The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-25
HIS OWN LAWYER.
A Migrants Eloquence Fails to Soften u
Stubborn Jury.
Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle.l

Nlfglnld (NGF.) CnrOHlcle
Yesterday afternoon a young man
| named Forbes was tried for vagrancy in
Justice knox's court He was a young
man about twenty three years of age, and
had been arrested for leading an idle and
dissolutc life, making no effort whatever
to earn an honest living. He demanded
| a Jury trial and conducted his own case in
most remarkable manner When on
the stand he made the following state
ment:
"Gentlcmen of the jury, admit that
am a vagrant. The way | am situated
don't see how can be anything else. I've
tried to get work and I've got it, but
couldn't work. Look at me (here he
arose) and see if you think am physically
able to endure anything. Pm perfect
wreck all through"
AS he stood there before the jury he
was indeed the personitication of a young
man who had bighted his youth and de-
stroyed his manhood by his vicious
habits.
"Don't you smoke opium" asked a
juryman.
"I do smoke opium, and that's what's
killing me; but | haven't touched pipe
for over a week It's something terrible
to break of, Gentlemen. You've no idea
of the strug gle I've had and am having
now. But I'll do it; | will or die"
"How long have you smoked opium"
asked another juror.
"Over year, sir. But why do you ask
me these questions2 Pm not on trial for
opium smoking; I'm charged with va
grancy"
The District Attorney-were you once
sent to State prison for ten years for rob
berys
Prisoner-Yes. Your brother sent me
there, and then they got up petition for
my pardon, and he refused to sign it. But
they did pardon me-pardoned me right
over his mead,
Here the fellow approached the district
attorney and said: "If had been given
the same advantages you had when you
was boy, and you had been treated as
was treated, | might be trying you for va
grancy, and if was | wouldn't bring uE
these old scores. am not on trial fol
having been sent to the State prison year:
, ago. And now, gentlemen" he said
turning to the jury, suppose you do con
vict me of agranc y what then! l serv'
out my time and when Pm turned loos
in the streets every thing is closed agains
me again and am still vagrant. Every
thing | have In the world is herein,
father and mother and the clothes you ar
), trying me in. Sometimes sleep at home
: but don't choose to as general thing
| wander off somewhere else. | feel
. am vagrant here. In the name OF Goo
: gentlemen, where on the footstool OF ere
alton can go not to be vagrant3 Wi
= some of you tell me that"
. He stood few seconds, as If waitin
9 for an answer, and then resumed h
a seat.
h During the trial large crowd had co
:, :, lected listening to the fellows defense, ar
~ he conducted his case better, perhap
~ ~ than if he had retained lawyer. II
~ ~ Jury found verdict of guilty, and he w
y sent to the county Jail for fifty days.
Parties who had known the young m;
for several years state that his parents a
alone responsible for his present conc
ID ton, and should themselves be on tri
Or He was an unusually bright lad, but tn
lie allowed him to fall into evil ways wit
III out the slightest attempt to guide hi
o. and his education, moral and mental, "
ne by them utterly neglected.