The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-11
JUDGE MORSE'S REASONS.
By Lephia M. BRYANT.

ana the Jurymen on noted case that had
Just closed were giving the Judge a BAN
quet at one Of the leading hotels. His
refusal to join them in social glass
greatly astonished them and was the
cause of many rude jokes, which the
judge did not seem to mind.
isn't it sudden, judge?" asked Alder
man Bluff, holding his glass up farther to
admire the rich ruby of the wine. 81
remember that tae last time'We were TO-
gether you treated the crowd. How IS
it? Wife object? The gay party watched
the. Judge with i'll concealed merriment.
and the champagne set two dozen tongues
Wagging at his expense.
"Oh, come and tell US what brought
you into the teetotal army" said the
mayor, giving the judge a playful nudge.
on may be able to geta recruit from
this lotof tlpplers." The mayor laughed
and refllled his glass, while others of the
company asked ifthe Judge had any of
Murphy's pledges or blue ribbons in his
pockets.
Yes, tell US, said the clerk. "Nothing
short of the tragic could have made a
prohlb out of YOU"
is a secret buried in the deepest cor
ner of his heart, said the mayor, Initiating
Joe Jefferson's most tragic tones.
Judge Morse paid little attention to
their prankish talk. Hewas weary from
his hard days work and anxious to reach
home. However, he had promised to
stay until II o'clock, though he took little
part in the merrymaking. The glasses
clinked, and toast after toast was given
in his honor. Alderman Stumm, very
anxious to learn the reason of judges
changed politics." said between the
toasts: "You owe it to this assembly to
tell why you refuse wine-the best cham
payne. Why, how can you see it grow
flat before eyes, judge? Tell us your
reason" Alderman Stumm puffed out
the words, and the others laughed till the
rafterS answered with echoes.
We'll" said Judge Morse, after pause,
Il will tell it, but the story does me no
credit, although the circumstances made
a better man of me made me teetotaler
and almost christian"
The city council assumed a gravity al
most laughable after their late hilarity,
and the judge began his story.
Five year ago it was five years ago
this very day strange!" he said ,musing
on the flight of time. "You remember
the Rushworth case being tried in SAWYER
county? twas the longest trial known
in the state, and everybody was getting
tired OF the complications. was on the
bench and on the day in question had
taken something to encourage me
and had also given the jurymen enough
to put them in the best of humor, and
when court opened we were ready for the
cross questioning of all the LAWYERS in
Christendom.
The accused took the stand and was
probed and probed, the prosecution grew
noisy, the defense sarcastic; and had to
use the gavel. The louder welded the
gave the louder those two lawyers laWed.
The jurymen seemed to enjoy the situa
ton and were noding in their seats (the
effect of the Scotch whisky in spite of
the tempest of words all around them.
After little time order returned, several
witnesses gave their testimonies, and the
accused waited for the verdict.
"The jury had reused themselves suffi-
GENTLY to cross the hall to an anteroom,
and after half an hour came back with
theverdiot of guilty, and | sentenced the
young man. After passing the sentence
asked the young criminal if he had any
thing to say. Hewas only 20 years of
age. was sorry for him, but duty is
duty.
The courthouse was packed, and as the
boy arose hush prevailed. His mother,
father and two sisters sat in the gallery
near the door.
"His fine eyes lit up as he caught his
mothers look of love. and then he said
in voice have never been able to for
get. i am guilty of the charge brought
against me. deserve the punishment. do
not wish to place the responsibility OF
my crime onany shoulders but my own.
! am everything the judge says ana
gambler, forger and heavy drinker-
and, as the last witness said, not fit to be
in the presence of honest men and women.
am glad the Judge has granted me the
privilege of speaking. | see some of my
old chums here, and what say may keep
them from stumbling over the rocks that
ruined me. Helooked around until his
eyes rested on the seats at the right of the
entrance. DR. Pckets, took my first
lesson in gambling from you! You said
there was no harm if did not "go in too
heavy!" went too heavy" it seems.
The boy laughed nervously, and the
doctor flushed crimson and loosened his
eravat.
81 took my first lesson in forging from
you Mr.. Wyatt The juror at myrght
hand jumped from his chair as if shot from
a cannon, but said nothing His adept
ness with the pen was we'll known, and
his head dropped with the sense of guilt.
The young criminal was deeply agitated,
but so long as had given him rope, !
was going to let him use all he wanted
to.
HE drew his hand across bis eyes,
which were scanning the .sea of faces.
After careful survey of the seats resery-
ed for ladies and while keeping his eyes
fixed on a pale, beautiful face he said,
with choking emotion, 4 took my first
drink of brandy from lady-a lady who
has young sons-a lady who serves drinks
that sting.
"A woman had risen. Forgive oh,
"a @.lM EHA EavN