The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-31
FcigncG PatllOs.
TIE EL0QUENCE OF AN lNTEMPEEATE ACTO
COIIRT.
Iron the Virginia City CllronicleI

IN COUNT.
from the Virginia City ChronicleI
An old fellow, who gave his name as
Charles II. Slossom, was called up in Judge
Wright's court on the charge OF drunken
ness. He was q remarkably Seedy-loOking
specimen, arrayed in dirty check shirt and
a pair OF loose, baggy trousers, which were
prevented from falling off by leather strap
knotted about his waist. He was shivering
and trembling from the effects Of 4 we'll
sustained debauch, and hardly had the ply
steal strength to stand upright. When the
Judge asked HIM if he had anything to say
he rose up in sort OF disjointed way and
demanded jury trial, which was granted,
and when his turn came he advanced with
a shutting tread, and bending his eyes on
his "peers - began:
"Gentlemen OF the jury, stand here to-
day less defender OF my own personal de-
basement than an example OF human dcpra-
yity, which, like beacon light, should warn
YOU from the ragged rocks OF intempe-
rance. A man in my condition is like Il
rude sign-poSt l once saw IN Tennessee,
which pointed up road over which the
green grass was beginning to wave. On the
sign was the inscription, Smallpox and
the index finger OF hand pointing west
ward. II any Of you, in travelling along q
highway, saw such q sign as that, you would
pause upon the brink OF deadly danger and
turn backward. [Sensation.l In me you
behold such sign, and il by looking upon
me any of you can be turned back from de-
struction, | shall think that God, in His in
finite mercy, has allowed me to ill sphere
OF usefulness which shall enable me to bear
with fortitude the imputation constantly
hurled upon me by my own conscience
that have lived In vain. rsNa
"Gentlemen of the Jury, as you peruse
the pages Of the old poets you will see how
they have deified the Wine-cup. They have
wreathed it with the flowers Of fancy, sur
rounded it with the halo OF song, and peo-
Piled its bloody depths with the creatures Of
their own bright imaginations, until one
might almost believe it to be the well-spring
OF human happiness, when bitter experience
tells us in very different language that it Is
the fountain-head OF misery, the abode Of
the demon that destroys our very lives.
There one Of the jurors wiped away tear
with his coat-sleeye.] There Is some
thing which comes up in the fumes OF
the cup, that fools call inspiration, but
it is a cunning reptile which, crawl
ing I'D from the dregs Of the grape, en-
tiers the window OF the brain and steals
away, like thief in the night, with our rea-
son fast in its embrace. Here the speaker
poured and took drink OF water.] There
is q hand in the wine-cup which, ut any mo-
lnent, may put its felon grip upon your
Threats and strangle you as II strong man
might babe. Here several OF the jury
pulled down their collars.1 Gentlemen OF
the jury, / have not long to stay. Two
mighty miners are delving ON this lode
Time and Death. They are daily at their
posts, working together side by side rs one
eternal shift, clearing away the rubbish OF
waste rock and pushing along the lodge.
Before long I Shall be gathered into the
vast laboratory OF Death, piece OF use
less porphyry, to be cast into the waste
dumps OF hell" Here the old fellow
pulled from his pocket red handkerchief
and began to sob. The effect was i'm
mediate and striking. The old miners aud
the jury, moved by his forcible simile, broke
forth into simultaneous sob, in which the
court, spectators, and prosecuting attorney
participated. The Chronicle reporter was
so moved that he was obliged to go out and
brace up with stiff cocktail. The jury
Were obliged to lind him guilty, but recon-
mended him to the mercy OF the court He
was accordingly fined i've dollars, which the
jury paid ON the spot, and the old man slid
out OF the door with the remark, g l knew
I'd ketch 'em. Blast my button, didn't
work up the briny, though, didn't / !"a A
subsequent investigation led TO the dis
covery that the bum was an eX-actor from
Frisco, who was Just giving the jury
touch Of his profession.