Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-03
The Pcrlls Of Drinking Bad whisky.

Many years ago, when the State of
Georgia was in its infancy, one of the
Circuit Judges was Bella Brown, an ances-
tor Of the recent seceshn Governor of
that name. He was man Of ability and
integrity, but like good many distin-
glished persons of that day, he loved q
social glass and whenever the members of
the bar would turn in and help, he some
times drank to excess and became glorious.
W fOddled. On one occasion, while travel
ing ON circuit, he reached the village of
Dayton, In Dooly county, where the court
was 10 be opened next day, and took quar-.
ters with n relative of his wife, THAT lady
accompanying him. After supper Judge
Brown strollcd over to the only tavern In
the place, kept by one Sterrtt, where he
met a number Of his legal friends A con.
vivial evening was passed; drinks fre-
quently went round, and somewhere about
midnight, the Honorable Bella was in a
state Of mind quite the reverse of that i'm
piled by the old saw, "Sober as Judge
When he wac leaving for home, one of the
young lawyers, ina spirit ofmiscEief, slyly
passed some spoons from the tumblers into
the Judges pocket. ris
On dressing himself next morning, the
eccentric official, putting his hand into his
pOththt nhS EithNil ptlDltAtu III uibtONtT-
ing three or four silver spoons.
"My God Polly" said he to his wife,
"just look here; believe I've stolen some
of Sterritts spoonsl"
Let's see thcm" says the wife. Z" Yes
sure enough-heres his veritable initials
Pray how did you happen to have themin
your pocket ~
al think must have been drunk when
| came home, wasn't II" inquired the
Judge.
"Ycs," replied the devoted Polly, "you
know your old habit when you get among
those lawyers" -
CertainlyiI can understand easy
enough how II all came about That fcl
low, Stcrritt, keeps the meancst liquor in
the State but 1 never supposed that to
drink II would make man steal d"
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 custo.
mcr was arraigned before his Honor for
larceny. He pleaded guilty, but said in
mitigation that he was drunk at the time
of committing the offence.
what is the nature of the charge
against the manl" inquired Judge Brown
"Stcalng money from the till at Stcr.
ritts tavern" replied the clerk.
Young man." said the Judge, solemn.
ly, care you sure you was intoxicated
when you took this money!"
Yes, your Honor, / was so Jolly drunk
that things looked like they were dancing
double shuttle, and when l went out doors
the ground kept coming up and hitting
me on the head"
That will do" replied the Judge
But tell me, did you get all the liquor
you drank at Sterritt's ?"
Every drop OF it, your Honor"
And so you got tipsy on his liquor, and
then stol his money 20
That's it exactly; / didn't know what
was doing"
Turning to the prosecuting attorney, the
worthy magistrate said "This is a most
extraordinary case, Mr. Attorney, and one
! think, demanding the clcmency of the
| Court. You will, therefore, do me the
favor of entering nOlis prose- That
liquor of Sterritts, have reason to know
is mean enough to make man do any.
thing dirty | got drunk on it myself, the
other night, and stole all his spoons II
Sterritt will sell such ahominable stuff, he
ought not to have the protection of this
Court. You may release the prisoner, Mr.
Sheriit-Georyid ConStitutiondltSt.