The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-03-24
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.
- .THE ROAD TO RUIN.

''The defendant in this case, (Au-
guotus " Jones), was, probably,
twenty-eight years Of age, but wore
the appearance of at least thirty-fve.
He had evidently once been a fine
looking man; in stature he was some
thing over six feet, and his strongly
marked features and prominent fore
head gave evidence OF more than or
diuary intellect. But you could clear
Iy discover that he had become prey
to the monster, Intemperance-the
mark-of the beast was stamped upon
his eountenance, which gave it a vivid
and unnatural glare, He was placed
in the box with others who were to lie
arraigned upon the indictments pre-
ferred against them. All the others
had plead not guilty (as is usuaD, and
a day was set for their trial. The de
fendant was told to stand up. ard the
clerk read to him the Indictment,
which charged him with having, on
the 10th day of August, passed to one
Patrick O'Neil a counterfeit bill, pur~
porting to be issued by the Second
municipality of the City of New Or
leans, fer the sum of three dollars;
and upon being asked the question,
Guilty or not guilty? he replied,
''Guilty-guilty!' Then, turning to
the court, he remarked that, as this
was the last time he ever expected to
appear in court, be would be glad if
he could be allowed to make few re-
marks. The Judge told him to pro
ceed. After a pause, in which he was
e7idently eudeavoring to calm his
feelings, he proceeded as follows:
May it please the Court-In the Re
marks l shall make, / win not attempt
to extenuate my crime, or ask at your
hands any sympathy in passing SEN
tence upon me. 1 know that l have
violated the laws Of my country, and
justly deserve punishment; nor would
I recall the past, or dwell upon the
bitter present, for my own sake. A
wish to do good to others, is nay only
mOtil e.
shall, with the indulgence Of the
court, give a brief narrative of nay
life, with hope that those young
men around me may take warning by
it, and avoid the rock upon which /
have split. l was born Of respectable
parents, IN the State of New Jersey,
and during my childhood received
every attention that fond parents
could bestow upon an only son. 1t
was early discovered that l had a
fonduess for books, and my father,
although in limited circumstances, de
termined to give me a liberal educa-
ton. was sent to a high school in
the neighborhood, and such was my
progress, thatsat twelve years of age
my preceptor declared me qualified for
college, and accordingly entered one
of the Oldest universities of the coun-
try. Here I 80 distinguished myself,
that, at sixteen, 1 graduated with the
second honors of the institution, and
returned home, flushed with the bril-
liant prospect of success that lay be
I fore me, 1 soon after commenced the
study of law, and when only in my
twentieth year, I obtained license tt
/ practice.
Acting upon the advice Of friends,
determined to try my fortune in thu
west. I accordingly arranged my af
fairs for departure early in the fall o
1888. 1 will not detain you with al
account of my separation from those
held most dear-suffice to say, that
received the blessings Of my parents
and in return, promised faithful.
and honestly to avoid all bad company
as well as their vices. Had 1 KEEP