Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-15
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Washington like all cities offers many a
sad lesson to those who would avoid q
drunkard's fall. Neither talent nor posi-
ton serve here to restrain the appetite for
drink as the monster sweeps portions of
all classes and sexes into its capacious nav
Of destruction. "Call Edward Peck"
cried our police court clerk recently. The
great door of the prisoners dock swung
back, and out from swarm Of ragged and
filth-eovered men and women there stepped
a medium sized white man, once quite good
looking but his face bore marks of deep
dissipation, and his limbs moved with that
peculiar jerk which betOkens nervousness
from debauchery. His clothing, of fash
ionsble make, was sOiled and he wore
dogged look Of desperation. Peck glanced
quickly at the Judge as he entered, and
then looked appealingly at the table where
the reporters sat, for be was once iOurn-
alist, and to them he was we'll known and
liked, but now for the second time he ap-
peared before them and the public charged
with being a thief and of rObbing MIR.
George Gross Of coat, vest and pistol,
valued IN all at $13, the robbery being gcom-
mitted it is alleged in this wise: A short
time ago he was on q most outrageous
spree, and was wandering about the streets
on the verge of delirium tremens, when DIR.
GrOss-Who conducts an inebriate asylum
on a small scale on East Capital street,
found and took HIM in. After remaining
there awhile Peck departed without even
thanking his kind benefaotOr, and proceed
ed to get on another drunk with more reck-
lessness than ever. A kindly hand was ex-
tended him again by DR.. Gross, who took
the man in again and did all he could to-
wards reforming the unfortunate inebriate.
1t is alleged that some days ago Peck dis
appeared from the establishment as did the
articles mentioned above. DIR. Gross DOti-
fed the police and Peck was arrested.
His first conviction was q sentence of three !
months, passed about year ago on him for
stealing while drunk a number of public /
documents from committee rooms at the !
Capitol. On that occasion the sentence |
would have been six months but for an ap- |
peal for leniency from members of the To- |
cal press. But now his road to the peni- |
tentiary seems a straight one. Edward |
Peck is not over 80 years of age and is |
man, when sober, of more than ordinary |
talent and ability. For a number Of years |
ne has followed the profession Of jour
aslist, and has served in that capacity upon |
leading newspapers in this and other cities. |
He has performed excellent work as corre-
spOndent for New York, and many other |
Journals north and west, in his time and /
has thrown away many golden OppOrtuni-
ties that would have opened to him avenues
to prosperity and happiness. His love,
passion rather, for drink however, has
brought about his ruin, which, though gen.
orally expected, is q source of deep regret
TO many with whom he is acquainted in
this city. His family connections are of
the best but his habits in the past year or
two have turned his people against him.
Such is sample of what whisky does here.
We know one person, an ex-Judge, who
has got so low down that no one will rec
Ognize him. We once saw one of his form
er legal associates refuse to take his offered
hand, saying 81 don't know any such low
as you" During the war we
knew live business man here with enough
brains and executive ability to enable him
to make large fortune, yet to-day he is
reeling drunkard without dollar and
friends giving him and family their bread
and support. We recently buried one Of
our Judes whose foibles, through drink,
alienated our whole bar from him, though
lll recognized his fine ability as a lawyer
and his uncontaminated integrity of char
lcter. OF course Washington is no excep-
ion for whisky mowS n wide swath in every
human field Of the country.
Many of our people are trying hard to
get up yellow fever scare but so far the
Iates are against their wishes, for not
single case has appeared though our health
,fficers are exceedingly vigilant in their
inspection of all reported cases. 1t is
hoped we may escape and that poor Mem
ohis may soon be freed from her terror.
Washington, August 4, 1879.