Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-11

and he knows how and when to use

it.
The Thaw case is the kind of one
that brings out all his abilities. Most
of us, probably, had forgotten. ] know
that had forgotten, that he had long
ago made a speciality of medical jur-
prudence. His knowledge of ii brought
him to the front i'm the Carlyle Harris
case when, as a young lawyer, he con-
founded the physicians by astonishing
familiarity with their special subjects.
And so, the other day, when he COM
pletely smashed the pretensions OF
Pittsburg specialist who had been sum-
moned by the defence to testify as an
expert in mental and nervous diseases,
Jerome did what he had done before
drew upon a store of knowledge, upon
his own training. Most of US Thought
he nd crammed for the Thaw trial, but
he had only brushed up the already
useful furniture of his mind.
Jerome has strong, far-carrying
voice, capable of any amount OF modu-
lation. He can rage with it, or he can
mgratiate, he cali caress with it, caJole
or terrify, amuse, confuse, or make 1t
rising with scorn. There is no art OF the
prosecuting attorney of which he is not
a master. And for all these arts he has
a foundation, ne has while, pehelrat-
ing and capricious mind.
Beyond that, he is fearless, some say
reckless These latter 90 rot agree with
him. A man is always wrong whcn
ycu do not agree with him. But Jerome
never seems to care who agrees or dls-
agrees-he steadily goes his way. when
he is abused. Inisrepresented. TIlifled,
he goes his way; he doesn't greatly
care, because. you see, he has the facts
and they will come out in time.
That is why he never lost any sleep
when the Eress and the politicians and
the public were attacking him for fall
ing to prosecute the high muckamuck5
of the corporations. His reasons were
legal. and he understood better than
did tie shriekers from the Eousetops.
This coming week it will be his duty
TO prove Thaw guilty of murder IN th3
first degree, if all the powers OF the
law and ali the resources of the state
can prove it and can send Thaw to the
death chair. 1t will be his duty to dis
credit Evelyn Thaw's testimony and 10
relertlessly extract from their hiding
nlaces all untold secrets Of her life. II
seems pitiless; it will be pitiless; 1T Will
wake many hearts revolt; it will seem
TO half of us comfortable ones unneces-
sori,v cruel: to the other half it will
annear like the vengeance OF the LORD.
The people will rise and strike lhla siri
with the arm Of the district attorney.
In play that's now forgotten, thoush
ito narne was For get-Me-Not," Ste
rhanie de Mohrivart, brilliant anu su-
uerb adventures, turns upon the Wolia'
which speaks in the person OF an ail'-
tocrat:c hero, with this retort:
."rbere would be no place in creation
for such women as l, if it We're not lor
such mon as YOU.
# might be we'll if those words were
remembered in the clubs and cafes TO-
right where mon shrug their shoulders
and look wise, and talk platitudes III
their discussion of this murder case.
Rut the words vii! not be realempeFFf.
Rut the spirit OF them is in DelinaS
mind. There's a foenaE tit Tor Jer"hie'
and Jerome knows it. The district at
tornev has all the advantage IN case
like this. The prestige OF the state -
WITH him, the power Of the people IS pc
hind him forcing him on. Against an
This advantage the counsel for the de-
fence must contend.
And Delmas knows how to do it, HIS
,,rbanity is a revelation to New YORK
criminal courts When he differs IRON!
Jerome. as he does a dozen times day.
he differs as a gentleman. Some such
nhrasa as "the learned district attor-
new believes so and SO, and well ne may
81 hug, Wnlrn L
now with the7 permission of the court
prove beyond a doubt-some SUCH
phrase, say, always precedes con-
tention of his when Jerome has opJect-
ed; and usually Delmas wins.
He is unfailingly courteous. Ii SeeIiS
impossible to make him lose his temper.
II has been tried, but he is never rul-
fed His face is calm, his voice con-
trOlled. his manner always pleasant al
WAYS polite, and with it all there Is
great strength, the strength of a man
absolutely confident in his case
Without appearing to labor for 1t he
gives the impression that he absolutely
knows he will win. There's Wcnderous
Quiet faith about him. He is a man
well along in years; he knows ms own
powers, and he has decades OF success
behind him. He is the sort of q man in
whom the last of lost causes might well
have confidence. His courtesy is never |
overdone, because courtesy never can
be overdone, it is the expressions OF a |
nature.
A boor may be polite on occasions, |
but he can never be courteous. Cour-
tesy is in the blood. Politeness is a |
coat which a man wears or removes |
according to the temperature. When |
you ally courtesy to power you have |
an extraordinary force-you have a |
Delmas. |
Delmas knows the law, of course; |
YOU expect that. And he knows hui
man nature, which is quite as i'm |
portant as the law; and he knows how
to present story to the jury. He is |
a great dramatist. But, up to now,
we have seen nothing dramatic in his !
manner. The dramatic effect is work. |
ing Gus in his mind through other |
minds.
He writes and stage manages the |