, having put on his over
coat, was proceeding, according to his
usual custom, to give his wife parting
kiss, that he happened, in thrustiug his
hand into his pocket, to lay hold of Ster-
rit's spoons. He pulled them out. With
an expression Of horror almost indescri,
bable, he exclaimed
"My God Polly!
"What on earth's tile matter, Judge?
"Just look at these spoons.
"Dcar me, where'd you get them?
"Get them. Don't you see the ini-
tials on them !-extcnding them towards
her-I stole them!
"Stolo them, Judge.
Yes, stole them!
6 My dear husband, it can't be posi-
ble-from whom2
"From Sterritt, over there-his name
is on them.
"Good heavens! how could ithappen9
ri know very well, Polly-I was
very drunk when came home, wasn't [!
"Why, Judge, you know your old
habit when you getamong those lawyers.
"ButI was very drunk
Yes, you was"
"Was | remarkably SO when / got
home, Mrs. Brown"
Yes, Judge, drunk as a fool, and
forty times as stupid"
"I thought so, said the Judge, dropping
into chair in extreme despondency-l
knew it would come to that at last.
have always thought that something
would happen to me-that | should do
something very wrong-kill somebody
in a moment of passion, perhaps-but
never imagined that should be mean
enough to be guilty of deliberate larceny,
"But there must be some mistake,
Judge!
"No mistake, Polly. l knew 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 mean
thing. have always said it was meau
enough to make man steal, and now
L,yo , nr,ctic,J illustration of tho f,ct