Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-20
BAD WHISKY.

Many wears ago. when the State of GeOr-
gia was in its infancy, one Of the Circuit
Judges was Bella Brown. He was a man
of ability and integrity; but, like good
many distinguished persons of that day,
| he loved a social glass, and whenever the
members of the bar would turn in and
help, he sometimes drank to excess and
became gloriously fuddled. On one Oc-
casion, while travelling on circuit, he
reached the village of Dayton, in Body
county, where the court was TO be opened
next day, and took quarters with a rela-
| tive of his wife, that lady accompanying
him. After supper Judge Brown strolled
| over to the only tavern in the place, kept by
| one Sterritt, where he met number OF his
| legal friends. A conyivial meeting was
! passed; drinks frequently went round, and
| somewhere about midnight the Honorable
Bella was In a state of mind quite the re-
verse of that implied by the old saw, ''Sober
as a Judge" When he was leaving for
| home, one of the young lawyers, in spirit
of mischief, slyly passed some spoons from
the tumblers into the Judges pocket.
On dressing himself next morning, the
| eccentric official, putting his hand into his
pocket, was greatly perplexed in discovering
three or four silver spoons.
"My God, Polly" said he to his wife,
"just look herel l believe I've stolen some
of Sterritt's silver spoons p
"Let's see them" said the wife. Yes;
sure enough, here's his veritable initials
Pray, how did you happen to have them in
your pocketp
al think must have been drunk when
I came home-wasn't ]? ?" inquired the
Judge.
YES" replied the devoted Polly. "YOu
know your old habit when you get among
those lawyers"
Certainly; l can understand easily
enough how it came about. That fellow
Sterritt keeps the meanest liquor in the
State but l never supposed that to drink
it would make man steal"
The spoons were duly returned to the
landlord, and the Judge went and opened
the court, thinking no more about the mat
ter.
Several days elapsed, and the business of
the court was drawing to close, when one
morning rough-looking customer was ar
raigned before his Honor for larceny. He
pleaded guilty, but said in mitigation that
he was drunk at the time of committing the
offense.
"NVhat is the nature of the charge against
that mani" inquired Judge Brown.
STEALING money from the till at Sterritt's
tavern" replied the clerk.
"Young man." said the Judge solemniy,
''are you sure you were intoxicated when
you took the money!?
ayes, your honor; was so jolly drunk
that things looked like they were dancing
double shuf1es, and when went out doors
the ground kept coming up and hitting me
in 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"
ssAnd so you got tipsy on his liquor, and
then stole his money!"
ssThats it, exactly; didn't know what |
was doing"
Turning to the Prosecuting Attorney, the
worthy Magistrate said:
hThis is a most extraordinary case, MIR.
Attorney, and one, think, demanding the
clemency of the court. You viii, therefore,
do me the favor of entering notte pros
That liquor of SteTitt's, have reason to
know, is mean enough to make man do
anything dirty. got drunk on it myself
the other night, and stole all his spoons. Ii
Sterritt will sell such abominable stuff he
ought not to have the protection Of this
court. You may release the prisoner, Mr..
Sheriff.