The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-12-07
A Touching and Successful Plea.

The routine proceedings of the Grim
inal Court of Baltimore was varied yes
terday afternoon by a very interesting
episode. A nan giving the name of
George Barton was brought from Jail
and placed in the prisoners dock on
trial for the theft of a pair of boots, val
ued at three dollars and a half, from Jc-
seph Bremen, Pratt and Frederick
Streets. He had been arrested by the
police while intoxicated, and the pants,
with Brenner's card on them, being
found in his possession, Bremen was sent
for. He had not sold them to Barton,
whom he had never seen before, and
Barton being unable to account for them
properly he was presented for the lar
ceny. He had no counsel and said On
the courts inquiry hat he did not want
any. He asked no questions of the wit
nesses. On being asked by Judge Brown
if he had anything to say he replied he
had. Advancing to a position in front
of the clerks desk he rejected the offer
to swear him, saying he had no evidence
to give. He was dressed meanly, was
nearly six feet tall, with a slight stoop
of the shoulders, features strong, hair
and beard dark. He said:
This is a most degrading position for me,
your Honor, to stand before a court of JUS
tice charged with an act so degrading as
theft. As little as any one did l once think
ever to be SO shamed, for only four years
ago / was an honored member of a bar not
un~distinguished for ability in another State.
How l have fallen this degradation Gndi-
eating by a gesture his position) and these
rags (holding out his arms will show. They
are the effects of -intemperance. i well
know intoXication is no excuse in law for
me. But the essence of criminality is the
intent. l am totally eblivious in regard to
this act. l know not when, nor where, MOI
by whom / was arrested. Could l have in.
tended, then, to do this act? If courts are
instituted not alone to find out the truth and
to punish the guilty, but to amend and re
strain, they must leave narrow rules and ad
vance to broader principles; the spirit Of
the law rather than its letter must be theil
animating principle. If this court is admin
istered in that spirit L may again be per
mitted to enter those fields of exertion anG
enterprise where l may reclothe myself will
the honor and respect of my fellow men
for, whatever may be the end of this matter
| have resolved never again to degrade m,
manhood by intoxication. In this presenc,
l repeat and renew the pledge of reform
had made to myself. l will devote my man
hood and my old age to winning again tn,
honor, respect, love, friends, and position
once held. l will pursue again the path
and the steps that lead to good repute an,
happiness. But conviction means something
very different from these hopes. Conviction
means not imprisonment only. 1t mean
shame and ruin of a life. Every hope of re
facilitating a life will be vain. The bran,
will ho nm ma Euaru ouonua - Lo,o,@ :,
dustry will be closed to me. Nowhere cal
l escape the stigma. If 1 take the wings o
the morning and fly to the uttermost part
of the earth it will follow me. II for abrie
space secure in obscurity it will still eve
hang like the sword of Damocles over m
head. All, how hungry the world is t
catch up the evil reports that blacken men
namesl l ask not for pity, but only that
way may again be opened for a man
restoration to self-respect, friends, and
home nee more.
? The mans tones were touching an
his manner eloquent. While he spok
the auditory was spell-bound. Judg
Brown was SO much affected that 70
some moments he could not articulatt
He called the prosecuting witness an
States attorney, and after a few word
with them told Barton a stet would b
: entered by all parties and he could q
The clerks, bailifs and others who hear
! the mans appeal were some of them a
: fected to tears. They made up a purs
; for him to take him home. He ha
been in Jail ffty-six days. 1t is ne
probable that he gave his right nam
and all wished him every success in h
9 new-formed resolution.