Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-08
THE IRON JUDGE OF MALTA
Knowing Man Was Innocent, Extorted
Confession by "Third Degree"

WINDOW, gazing out upon tne sleeping
town, which was bathed in brilliant
moonlight. Had Judge Cambo not
been sitting by his window that night,
his name would never have been
known outside of Malta, which Is only
about eight miles wides and seventeen
long. But he couldn't sleep we'll that
night, for one reason or another, so
he took his seat by the window, and
eventually became known all over the
world, or wherever lawyers congre-
gate. Thus we see upon what small
peg destiny sometimes hangs.
There is no doubt that Judge Cam
bo was a man of integrity and ability.
Some even told that he had a con-
science. In his youth he was consid-
cred sentimental and went so far, up
on occasion, as to write poetry. But
he took up the study Of the law quite
early; and the law became an infatua-
ton with him. AS the years went on
he became saturated with 1t, so that
took full possession Of his soul and
mind. He judged everything in the
earth and the waters under the earth
by his Maltese law, which was some
what different from that now prevail
ing, as the island then was under the
dominion of the knights of st. John.
In the mind Of Judge Cambo. though
he perhaps wouldn't have confessed
it, justice was a small thing as COM
pared with the law. II justice and
the law could be made to walk COM
fortably along the same road, we'll
and good; otherwise, the law had the
right Of way and justice must scratch
for itself.
So Judge Cambo sat at his window
in the soft Mediterranean night, and
as he looked into the street beneath
him, he saw one man stab another
The wounded man, who had been fly
ing for his life, reeled and fell At
this moment the murderer's cap fell
off, and his face was fully exposed to
the judge. The Judge and the as
sassin stared at each other for a mo-
ment, and then the latter replaced
his cap. threw away the sheath Of
his knife. and ran. The learned jurist
sat at his window gazing calmly at
the dead man. An ordinary citizen
might have raised an alarm, but the
judge did nothing. 1t is possible that
he was raking through his mind for
a law that would fit the case.
The night wore on, and morning
was approaching. and the Judge re-
| mained at his window. Then a bak-
er came into the street, carrying his
loaves for distribution. Presently the
baker beheld the corpse, and stood
looking at it, as though dazed. Then
he saw the sheath Of the knife, pick
ed 1t up and examined 1t, and put 1t
in his pocket. Then panic overlook
him, and he ran, but just at that
moment, policemen came around the
corner and seized him. The unfortu-
| nate baker was led away to prison,
and the judge, calm and serene, lay
down for a few lines Of slumber.
In due season the baker was brought
up for trial in the criminal court, and
the presiding judge in that court was
Cambo. He had come to the conclu-
sion, after ruminating over all the
law he had absorbed in the course Of
his career, that he had no right to
INact from his own private knowledge
| in matter brought before him In his
official capacity. Learned writer's.
discussing the case, have said that he
acted censcientiously, and few have
expressed their belief that he acted
properly. Such is the reverance for
law.
The baker came up for trial a
wretched and terrified man. The po-
lice had a strong case against him.
He was arrested just as he was leav-
ing the corpse, and he had the sheath
Of a dagger or stiletto in his pocket.
But as the case wore on 1t became ap-
parent that the evidence wasn't con-
elusive enough, and there was prob
ability that the accused would be ac-
quilted.
Then this marvellous Judge Cambo
used every endeavor to make the
baker confess the crime. He threat
ened and entreated, but the accused
persisted in declaring his innocence.
So Judge Cambo ordered him to the
torture, and he was stretched upon
a rack. For a time he stuck to his
claim of innocence, but when the
agony became intolerable, he con-
fessed to the crime which he had nev-
er committed. And Judge Cambo
looked on, calm and inscrutable, and
wrote down the racked mans con-
fession as 1t came from his blood
hecked lips. Surely there never was
a more jealous public official than
Judge Cambo.
| The judge was now quite satisfied
The prisoner had been proven guilty
according to the law, and there was
nothing further to do except to sem
tence the man to death, which the
judge did with much feeling, rebuk-
ing him mildly for trying to obstruct
the course Of justice by refusing to
confess. So the unfortunate baker
was taken forth from the Jail upon a
following day and done to death by
the executioner.
He was buried down by the sea,
near where st. Paul was shipwreck-
ed once upon time. and his memory
became dim in the haunts of man.
The years passed on, and Judge Cam
bo often sat by his window and gazed
at the sleeping town, and If ghosts
troubled him he gave no sign. The
whole island admired and reverenced
him as a saint-like man, who respect
ed the law above all things except
religion. The judge was growing old
among his honors and dignities. when
an untoward thing happened.
| In another part of the island a man
was tried and convicted of a capital
| crime, and when he saw that doom