The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-07-07
ACase of Elastic
Il Conscience.
roriginai.l

/ hs
done the trick. Scott had been caugh
IN big commercial panic with to,
great load on his hands and had /,
go under. Indeed. to save himself h,
had placed himself under the ak of th,
law. Ruddock had a political schem,
marked out for himself. and Scott's con
viction was great card for him Will
thousands OF voters who hated sths
piutocrats." Ruddock was to be gov
ernor OF the state. then senator. Scot
was convicted just as the gubernatoria
contest was coming on. But Scott had
succeeded In getting new trial. which
came on just before the election. II
was expected that Ruddock would
make the effort Of his life in this sec.
ond trial. for whichever way the anti.
monopoly vote was cast so went the
election. What was the establishment
or every one when he made So wea
an effort as to be accused Of pandering
TO the plutocratic interest. Scott was
acquitted. and Ruddock was defeated
I'm the election.
About the time that Ruddock left the
law school he met Margaret cushman.
girl OF very strong character. She
had conscience OF cast iron. Moth.
Ing could swerve her from what she
considered the right. she was much
pleased with Ruddock. as he was with
her. but she feared that his sense OF
principle was not as strong In him as
1t should be. He stiove to convince her
that she had mistaken a certain elias
tlcity for something worse, citing the
Puritan as an example Of a too rigid
conscience. ~~. %-.c
They were engaged. and the engage
ment lasted until Ruddock defended a
notorious rogue and by his brilliant
legal tactics acquitted him. Margaret
knew all about this case and could not
see how her lover could make his ac-
ton accord with his conscience. In
vain he attempted 70 show her that
there can be but one duty OF a layye:
toward his client. He must do his
best. This" said Margaret. makes
courtroom mere legal arena. IL IL not
justice that decides questions. Victory.
irrespective Of guilt or Innocence.
perches upon the banner Of the most
brilliant legal knight" II regret" re
piled lsuddock. that this Is too llrSe.
~ the condition Of our courts, but II
doesn't absOlye me from doing my b.st
for my client. and I do not see how 1.
can be different" Margaret called this
devil reasoning. and. not being willing
10 tie herself TO n man who woulI
clear client who was a rogue. she
broke the engagement
Twenty years passed. Ruddock was
In his prime and was elected prosecut.
Ing attorney In a large city. Ills cleo. |
lion went witt one OF those wares Of |
reform peculiar TO our people. II was
said that convictions could not lie pro
cured on account Of political pulls Of |
prisoners. Ruddock was put in by the
best men Of both parties to see that |
were sent to prison or the gal
ows. After his entry upon the duties
1f his Office there was n perceptible
Inference In the amount Of crime per.
'etratcd till at last II reached a mini.
num.
The night before Truesdale scott's
econd trial was TO come up Ruddock
vas sitting In his roOms-he was a
'acheior-forming pl0ns TO crush the
'ankcr. Suddenly the door opened aud
woman entered. Ruddock looked up
L her ia surprise.
THE district attorney. I believer"
he said In a choked voice.
Il am"
Tomorrow you are to try Truesdale
'cO.tf"
"Ycs."
II come to ask your forbearance. Mr..
colt Is In no way a guilty man.
'aught In q maelstrOm as be was
wept along. he grasped methods some
Z which were not within the law
'ron you rests his conviction or nc.
Initial. Is II your duty TO make one OF
our brilliant efforts against himT'
n lawyers duty Is to do the hest
g can for his client. 4 prosecutor
uty II TO send the accused n possible
, state prison"
"Inexorablc as ever"
II inexorabley"
Yes. You and I talked over these
latieEs when We were but half our
resent age. am Margaret cushmau.
ruesdaIc scott's wife"
Margaret
Then you spoke of an elasticity =
Int you said I mistook for something 1
orse."
~ still am subject TO such elasticity.
do not consider II my bouuden duty
convict your husband, though the
asses Of the community think that II
. ] was elected by them 20 carry out
certain programme. To fail 10 do
y best TO convict your husband I
ould he 20 bring down upon me the 4
lnihcnius Of these constituents. New.
thelcss that elasticity you have
oxen Of tells me that the better part =,
r me viii be TO make a weak fight :
nj your husband may 80 free"
She stood like a statue. lost In q !
cam Of the past. Now that elastic. u
J she had considered another name
E evii stood between her husband
ID q prison. lie advanced toward
e. took her hand and pressed his a