The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-08
NOT FOR HIMSELF
BY FRANK LAWRENCE.
Copyright.

(Copyright)
All through the trial the prisoner
had sat with his body bent forward
and his head resting between his
gnarled fists-a picture of sullen de-
jecticn.
1t was only at the close Of his law
yer's brilliant summing-up that he
leaned back and gaxed about the
crowded court room. Then the district
attorney faced the jury.
'The evidence against Jud Golden.
gentlemen" he said in quiet tones that
carried to the farthest corner, proves
conclusively that he 10 Q desperate
unit to be ut large.
THE street gang has made him what
he IL, and when we send him back to
prison we are striking at the organ
lied crime Of New York city.
"That means that when we stri1o at
Jud Golden we are not merely infict-
ing just punishment upon . rufaan
who prowls about with brass knuckles.
knife and revolver, engaging in all
forms of crime-now q little black
mailing affair, now beating up help
less man for a few dollars. or COM
hitting murder for a scarf pin"
81 object, your honor" interrupted
counsel for the defense. my client Is
not on trial for robberies or murders.
but for killing a man In self-defense;
and furthermore"
objection overruled," raped the
Judge. Proceed"
II repeat" continued the district at
torney, that we are not striking at
this one man, but at the gang that is
undoing the work Of the home, the
school and the state.
Nov, gentlemen, your duty is clear.
Release Jud Golden, and you not only
expose society to a dangerous man,
but you encourage the gang spirit
which is rotting the vitality Of our
city"
Then, turning to the Judge, he said:
"Inasmuch as the prisoner has spent
the greater part of his infamous life
in some form of jail for every kind
Of crime, ask you to send him back
where he belongs. He Is morally in
capable Of living in a law-abiding COM
munity.
Nobody wants him. He has no
friends, no means of earning an hon
est living, absolutely no reason for re-
naming among decent citizens. The
man is moral leper. and as such
should be confined"
The district attorney then ad-
dressed the court in the rhetorical
style which had 80 endeared him to
the people. As he finished his sum-
ming-up, he seated himself quickly
and with nervous fingers fumbled his
papers and law books.
He was afraid to look up for fear
Of smiling. Those near him whis-
pered their congratulations or passed
up notes from his friends.
At length the weary wait terminated
with the return of the jury, who an
nounced, through their foreman, that
the prisoner had been found guilty.
The Judge raped for order.
Before pass sentence on you, Jud-
son Golden" he called harshly, us
there anything you wish to say in your
behalf?"
All eyes were turned toward the
prisoner, who seemed taller and more
CHASTITY as he leaned over the dock.
you've got me. judge" he said
slowly, blinking his squinty eyes at
the sea Of faces before him. II guess
I've been pretty well introduced. an I
might as well look pleased an let the
ceremonies 60 on.
II amt goner do the Edelman act,
anyhow. What I've done, I've DONE
II I'm sorry, that's my business as
long as I'm ready to stand the gaff.
But there's somethin'-"
The words failed to come, and the
big man stared helplessly about, shift
ing his feet and gripping the railing.
His blood-shot eyes rested for q mo-
ment on a little old woman at his
right who sat with bowed head. Then
he recollected himself.
"That man Is right about the gang.
It's done for me. I'm crooked as a
double-bowed knot an then some. But
amt goner air my private affairs any
more'n I have to. An I amt beggin'
on. It's not for myself I'm talkin'.
you've heard that hadn't oughter
be at large: that no one 'ud miss me II
I was shot instead Of Edelman. That's
q lie. know there's lots 'ud be glad
to pay my funeral expenses, but I've
got one friend right here now-my
mother"
The prisoners voice broke as he
pointed unsteadily to the little old
woman with the faded bonnet, who up
to this moment had passed unnoticed.
People all over the court shifted
about to get look at her; several
cameras clicked. There was q general
whispering. interspersed with cries Of
"Sit down." Keep still!" and Let
him TALK" which died away on the
command of "Order!"
The prisoner turned to the district
attorney.
"You told my story pretty well, brt
you didn't tell 1t all. You didn't tell