Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-12-05
An Episode in Court a Touching and
Successful Plea.

The routine procedure of the Criminal
Court ut Baltimore was varied yesterday after
nn"" hy very interesting episode. a man
sgiVin. the name nt George Barton was brought
from jail and placed in tho prisuner's dock on
'rt*i i"r the theit 0t pair OF pants, valued
st S3 50. tr"m Joseph Breuner, Pratt and
Frederick streets. lie had been arrested by
the p"tice while intoxicated, aud the pants,
with BrHnners card on them, being found in
his possession, Breuncr was sent for. He had
not sold thcEn {" Barton, whom he had never
seen het,'rc, aud Barton being unable to 40
count for them properly he was presented tor
the larceny. tIe had M counsel, aud said on
the courts inquiry that he did MT want any
lie asked n" qDesticns of the witnesses o.
heing asked by Judge Brown if he hai any-
thing to say he replied he had Advancing
10 ssposltian IN front of the, clerk : desk he
ieieratii Ia 4
no evidence togive He was dressed -Iiieanty.
w4s nearly six feet tall, with slight stn"p Of
the shoulders. features strong, hair aud beard
dark Ec said:
'.'rh,s is most painful position for n,e,
your homer. 'H stand hct"re court "f Justice
charge" with MI Degrading az rheft-
A. IitrIe any did "nce think ever to
be- 3" >hsmcd For only tonr years ago was
an h"n"rei meIuhrr "f a bar not IniiS-
tinsuished "rnhility in sn"ther State. How
have fallen this drgrnistion Indicating by
a gesture his ruStnn) and these rags (hUId
i"g ant his arm~) will show. They are the
effects of intemp"rsnce l we'll know intox-
-icnti"n is n" excuse in law for crime But
the essence Of crim'"slity is the intent. |
ain totally obliVUus in re.srd TO this sct.
know not when. nor where nor by whom
was arrested Could have intended, then.
to do The act? II courts are instituted uo,
alone to ind ont tie truth aud to punish the
guilty, hut tn amend aud restrain, they mus,
leave narrow rules and advance to broader
principles; the spirit ct the Iaw rnther than
lts letter must he their animaliny principle
1t this c"urt is administered in that spirit I
may again he reunited to enter those fields
at excrt'"n and enterprise where NAV re-
c!othe myself with the honor and respect nf
my tel"w men, t"r vi stcyer may he the end
ot this matter. | have res"lvcd never again 10
degrade my manhood by intoxicatiOn In
this presence repeat and renew tho pledge
ot reform | had made to myself. will de-
vote my msuhmnd and my old age to winning
again the honor, re~pect, love, friends and
position once held / will pursue again the
paths and the steps that lead to good repute
aud happiness
''l'ut conviction means something very diff
te'ent from these hopes C"nviction means
mt imprisonment only 1t means shame and
ruin Of life. Every hope Of rchabrlitstinr
a lie will he vain. The brand will be on
me Every avenue of honest industry will
hc closed >" me N"where can cscs1.e the
stigma. II take the wings Ot the morning
and fly to the utmost parts "f the earth il
will follow If for brief space secure
in "hseuri'y it viii stili eEcr hang like the
sword of Damoc!e< over nv head Ah how
hungry the world is to catch up the evil re
ports that hfacken mems names ask not
far pity, but only that way nay ae-in he
opened for mans restoration To seif respect,
friends and home once more
The mans tones were touching and his
manners eloquent. While he spoke the an>
ditory was -pell. bound. Judge Brown was
so much affected thar for rome moments he
c"uid NOT art'cul,,e, He called the prose
cutting witness snd States attorney, and after
a fcw words with them told Bsrton a ste,
would be entered by consent of all narties
and he could 80 The clerks. baiIifFs and
others VIII" listened ~ the msn's appeal were
ais" some ot them affected to tears. They
made M purse Tor Barton to take him home
He had been in jail fly .ix days. 1t is not
probable that he gave his right name. bui
no one knew what his usme was, snd al
wished him every snccesa in his nrw-forued
resolution : B"nimore SIN. Nop %.
II Domestic scene in New England is thu.
immortali1ed bv the Basin EIoE,e's ,,oat