The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-04
He Fined Himself Heavily.

| EVeryO0uV IN OdkIanu kHeW To
lice Judge Laidlaw had been on a
bowling racket. The papers had re-
counted the story of that wild de-
bauch at the White. and people
wondered what the outcome would
he, The spree was fittiEgly conclud-
ed yesterday by the arrest of Judge
LaidIaw and the imposition of fine
of $50. The amusing part of the
affair is that the Judge ordered his
own arrest. fined himself. and also
paid the fine.
There was rather more than the
usua! attendance in the Oakland
Police Court yesterday. and ripple
of excitement ran around the room
when the Judges voice was heard
prOnOuncing the words: "Mr. Bail.
if, you will place Alexander Laid
law under arrest for violating nm
ordinance. Mr.. LaidIaw is released
on his own recognizance," co tinued
Judge LaidIaw. "Mr. CLERK. you will
enter that name upon your docket,
and he pleads guilty"
Judge Laidlaw adjusted his glasses,
took a roll of manuscript from his
pocket, slipped off the little elastic
hand, opened out the roll ard read AS
follows:
Mr.. Clerk, YOU will please enter
upon sthe docket of this court a
charge of violating an ordinance of
Oakland against Alexander LaidIaw.
To this charge l plead guilty. and
before passing sentence l have this
to say-that l feel it my duty TO
make some statement of the facts
concerning this case. The charges
and allegations as printed in the
press of this city are, to n certain eX-
tent, true. A number, however, are
incorrect and untrue, That / was
/ drunk, or, to use the language uf the
ordinance. under the influence of in
toxicaling liquors. is true. That
there was no palliatiOn nor eXtenua
ton then, nor is there now, for this
offense, is also true. That the entire
occurrence IS lamentahly, sincerely
and sadly regretted, l can honestly
state, and do so state. /, who have
sat here day after day. week after
week and month after month, dis.
/ pensing justice with an honesty of
purpose. sense of Justice ard every
other motive of right that can pos
sibly actuate an honest man, cannot
pass by this greatest otfpnSe of my
life. Is it right? Is it just? Is it
honorable? Is ii honest TO myself or
to the people of this city to permit
myself to go UNPUBLISHED for the com
mission of an Offense for which |
punish Others daily? My answer is,
no! Emphatically no!
"For a tramp or a vagrant, lost to
the world, to his home, to his family
to decency and shame, there may
possibly he some excuse in the COM
mission of an oafense of this charac-
ter, but to Gne of my past standing
in this community there is no uxcuse.
But for the sake of one | hold most
! dear, and who inculcated those early
precepts which shall never forget, 1
deem myself in duty bound to show
my maniness and admit, frankly
and sincerely, that / have committed
a wrong, and frankly ask forgiveness
for The same.
II have made this statement freely
and voluntarily, and with a better
consideration of the fact that many
better man than l has put IAN enemy
in his mouth to steal away his brains;'
bu; l sincerely hope that this affair
may serve AS a warning to all such
AS are heSet by that curse of modern
clviliza'ion-drink. Upon repeti-
ton of this offense I shall not ask for
mercy, neither will expect it. In
conclusion, 1 Wish TO eXOnerate and
exculpate all persons from any blame
whatever whose names have been
coupled with mine in this unfortu.
nate affair.
1.-THE sentence of the court is that
the defendant pay a fine of $50, with
the usual alternative"
The Judge closed this remarkable
proceeding by handing over to the
clerk $50 10 save himself from the
fifty days sojourn in the county Jail.
San Francisco alta, Dec. is.
The little oil town of Petrolia. in
Butler County, Pa. sprang up like
mushroom. but its disappearance was