Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
PITFUL sCENE In CoURT.
A Father 4 sks Judge Duffy for the Com
mitment Of a 43-year- Son.

Beao York Sun, ian 10.
A venerable man, hale and hearty,
| stood before Justice Duffy at the Je1fer-
| son Market Police Court yesterday after
! noon. Although the SHOWS of nearly 70
| winters had whitened his head and NOUS
| taches, he was rs straight as an arrow.
| He had the Roman features, the flashing
| gray eyes, and the ruddy complexion OF
! Maj. George w. Mclean and other vete-
1 rams of the Old Guard. He held silk
! hat in his left hand, and his attire was
/ faultless. A smaller man, made prema-
| turely old by dissipation, stood at his
! side. His clothes were shabby, and he
! twirled his frosted moustache with
/ tremulous fingers. His hollow eyes had
/ a feVerish lustre, and there were deep
! lines in his face. His manner was APP
prehensive, and he m0istened his lips
with his tongue as he pleaded with the
| white-haired gentleman. Judge" said
| the @Roman-faced veteran in cOurtly
manner, 81 wish you would commit my
son to the Island. He is a hopeless drunk
ard. 1t is my only hope for his reforma-
I ton"
''Father, oh, tather!" exclaimed the
man at his side. in accents of grief, mot
this time, not this time! Please give me
one more chance"
There were tears in his eyes. The old
man was as immOvable as a statue. He
terms cold and almost pitiless he urged
the Judge to send his son to the work
house.
Don't listen to him, judge" said the
younger man. HE don't mean it. Oh,
Pm sure he don't mean it. Father doesn't
know what he is saying"
"Be quiet" said the Judge. eve will
hear you in due season. Old age must
have the precedence. Gray hairs must
be respected
In set terms the stern veteran again
urged the punishment of his son. He
had evidently steeled his nerves before
entering court, and he was as firm as a
rock. Not for an instant, however. would
he trust his eyes to look on his son.
Though deaf to his entreaties, the sight of
his boys misery might soften hfs heart.
care you this gentleman's y" asked
Judge Duffy of the younger man.
HE is my father, Judge" was the re-
ply, after the teYerish lips had again been
mOistened.
"How old are you ?" the Judge inquired.
'Forty-three years." was the almost in
audible answer.
''Ferty-three years?o exclaimed the
Judge in tone of surprise. "Is it pos
sible? Dissipation has made you prema-
turely old. You are older in appearance
than your father" Then turning to the
do you want your son cOmmittedY'
TIE old man was stone. He had not
taken his eyes from the Judge. ''For one
year" he replied in an impassive tone.
% father" broke in the son in a thin,
voice. Fer Gods sake, don't
make it year. Give me three months.
pll try ard be satisfied with three-aot
more. Please, Judge" turning to the
berch appealingly, make it three months.
hav 70 "a
gen lem III resembling Ben Franklin, who
stood in the background, "he'llsay good
word for me-"
The father was obdurate. The son
pleaded so strenuously that even the
heart Of the Judge was touched. II
might make il nine months" he said,
with an ebseryAut look at the old man.
"Twele MONTHS the old Roman
urged, despite the sObbing Of the degraded
Father" the son cried, ssnot twelve,
il you ever loved me. Make it six. Oh,
Judge, make it six months. Pll take six
months willingly, but not twelve"
cit is the Judges duty to fX the term
of Imprisonment" the Police Justice
sternly said. "You must both remember
that. / give you five months and if you
behave yourself pll let you off before that
time"
Thank you, Judge" the younger man
sObbed. ''You have treated me better
than l deserved So
He turned toward his father, but the
iron-willed parent had abandoned him,
| and was walking from the court room as
stiff as a ramrod. The commitment was
made out, and the officers took the sou
into the prison.
Five minutes afterward the unforgiving
father stood in the corridor Of the down
town elevated station at Eighth street
weeping as though his heart would break.