The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-10
mo-. 49,.
why An Old Man Sinned.
A TOUCHING SCENE IN A KENTUCKY
COURT ROOM.

A TOUCHING SCENE IN A KENTUCKY
COURT ROOM.
On Friday we had quite a touch
ing scene in our Court Houso. Old
John Garner, an old gray-headed
man, was arraigned for the crime OF
grand larceny = horse-stealing. He
pleaded guilty, and presented himself
to the jury in brief and touching
address. He said: 's
"GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY am
an old man, and my race is nearly
run. This is the first time in my
life I have ever been before jury
1 have never even been witness in
a Magistrates Court. I was born
in 1916, and have been a hard-work-
ing and an honest man all my life un-
til now. Tam a stranger to every
man in this house, except His Honor
who sits on that bench. He has
known me for nine years, and he will
tell you I have been an honest man
and a good citizen. This jury looks
! like set Of honest and intelligent
men, and l wish you to deal with me
the best you can. Tread in the pa.
per that the prison at Frankfort is
an awful place-that it is so crowd.
ed that one can scarcely live there.
From the accounts of that place /
suppose / could not live there long.
You see I am old and feeble, and I
ask you to do the best you can for
me. Gentlemen, if could have got
work could have supported my fam
lily and not been here. But l want
to tell you'll am very poor man
and have to work to live. Well, last
year the times were very hard in
deed, and I could not get work much
of my time. am mechanic, and
went to GAINESVILLE, Fairview and
} many other places, butL could not
get any work. The times were very
hard as you all know, and but few
men had money to pay for labor. !
) travelled around till Ispent all that
l had, but bed and a chair. I was
! tired and out ofheart, and my family
! suffering for food and clothing, /
!. heard then that could get work in
y North Logan, and I sold my kit Of
8 tools to get my family up there. [
e paid $75 for my tools in Louisville
y and had to sell them low. After
l. paying for moving I had SIS left. /
}. got place fofmy family for little
q while, and started again for work. !
y tried hard to find it, but could not.
l went back to my family broken
r down in spirit, thinking l would have
,e to starve or beg. Gentlemen, my
70 little boy, about six years old, go'
eer in my lap and put his little arm.
IN around my neck and asked me if th'
good Lord would let us starve.
ou love my family as well as any man
q and could not think of their star
wing"
The prisoner became oyerwhelme'
with emotion, and, pausing for q fe'
moments, he pleaded for as light
he verdict as the jury could give hin
zee The occasion was exceedingly sol
oe. emn. The prisoner told his stor
4 / without reservation. Age and car
asst had whitencd his locks and furrowe
his brow. He had seen better day
but he was now a broken reed. I'll
at jury, the attorneys, the Judge an
life spectators were touched by I'll
NO. homely recital Of the suppliant pri
ian oner. The jury gave him two yea
vas in the penitentiary, and the Judg
- jury and lawyers then signed a pet
rit, ton to the Governor for his pardo
too Il Elkton Ky. Witness.
'ess ---.s .>~.l'--- e