Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-06-07
"Stole them. Judgel"

"My dear husband, It can't be possible!-
from whoml"
"From Sterritt, over there; his name |
on them" tii
"Good heavens! how could it happenp
III know very well. Polly--I was yer,
! drunk when came home, wasn't II"
"Why, Judge, you know your old habi
when you get among those lawyers!"
"But was very drunk!"
eyes, you wasi"
"Was ! remarkably drunk when l 20
home, Mrs. Brownl"
Eyes, Judge, drunk as fool, and forty
times as stupid"
81 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 bad woult
happen to me--that would do something very
wrong-kill somebody ia moment Of pas.
sion perhaps--but never imagihed that
could be mean enough to be guilty of. dslib.
crate larceny"
"But, there may be some mistake, Judgel
mo mistake. Polly. know very we'll how
1t all came about. That fellow, Sterritt
keeps the meanest sort of liquor, and always
did-lquor mean enough to make man do
any sort of mean thing. | have always
said it was neon enough to make a man
steal, and now | have practical illustration
OF the iact!" and the poor old man burst in.
to tears.
Don't be a child" said his wife wipinp
the tears. "Go like man, over to Sterritt
tell him it vas little bit of frolic. Pass
It off as joke-go and open Court, and no.
body will ever think Of it again"
A little of the soothing system operated
upon the Judge, as such things usually do;
his extreme Modification was finally subdued
and over to Stsrritts he went with toler-
able face. Of course he had but little diff.
Guilty in settling with him-for aside from
the fact that the Judges integrity was un-
questionable he had an linking 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 be.
fore him. There wss q lack OF the sense and
intelligence that usually characterized his
proceedings.
Several days passed away, and the bust.
ness OF the Court was drawing toward n
close' when one morning a rough looking
sort OF customer was arraigned on charge
of stealing. After the Clerk had read the
indictment to him, he put the questions:
"Guilty, or not guilty,
"Guilty-but drunkr answered the pris.
oner
"Whut's that plea1" exclaimed the Judge
who was hflf dozing on the bench. -,-- =
"He pleads guilty, but says he was drunk
replied the Clerk.
"What's the charge against the man!"
"He is indicted for grand larceny"
"What's the easel"
"May it please your honor" said the pros.
ecuting attorney. "the man is regularly in :.
dicted for stealing large sum from the Co.
lumbus Hotel"
"He is, heyl and he pleads"
"fie pleads guilty, but drunk"
The Judge was now fully aroused.
"Guilty, but drunk! That is most extra
ordinary plea. Young man, you are certain
you were drunkl"
"Yes, sir"
"Where did you get your liquor!"
"At Steritt's."
"Did you get none no where else!"
"Not drop, SIR"
"You got drunk on his liquor and after
wards stole his money!"
"Yes. sir"
"Mr. Prosecutor. said the Judge, edo me
the favor to enter nolle prosequi in that
mans case. That liquor of Steritt's is mean
enough to make man do anything dirty.
got drunk on 1t the other day myself, and
stole all Steritt's spoons Release the pris.
oner, MIR. Sheriff. adjourn Court"