The Mount Holly news., 1915-03-23


less man for q few dollars. or com
mitting murder for scarf pin"
II object, your HONOR interrupted
counsel for the defense. my client il
not on trial for robberies or murders
but for killing a man in self-defense;
and furthermore"
objection overruled." raped the
| Judge. Proceed"
Il repeat" continued the district at
| torney. "that we are not striking al
this one man. hut at the gang that II
undoing the work of the home, the
school and the state.
Now, gentlemen, your duty Is clear
Release Jud Golden, and you not only
expose society to q dangerous man
but you encourage the gang spirit
which is rotting the vitality of our
city"
Then, turning to the Judge, he said:
'Tnasmuch 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 q moral leper, and as such
should be confined"
The district attorney then ad
dressed the court in the rhetorical
style which had so 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, "is
there anything you wish to say in your
behalf?"
j 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 al
the sea Of faces before him. Il guess
I've been pretty well introduced, an ]
might as well look pleased an let the
ceremonies go on.
Il amt goner do the Edelman act
anyhow. What I've done, I've done
II I'm sorry, that's my business az
long as I'm ready to stand the gan
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 a mo
ment on 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 6
double-bowed knot an then some. But
I amt goner air my private affairs any
more'n have to. An I amt begin
on It's not for myself I'm talkin'.
You've heard that hadn't oughtel
be at large; that no one 'ud miss me Il
l was shot instead Of Edelman. That's
a 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 ole
woman with the faded bonnet, who VI
| to this moment had passed unnoticed
People all over the court shifted
about to get q look at her; seyera
cameras clicked. There was a genera
| whispering, interspersed with cries o.
"Sit down." Keep still" and lie
him taIkl" which died away on the
command of "Order!"
The prisoner turned to the distric
attorney.
"You told my story pretty well, bu
you didn't tell It all. You didn't tel
'em my mother went out by the da,
| while I played with the gang. Yol
didn't tell 'em used to steal hel
money when she came home bent IL
two from the washtub. Yes, an strucl
her when was only ten years old be
! cause she wouldn't gimme five cent
for cigarettes.
"Why didn't you tell how ! stamped
| on the cakes she smuggled in to m,
at the reform school? Why didn'
you mention my comm home fightin
drunk after bein' away fve years!
| upset the table where she had every
thing spread out for my return. mad,
her gimme all her money. an went OF
with the boys.
"a week later she was turned oui
on the street. an never lifted a fin
ger to help her. Why didn't you fnen
tion that. Mr.. District Attorney!
MANY q night she passed by Egan'I
saloon. where hung out, an slippet
some money into my hand. Instead o
thankin' her, I'd invite the boys in an
leave her standin' at the curb.
Then l was sent up for breakin
into Story's house. Do you think sh
was ashamed Of her drunken. thievir
brute Of a son? No. siri She wen
everywhere begin them to let me &c
''Yes. an paid for one Of the bes
lawyers in the country, though
didn't do no good. Then she worke
like niger to bring me papers ar
tobaccer an things to eat. An l uste
snarl at her for not leavin' me alone.
The prisoner looked down at tn
little limp figure.
That's what got me to thinkin
What did l ever do for her except t
make her life miserable an brin
shame on her? One day she trippe
! as she was goin' out OF my cell, an
caught her in my arms and kissed hel
Then she smiled up at me throug
her tears until
"Aw. you wouldn't understand. Bu
did, an as soon as abe was outsid
4 the bars / got down on my. knees al
prayed-prayed, mind you-that sh
might live until was free so / coul
work for her an show her how fel
about her now.
Every time she came after that sh
looked thinner an older. Once whe
she didn't come at the reg'lar time
thought-the thing had happened. Bt
she came. an was happy.