Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-12-09

varied recently by very interest
ing episode. A man giving the
name of George Barton was
brought from jail and placed in the
prisoners dock on trial for the
theft of q pair of pants, valued at
SO so, from Joseph Bremen, Pratt
and Frederick SITS. He had been
arrested by the police while intox-
icated, and the pants. with Bren-
Her'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 un-
able to account for them properly,
he was presented for the larceny.
He had no counsel, and said on the
courts inquiry that he did not
want uny. He asked no questions
Of the witnesses. On being asked
by Judge Brown if he had any
thing to say, he replied that he
had. Advancing to pc sition in
front of the clerks desk, he reject
ed the offer to be sworn, saying he
had no evidence to give. He was
dressed meanly, was nearly six
feet tall, with slight stoop of the
shoulders, features strong hair anu
beard dark. He said ''This is a
most painful position for me, your
honor,to stand before court of
justice charged with an act so de-
grading as theft. AS little as any
one did once think ever to be so
shamed. For only for only four
years ago / was an h0nored MEM
Der of the bar not undistinguished
for ability in another State. How
have fallen this degradation lin
dicating 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 crime, But the essence of
criminality is the intent. / am to-
tally oblivious in regard to this
act. l know not when, nor where,
nor by whom ] was arrested
Could / have intended. then, to
do the act ? If courts are instituted
not alone to find out the truth and
to punish the guilty, but to amend
and restrain, they must leave mar
row rules and advance to broader
principles; the spirit of the law
rather than its letter must be their
animating principle. If this court
is administered in that spirit I
may again be permitted to enter
those fields of exertiOn and enter
prise where / may reclothe N.Y.
self with the honor and respect of
my fellow men. for whatever is
the end of this matter, / have re-
solved never again to degrade my
manhood by intoxication. In this
presence l repeat and renew the
pledge of reform / had made to
myself. / will devote my man.
hood and my old age to winning
the esteem, honor, respect, love,
friends and position l once held.
I viii pursue again the paths and
The steps that lead TO good repute
and happiness.
But conviction means SOIL ething
very different from these hopes
conviction means not imprison-
ment only. 1t means shame and
ruin of a life Every hope of feha-
bilitating life will be vain. The
brand will be on me. Every ave-
nue. of honest industry will be
closed to me. Nowhere can l eS-
cape the stigma. If l take the
wingsof the morning and fly to the
uttermost. parts of the earth it will
follow me. If for brief space Sc
cure in obscurity, it will ever hang
like the sword of DamOcles over
my head. All how hungry the
world is to catch up the evil re-
ports that blacken mems names
| ask not for pity, but only that
way may again be opened for
mans restoration to self respect,
friends and home once more"
The mans tones were touching
and his manner eloquent. While
he spoke the auditory was SPELL
bound. Judge Brown was so much
affected thai for some moments he
could not articulate. He called the
prosecuting witness and States
attorney, and after word with
them told Barton stet would be
entered by consent of all parties,
and he could go. The clerks. ba-
lifts and others who listened to
the mans appeal were also some
of them affected to tears. They
made up a purse for Barton to
take him home. He had been in
Jail fiftv-six days 1t is not prob
able that he gave his right name,
but no one knew what his name
was, and all wished him every
success in his new-formed resolu-
ton.
just Five Lines.