The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-03

at the wall behind the judge, as though
he saw a vision.
The moment ended. He rose and
stood before the jury box, first ad-
dressing the court. He smiled gravely
at the jurors. 1t had taken whole
days session to select them, but he
knew them and that they were well
chosen. Then the smile faded from
his lips and eyes, replaced by look to
which his neighbors were growing ac-
cuStOmed. He began to speak.
"Gentlemen of the jury, what l have
to do is not pleasant. But there is a
thing called duty"
AS the first words fell Murchelps in
terest leaped. He knew that he was
seeing II man mount to climax In his
life. From the beginning the audience
was caught in the mans spell by some
thing that breathed through his voice
and that had been absent from Whit
treige's perfervid periods. He had a
clear flexible voice and knew how to
use it.
The speech had been skillfully plan
ned At first he confined his argument
to the jury and the case at bar. Logic
ally he marshaled the evidence against
the defendant and analyzed the de-
Tense. Then when he felt that he had
brought intellectual conviction to all
he began to direct his words at the au-
dience not for the telepathic effect on
the jury, but because he believed YER
dict of guilty would be worthless un-
less it aroused a common horror for
the crime.
Never afterward in speech did John
reach quite the same heights as on the
afternoon when the bright blade Of his
young Indignation cut into the con-
sciences Of his hearers. The matter be-
came deeply personal with them. Each
man suddenly felt himself aggrieved,
felt that a shameful attempt had been
made to take advantage Of his good
faith and trust. And then, even while
they were condemning Sheehan, John
seemed to arraign them. He set them
to asking the question, What part have
| [ in this crime? Such offenses are pos
sible only among people asleep.
They were both aggrieved and aggres-
sors.
Senator Murchell sat to all outward
seeming impassive. He listened, as as
tonished as the rest, but with under
standing and-he was himself amazed
to mark it-sadly. For he read in the
ardent face and words a passion for a
hopeless ideal. So much power, he
thought, going to waste! For he
knew, better than did those who pos
sessed it, the power Of moral passion
controlled-but always properly con-
trolled! Was there not some way to
bind this force to his interest?
Bribery at the polls and Justification
of election returns, familiar weapons
of machine politics, so long used that
they had ceased to arouse horror and
revolt In the careless, calloused hearts
of the people, were Johns text. They
explained the continuance Of the ma
chine in power. They shed bright
light, too, on the so called genius of
certain political leaders at which men
marveled as at some miraculous mani
festation of godlike mind-it was not
genius, merely crude, primitive dishon-
esty requiring the direction of no COM
manding intellect, needing nothing but
the will to debauch others honor. at
is the case of government by individu-
al craft and greed against government
by the law that is the expression of
the moral sense of the people," he said
and sat down. The audience stirred
VneasiE. Murchell smiled grimly.
The voice of the judge was cold and
even, devoid Of emotion, as he began
to instruct the jury. Critical listeners
observed that his charge favored the
defendant rather more strongly thar
the evidence seemed to require. They
attributed it to his anxiety not to be
biased by the fact that the district at
torney was his son. Judge Dunmeade
was said to possess an admirably judi
cial temperament. The jury, impor
family led by the fat baillff, filed out OF
} the courtroom. There were no othel
! cases on the days list, and the judge
stalked down from the bench to await
: the verdict in his chambers. JohI
went to his office. Senator Murchel
and Whittredge conducted the droop
ing Sheehan to the witness room away
from the curious eyes of the crowd
Most of the spectators waited to set
the end Of the drama.
A half hour later the buzz of conver
sation suddenly ceased. The Judge was
he bench. Sheehan, Will
and Murchell, took hi
.he table. They were fol
by John. Then the jury file,
back into the box.
Gentlemen of the jury, hearken t
your verdict as the court hath recordet
it. You find the defendant guilty a
indicted. And so say you all?" SAT-
the clerk.
The jurors nodded. Sheehan fel
back in his chair with an audibl
GDoan Two big tears coursed ludi
= crously down his fat cheeks But nc