Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-12-27

posss - Z Fearful Examp1e, bat Fnlls 10
Sign the Pisags
From the San Francisco Alta, Dec. "a.
Everybody in Oakland knew Police
Judge IAldlaw he'd been on . bowling
racket The papers had recountsd the
story Of that Wild debauch a The White ~
outcome would be. The spree was 6ttIngly
concluded yesterday BY the arrs.t Of JudGe
lAidlaw and the imposition Of nne OF 20.
The amusing part OF the affair is that the
judge ordered his own arrest, nucd him
There was rather more than the usnal At
tendance In the Oakland police court yes
t0fday, and q ripple OF excitement ran
around the room when the judges voice
was heard pronouncing the words: "Mr.
B.ilia' you VII plscs p.. Alss:nd:s ,,Is hnld,sw
NJ. Laidlaw u released on his own rscog-
nj sAnce," continued Judge LAidlaw. " Nj.
Clerk, you will enter that name upon your
docket, and he pleads guilty"
Judge Laidlaw adjusted bis glasses, took
slipped on the little elastic band, opened
out the roll and read - follows.
Mr.. Clerk, you will please enter upon
the docket Of this court . charge Of vi0lai.
ing an crdlance q The city q oakland
plead guilty, and before passing SEN
tonce have this to say--that feel Il my
duty TO make some statement OF The fAcis
concerning this case. The charges and
allegations as printed In the press Of this
city are, to certain extent, true. A num-
ber, however, are Incorrect and untrue.
That I was drunk, or 70 use the language
Of the ordinance, "under tho influence Of
Intoxicating liquors." Ii true. That there
was no palliati0n nor extenuation then,
nor is there now, for this ofFense.
Ii also true. That the entire occur.
renee Is iamentabiy, sincerely and sally
regretted, can honestly state, and do 20
state. /, who have sat here day after day,
week AFTER week and month after month,
dispensing justice with an honesty Of pur-
tive of right that can possibly actuate an
honest man, cannot pass by this greatett
offense of my life. Is'it rightf Is1t just
Il It honorablef Is 1t honest to myself or
to the people Of this city to permit myself
to go unpunished for the commission. Of an
My answer is, no! Emphatically, NOT
For tramp or q vagrant, lost to the
world, to his home, to his family, to
decency and shame, there may possibly be
some excuse In the commission OF an
offense of this character, but to one OF my
past standing In this community there 10
no excuse. But for the sake Of one hold
most dear, and who inculcated those early
precepts which I shall never forget, ldeem
myself In duty bound to show my manli-
ness ana ADMIT, frankly ana elnOereIy,
that have committed wrong, and frankly
ask forgiveness for the samo.
have made this statement freely and
voluntarily, and with better considers
ton of the fisct that many better man
than has put an enemy In his mouth TO
steal away his brains; but sincerely
hope that this affair may serve ~ warn
ing to all such as are beset by that curse Of
modern civilization-drink. Upon . rope
tition Of this offense shall not ask for
mercy. neither will expect II. In con-
clusion, l wish To exonerate and exculpate
all persons from any blame whatever
whose names have beencoupled with mine
in this unfortunate affair.
"The sentence Of the court IL that the
defendant pay fno Of $50, with the usual
alternative."
The judge closed this remarkable pro-
cseding by handing over to the clerk $50 to
save himself from the fifty days sojourn
in the county Jail.