Middletown transcript., 1876-12-09
An EPISODE IN COURT.
4 TOUCHING AND SUCCESSFUL PLEA,

: - :
Court of Baltimore was varied yester-
day afternoon by very interesting cpl
sode. A man giving the name Of Geo
Barton was brought from Jail and placed
in the prisoners dock on trial for the
theft of pair of pants, valued at So. so.
from John Brenuer. Pratt and Freder-
ick streets. He had been arrested by
the police while intoxicated. and the
pants, with Brenner's card on them,
being found in bis possession. Bremen
was sent for. He had not sold them to
Barton, whom be had never seen before
and Barton being unable to account for
them properly was presented for the
larceny. He had no counsel, and said
on the courts inquiry be did not want
any. He asked no questions of tho wit
nesses. On being asked by Judge
Brown if he had ANYTHING to say he re-
piled be had. Advancing to position
10 front Of the clerks desk be rejected
the offer to swear him. saying be bad
no evidence to give. He was dressed
msanly. was nearly six feet tall, with a
slight stoop Of the shoulders, features
strong. hair and beard dark. He said:
"This is most painful position for
me. your honor, to stand before count
of justice charged with an act SO degrad
ing as theft. As little as any one did |
once think ever to be SO shamed. For
only four years ago | was an honored
member of bar not undistinguished for
ability in another State. How l have
fallen. this degradation (indicatipg by a
gesture bis position) and these rags
(bolding out his arms) will show. They
are the effects Of intemperance. / we'll
know intoxication is no excuse for crime.
But the essence Of criminality is the in
tent. am totally oblivious in regard
to this act. 1 know net when, nor
where. nor by whom I was arrested.
Could / have intended, then, to do the
act2 If courts are instituted not alone
to find out the truth and to punish the
guilty, but to amend and restrain, they
must leave narrow rules and advance to
broader principles ; the spirit Of the law
rather than its letter must be their ami
mating principle. If this court is ad-
ministered in that spirit / may again be
permitted to enter those fields OF exer-
ton and enterprise where may reclothe
myself with the honor and respect of
my fellow men, for whatever may be the
end Of this matter. | have resolved never
again to degrade my manhood by iDtox-
ication. In this presence | repeat and
renew the pledge Of reform had made
to myself; | will devote my manhood
and my old age to winning again the
honor, respect. love. friends and posi-
lion I once held. ! will pursue again
The paths and the steps that lead to good
repute and happiness.
"But conviction means something |
very different from these hopes. Con-
viction means not Imprisonment only. |
It means shame and ruin of a life
Every hope Of rehabilitating a life will
be in vain. The brand will be on me-
Every avenue of honest industry will be |
closed to me Nowhere. can l escape |
The stigma II take the wings of the
and fly to the uttermost parts
Of the earth, it will follow me If for
i brief space secure 10 obscurity it will |
IT'LL ever hang like the sword of Damo-
lies over my head. Alb how hungry |
he world is to catch up the evil reports
hat blacken mems names ] ask not
for pity, but only that a way may again |
be opened for mans restortion to self
respect, friends and a.home once more"
The mans tones were touching and
1is manner eloquent. While be spoke
he auditory was spell-bound Judge |
Brown was SO much affected that for
some moments be could not articulate.
he called the prosecuting witness and |
States attorney, and after few words
With them told Barton stet would be |
entered BY consent Of all parties and he
could 60 The clerks, bailiffs and others
who listenod to the mans appeal we're
llso some of them affected to tears.
They made up purse for Barton. to
AXE him home. He had been 10 Jail
ifty-six days 1t is not probable that
ne gave his right Dame, but no one
Knew what his name was, and all wished |
him every success in his new formed
resolution -Boltin,ore Sun, Nov. 25th.
JAMES BEARD, the artist, once spent
! summer at country inn, and paid
sis board in portraits at five dollars