The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-20
WORKING ON THEIR FEELINGS.
A Drunkard Overcoming the Court and Jury
with his Eioquence.


An old fellow, who gave his name rs
Charles II. Sosson. was called up In Judge
Wriehts court on the charge Of drunkenness.
He WIS a remarkably seody looking specimen
nrrayed in a dirty check shirt and pair of
loose. baggy trousers, which were prevented
his waist. lie was shtvering and trembling from
the effects Of II deDadch. and hardly had the
strength to stand upright. When the Judge
asked him II he had anything to saw he rose up
In sort OF dis1ointed way aud demanded jury
trial, which was granted. and when his turn
came be advanced and began
"Gentlemen OF the Jury, | stand here to-day
less defender OF my own personal deDasenent
than an example Of human dspravity, which
like beacon light. should warn you from the
ragged rocks OF lntemperance. man In my
condition Is like rude sign post once saw In
tennessee, which pointed no road over which
the green grass was beginning to wave. On the
sign was the Inscription, SMALLPOX and the
index finger OF a hand pointing westward. II
any Of you In travelling along a highway saw
such sign as that, YOU would pause upon tho
brink OF deadly danger and turn backw Ard.
lSeDsation.l In me you behold such sign. and
II BY looking upon me any one OF you can he
turned back from destruction, shall think til I
God in HIS infinite mercy has allowed me to ill
sphere OF usefulness which sh II enable me to
bear with fortitude the imputltion constantly
hurled upon mo by my own conscience, that |
"Gentlemen Of the Jury, az you peruse the
pages OF the old poets You viii see now they
have deihed the wine cup. lhey have wieathed
It with the flowers OF fancy, surrounded II with
the IA o OF song. aud poopled ITS bloody depths
with the creatures VI their own bright imagna-
tons. until one might almost believe 1t to he the
we,lsprins Of human happiness. when bitter ex-
perience tells us in very different language that
II T. the fountain head OF misery, the abode OF
the demon that destroys our very ives There
Is something which comes uD III the fumes OF
the cup that fools call inspiration, but IL IL a
cunning reptile which, crawling w from the
Uregs Of the grape. enters the window OF the
brain and steals away, like a thief in the night,
with our reason fast IN ITS embrace. There Is a
hand IN the wine cup which, at any moment.
may put It's fcion grip upon your throts and
strangle YOU as strong man might n babe. Gen
tlemcn Of the Jury, have not long To stay. Two
mighty miners are delylng on this lOde-iim
ana Death. They are daily at their posts, wOrS
lug togeti or side by side as one eternal shift,
clearing away tho rubbish of waste rock aud
pushing along the ledge. Before long | shalt be
gathered into the vast laboratory OF Death. a
piece of useless porpnyfy. to be cast into the
waste dumUs oi hell" Here he pulled from his
pocket n rod handkerchief and began TO SOD
Tue old miners and the jury, moved 10y his TOR
ciule snile, broke forth into "a simultaneous
sob, In which the Court spectators, ana prose
cutting attorney Joined. The jury were obliged
to mud him guilty, but recommended him to the
mercy Of the Court. He was accordingly 1ned
g.. which the Jury paid on the spot. and the old
man slid out OF the door with the remark.
knew III Ketch 'em. Blast my buttons, didn't
work up the briny, though. didn't II" A su0se-
qIeut investigation led to the dis ,Overy that tue
hummer was all actor ir IN Frisco.