Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-01-06
INTERESTING rNISrpENT IN cufIRT.


~ Els HS TINT IN JA1tE NJ In CODk1s
Al Eloquent and Successful Plea.
We find in the Baltimore Sun, 2
the following touching incident which
occurred in Judge Browns Court. 1t
appears that, man giving his name as
George Barton, was arrested by the
police, while in a state of intoxication,
and had in possession pair of pants
valued at $3.50, with the name and
mark of George Bremen on card at
tached to them. Not being able to
give a satisfactory account as to how
or when he obtained them, he was
charged with having stolen them, and
prosecuted for the larceny. Bremen
was examined, and stated that he did
net know the prisoner, that the pants
we're obtained at his store, and that no
one in his employment had sold them
to Barton. Here was strong presump-
tive evidence that he had not come by
them honestly. 1.-THE Sun" then
proceeds with the account of the af-
fair as follows:
HE had no counsel, and said, on
the courts inquiry, that he did not
want any. He asked no questions of
the witnesses. On being asked by
Judge Brown if he had anything to
say he replied that he had. Advanc-
ing to a position in front of the clerk S
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 slight stoop
of the shoulders, features strong, hair
and beard dark. He said:
This is a most painful position for
me, your honor, to stand before a court
ofjustice charged with an act so degrad-
ing as theft. AS little as any one, did
[ once, think, ever to be ashamed
For only four years ago | was an hon.
ored member of bar not undisting.
uished for ability in another State
How l have fallen this degradation
Indicating by gesture his position
and these rags (holding out his arms
will show. They are the effects of in
temperance. 1 we'll know intoxicatior
is no excuse in law for crime. Blu
the essence of criminality is the in
tent. i am totally oblivious in regard
to this act. [ know not when, mol
where, nor by whom | was arrested
Could [ have intended, TO do the act
If courts are instituted not alone II
find out the truth and to punish thu
guilty, but to amend and restrain, the!
must leave narrow rules and advance
to broader principles; the spirit of thu
law rather than its letter must be thei1
animating principle. If this court i:
administered in that spirit may agaiI
|, be permitted to enter those fields O
exertion and enterprise where | ma!
reclothe myself with the honor anC
respect of my fellow men, for whateveI
may be the end of this matter, have
resolved never again to degrade m!
manhood by intoxication. In thi
presence l repeat and renew the pledg,
OF reform | had made to myself.
will devote my manhood and my olC
age to winning again the honor, res
pect, love, friends and position | onct
held. | will pursue again the path
and the steps that lead TO good reputt
and happiness.
But conviction means something
very different from these hopes. Con
viction means not Imprisonment only
1t means shame and ruin of life
Every hope of rehabilitating a lif
; will be vain. The hand will be on me
Every avenue of honesty and industr
will be closed to me. Nowhere can
escape the stigma. If | take tn
= wings of the morning and fly to tn
utmost parts of the earth it will fol
t low me. If for a brief space secur
| in obscurity it will still ever hang Xix
the sword of Damocles over my head
: All ! how hungry the world is to catcl
, up the evil reports that blacken men
, names / ask not for pity, but onl
that a way may again be opened for
mans restoration to self-respect
friends and home once more"
] The mans tones were touching an,
: his manners eloquent. While he spok
his auditory were spell bound. Judg
Brown was so much affected that 70
: some moments he could not articulate
: He called the prosecuting witness an,
, States attorney, and after few word
with them told Barton step would b
entered by consent of all parties an
: he could go. The clerks, bailiffs an,
2 others who listened to the mans ap
, peals were also some OF them affecte,
to tears. They made up a purse 70
Barton to take him home. He hat
: been in Jail ffty-six days. It is no
r probable that he gave his right name
but no one knew what his name was
and all wished him every success i
!, his new formed resolution.-BdH. Saa
1 N0U. p.