Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-25
The PcTils Of Drinking bad Whisky.

luC LCAth vi DlhuhitS DNu W uAohJs
.sap [hrom The Georgia consituiionalistla lasr a
Many years ago when the state of Geor'
ola was in its infancy, one Of the @rcuit
Judges was Bella Brown, an ancestor of the
recent "secesh" Governor of that name
He was man of ability and integrity, hut
like good many distinguished persons d
that day, he loved social glass; and when
eyerthe members Of the bar would turn
In and help, he sometimes drank to ex-
cess and became gloriously fuddled. =
On one occasion while travelling on cir.
cult, ho reached the village of Dayton, in
Dooly county, where the court was tc
be opened next day, and took quarters
with relative of his wife, that lady accom-
panying him, After supper Judge Brown
strolled over to the only tavern in the
place, kept by one Sterritt, where he met O
number Of his legal friends. A convivial
evening was passed. drinks frequently
went round and somewhere about mid
night, the Honorable Bella was in state oi
mind quite the reverse of that implied by
the old saw, "Sober as Judge" When
he was leaving for home, one of the young
lawyers, in q spirit Of mischief, slyly passed
some spoons from the tumbleTs into the
Judges pOChet'
On dressing himself next morning, the
eccentric official, putting his hand into hls
pocket was greatly perplexed in discover
ing three or four silver spoons
"My Godl Polly" said he to his wife,
'just look here, L believe I've stolen some
of Sterritts spoons T.
"Lct's see them" says the wife. eyes,
sure enough here's his veriTablo initials
Pray how did you happen to have them in
your pocket"
81 think Imust have been drunk when ]
came home, wasn't !? ?" inquired the Judge.
"Yes," i" replied the devoted Polly, 'you
know your old habit when you get among
those lawyers,
"Certainly; can understand easy enough
how it all came about. That fellow, SteT-
ritt, keeps the meanest liquor in the State;
but never supposed that to drink it would
make man steal !"
The spoons were duly returned TO the
landlord, and the Judge went and opened
his court, thinking no more about the mat
ter. Several days elapsed, and the bust
ness OF the court was drawing to close
when one morning rough looking custom
er was arraigned before His Honor for lar
ceny, He pleaded guilty, but said in miti-
CATION that he was drunk at the time of
committing the offence.
"W hat is the nature Of the charge against
the manP" inquired Judge Brown,
''Stealing money from the till at Ster-
ritt's tavern, replied the clerk.
"YOung man, said the Judge, solemnly,
'Nre you sure you was intoxicated when
you took this money!"
eyes, your Honor, 1 was so Jolly drunk
that things looked like they were dancing
double shuflles, and when / went ont doors
the ground kept coming up and hitting me
in tn Q head"
"That will do, replied the Judge "But
tell me, did you get all the liquor you
drank mt Sterfitt's?"
Livery drop of it, your Honor"
Sand so you got tipsy on his liquor, and
then stole his money"
"ThNt's il exactly; / didn't know what l
was doing" l-' '''
Turning to the prosecuting attorney, the
worthy magistrate said "This is a most
extraordinary case. Mr.. Attorney, and one,
think, demanding the clemency of the
Court You will, therefore, do me the
favor Of entering nole PROSE-. That liquor
of Sterritt's, / have reason to know, is
mean enough 10 make man do anything
dirty. Igot drunk on it myself the other
night, and stole all his, spoons. IF Ste1itt
will sell such abominable stuff, he ought
not to have the protection of this court.
You may release the prisoner, Mr.. Sheriff.