St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, 1883

Drunk - Incapacitated

The following story is a pretty good one on one of the early courts, including clerk and sheriff, and it is given as told to us by one of the early county judges, who claims that it happened previous to his occupying a seat as one of the justices of the county court. Charles P. Bullock was clerk of the court, and occasionally, while getting too much of the "ardent", could pretty well realize his situation, and had, when "half seas over", a sort of solemn way with him, that at times was extremely amusing. While Joseph Montgomery was the presiding justice, he was afflicted with a great desire to sleep, which in his later years seemed to grow on him. While presiding at court if business would stop, he would go right off to sleep.
At the sitting of the court mentioned, Bullock had about as much as he could carry, and while the court room was full business came to a stop, Judge Montgomery went to sleep, and soon Bullock arose and said in a solemn manner, "I move that this court adjourn, for the reason that the clerk is incapacitated for doing business." The two judges voted his proposition down. He again rose, and steadying himself by the table said, "I move that this court adjourn for the reason that the sheriff and clerk are both incapacitated for doing business." The judges looked solemn, but again voted down his proposition. This seemed to stagger Bullock for a moment, then he again rose, courteously bowed to the judges, and straightening himself up, said, "I move this court adjourn for the reason that the presiding judge is asleep, and that the court, sheriff and clerk are drunk." This was a self-evident fact, and more than the crowd could stand, and they received it with a shout that made the old courthouse ring. The court adjourned.