Evening journal., 1911-03-10

WENIN centuries have passed
Il into the dim sagas of things that
were since the greatest trial the
world has ever seen, was decided. With
the surrounding circumstances It was
the greatest drama In the worlds his
tory. even its greatest tragedy, yet it
has remained a deep mystery through
the aeons whether or not the trial and
condemnation of Jesus Christ was
conducted according to the laws Of evil
dence which prevailed at that period.
It has been a much discussed question
as TO who was really responsible for
the crucihxion. Hebrews contend that
the Romans alone had the power To-
order such penalties, that the Roman
soldiers carried out the sentence of the
Roman judge, and the Roman law
was supreme. Others contend that the
Jews we're altogether responsible for
the conviction and crucifxion, since
Pontius PLATE, the Roman Judge, de
clared Jesus had committed no crime
Until the Hon. Walter N. Chandler
Of the New York Bar analysed the
trial, condemnation aud execution from
a purely legal viewpoint. the several
opinions advanced never convinced any
one who hsld an opposite view. The
legal aspect Of the trial is told in two
volumes. one the Roman Trial. and the
other. the trial before the Jewish San
hsdrin. The work is msrvellously com
plete IN every detail Not a situation
has escaped the legal mind Of the noted
lawyer. and its seriousness has Inn
pressed jurists, clergyrosn and tho pro
letariat alike.
The author undertakes to show that
Christ did not receive fair trial, se-
coriing to the Hebrew law prevailing
at that time. and that His condem-
nation was not only unjust but illegal.
he cites the most authoritative He
brew works at great length. giving
chapter and page. each showing a won
derful amount Of careful and conscien-
tious research. The books are publish
Cd. handsomely bound. by the Empire
Publishing Company, 60 Wall Street,
New York.
There were two distinct trials Of
Jesus, a Hebrew and Roman, the for
mer being an ecclesiastical trial. and
the latter civil one. The only de-
tails Of the trial that have come down
to US are contained in the Gospels.
There are references to the event in
contemporary writer's such as Jo-
sephus. but they are 10 slight that II
Is useless to refer 70 them in making
an analysis. The Hebrew trial took
place before the great Ssnhedrin, con-
siSting Of seventy-ons members. The
Romnn trial was held before POntius
Plate. Roman Governor Of Judea. and
also before Herod, Tetrarch Of Galillee.
The trials all made one, were links in
y chain. and took place within a space
Of time variously estimated at from
ten 10 twenty hOurs.
Mr. Chandler sets forth his case ss
brief IN the form prescribed by the
New York Court Of Appeals II is
divided into twelve points;
POINT The arrest of Jesus was
illegal.
The record discloses three distinct
elements of inegality in the arrest of
Jesus;
1. It took place at night, in viola
ton Of Hebrew law. ?. II was ef-
fected through the agency Of traitor
and informer, In violation Of a provi-
sion in the Mosaic code and Of rab-
binic rule based thereon. 3. II was
not the result Of legal mandate from
court whose intentions we're to con-
duct a legal trial for the purpose of
reaching a righteous judgment
II was the 14th Nisan. OF IN our cal
endar April 6. A. D. 30, that the ar
rest occurred. Jesus and the twelve
apostles gathered probably in the home
Of St. Mark for the Last Supper. Ju-
das Iscariot was there, mercenary,
low-browed and craven-hearted.
At the approach Of midnight, Jesus
left the house and went to the Garden
of Gethsemane, there to retire and
pray in agony.
II was evidently near midnight when
He left the Garden and was met by
Judas. the informer. and the officers
Of the chief priests, carrying lanterns
and torches and weapons" Thus the
arrest was made In the darkness.
II was well-estabIished rule Of
Hebrew law that proceedings In capi'