The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-01

expression OF horror almost Understandable.
he exclaimed
"My God Pollyw
wv hat on earth's matter, Judge"
Just look At these spoons p
Dear me, where'd you get them I"
"Get them! Don't you see the initials
on them 2,-extending them towards her
III stole them"
"Stole them, Judgei"
"Yes, stole them!"
"My dear husband, it can't lie possible
from whom2"
From Steritt, over ,herc-bis name is
on them"
Good Heaven how did it happen I"
VI know very well, Polly was very
drunk when came home, wasn't r.
"Why, Judge, you know your old hab-
1t when you get among those lawyers"
"But was | very drunk Z"
ayes, you was"
WAS remarkably so when got home,
Mrs. Brown"
"Yes, Judge, drunk as a fool, and forty
times as stupid"
81 thought So" said the Judge, drop
ping into chair in extreme despondency.
II knew it would come to that at last. /
have always thought something would
happen to me-that / would do some
thing very wrong-ki!l somebody in a
moment of passion, perhaps-but l never
imagined that | should be mean enough
to be guilty Of deliberate larceny"
But there may be some mistake,
Judge"
mo mistake, Polly. know very we'll
how it came about. That fellow, Stirritt,
keeps the meanest sort of liquor, and al
ways has-liquor mean enough to make
man steal, and now l have practical il
lustration Of the fact" Andl the old man
burst into tears.
Don't be child" said his wife, wip-
ing away the tears" 60 like man, over
to Sterrtt, tell him it was little bit of a
frolic-pass it off as joke-go open
court, and nobody will think of it again.
"A little of the soothing system operated
upon the Judge, as such things generally
do; his extreme modification was finally
subdued, and over to Sterritt's he went,
with tolerablc face. OF course, he had
but little difficulty in settling with him :;
for aside from the fact that the Judges
integrity was unquestionable, lie had an
inklmg of the joke that had been play
| ed.
Judge Brown proceeded to court, and
took his seat; but spoons and bad liquor
bad liquor and spoons-liquor sroons,-
drunk, larceny and Judge Brown, was
mixed up in his worship's bewildered head,
that he felt awful pale if he did not look
so. In fact, the Judge felt cut down, and
his usual selfpossessed manner of business
his diction and decisions were not What
Judge b. had been noted for.
Several days had passed away, and the
business of the court was drawing toward
close, when one moruing, a rough look
ing sort of.a customer was arraigned on
charge Of stealing. Aftcr the clerk had
read the indictment to him, he put the
usual question
whats that plea" exclaimed the
Judge, who was half dosing upon the
bench.
ale pleads guilty, but says he was
drunk" replied the clerk.
"He is indicted for grand larceny"
"What's the case"
"May it please your honor said the
prosecuting attorney, "the man is regular
ly indicted for stealing larne sum Of
money from the Columbus Hotel!7
"IIe is, eh 7 and he Pleads
"He pleads guilty, but drunk"
The Judge was now fully aroused.
Guilty, but drank This is most
extraordinary plea. Young man, YOU are
certain you were drunk? I"
ayes, sir"
"Whcre did you get your liquori"
"At Sterritt's."
"Did you get none anywhere elsei"
"Nor a dorp, sir"
"You got drunk on his liquor, and az
forwards stole his money
ayes, SER"
"Mr. Prosecutor" said the Judge, "do
me the favor to enter nolle proseque in
that mans case. The liquor Of Sterritt's
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 prisoner, Mr.. Sheriff. ad-
iourn tho Court ~