, 1875-12-04
A illuminating Confession.

Conscience" the great poet has
said, "makes towards OF us all.
Occasionally, before the bar OF the
courts, we. find q man con!essIng to
his guilt of crime. The number OF
such instances would probably be much
greater were it not for Instructions OF
counsel, who, willing that conscience
should be siitied, have respect to their
fee and reliance upon technicaililes 10
get their client of. In despite OF such
considerations, there are times when a
noble manhood will assert itself; and
lbe latest case brought to our notice
has Just occurred in Arizona, the
the particulars Of which are related by
the Prescott Miner. James u. GILES,
postmaster a, tha; place, was indicted
by the United States grand jury for
emhezzlement. The prisoner pleaded
guilty to the charge, and, asking to
be heard, in the matter, sald
As your Honor will indulge me, l desire
TO submit few thoughts for the consldera-
ton Of the court: 7 stand to-day n ar
attitude in which I ne9er stood before ;
one in which rome of my name-an old
and hcnoret family nume-ever stood. In
entering this place l disgrace the name
and memory of father who Ut may be men
toned rs a cuincideuce) was thirty-eight
wears ago to-day laid in an honorable grave
i then, was an infant in my mothers arms.
I break the heart Of that now aged mother,
and consign her gray hair in shame TO the
grave, wither the hearts Of three loving Sis
teTs and cause their pure checks to blush at
the future mention of my name; bow he
head OF noble and manly only brother IN
deepest shame; | disappOInt the hops and
destroy the confidence of friends that have
gidtd me | forfeit the friendship and esteem
Of rny fellow men destroy that which l
once possessed and which Is better than riches
"A good name: and leave myself standing
before your Honor rainei man. With this
deep disgrace upon my name l can never
again stand face to face with my kindred and
those | love. There l. no punishment known
10 human law that j. equal in severity 20 that
which ! am now suffering from these consId-
erations. | am glad that it Is so. ! am glad
that do keenly feel The deep disgrace Of the
position IN which and /; that my heart Is
not 50 Gallons rs 10 render me inSensIbie OF the
shame that he position brings uPCn me- In
this find Sleam Of hope for the future,
that may be able 10 rise again and in some
measure, at least, repair the wreck of the
past. Although / plead guilty, within the
purview Of the law, do not feel my guilt Is
Of that beinous character that q fixed deter
mina,iou 70 prrpetra'e the offence with which
| am charged would impart to it; for 1t was
not prc-auargcd affair occupying weeks IN
the pariectinS, as some suppose 1t never
was in my heart 10 DO it. II was brought
about in this wise, and | viii be brief: At
the time Of my last remittance | discovered
that | was short of funds but thoagEt there
might De some error in my foUtings, and
when my weekly statements were aUdirrd nil
ould he right. l had not played off the
money ~ some assert. / WAS even then,
from an inordinate nSe Of liquor, unfit :" the
clerical work of the office. At length tiud-
ing myself already in the breakers, / plunged
De, per in, and suddenly found myself ut SEA
without rnGdrr, compass, chart or pilot, and
in en- insane ir of intozicatIun, madness and
despair | abandoned my post.
What a lesson is here taught 10 The
Young, TO avoid the first temptations
and the ruinous courses Of crime. No
comment coaId add to the force Of
the story as MIR. Giles relates il, which
will be found q profit to ponder well.