Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-01

attempted to strike. Then he retired to
his place at the prisoners side
Evidence that the man had once been
arrested on charge of receiving stolen
| property was next introduced, and that
concluded the case for the people.
The jury, sensing something mys-
| terious in the atmosphere, began to dis
| play a more absorbed interest in the
case. There was a riddle in it some
where, and their eyes wandered from
| the faces of counsel to the face of the
Judge and then back to the prisoner. 1t
would hardly have been strange IL some
of them. seeing this restless but appar
his chair with that rabbit look of
startled. uncomprehending fear in his
eye had not felt twinge of conscience
as if they might be trying a mental in
But Victor Robinson made no sugges-
| ton of the sort and brought the oddness
of the situation to its climax when as
as attorney for the defendant he de-
| clined to offer any testimony in behalf of
| his client
The District Attorney looked his own
| surprise at this but arose promptly to
present his argument; it was brief but
| forcible. 1t arraigned Aurentsky as "a
type Of that alien who infests American
shores"
your honor - interrupted Victor,
the line of counsel's argument impels
case and put the defendant on the stand
long enough to show that he is not an
alien. He has his naturalization papers"
| Has hep inquired the prosecutor,
pausing in full flight. Then l will
stipulate that and amend my argument
to the jury by saying he is a type of
the foreign-born citizen who comes here
to the protection and enjoyment of our
institutions, and seems to embrace them,
but remains an alien at heart in fact
cherishes hatred of everything Amer
lean"
To this Victor merely nodded grimly
and continued to possess his soul in pa
tience even when the prosecutor ami
madverted to the arrest for receiving
stolen property and argued from it that
this man was criminal and a consort
of criminals.
For a moment as the District At
torney made this, charge the prisoners s
dark eyes lighted and he clasped and
unclasped his long nervous fingers,
while his lips appeared to frame a pro-
test that his voice did not utter Victor,
not noting i everything' noted this and that
NO argument" said Victor, making
meaningless marks on his pad of yellow
paper
back to business" whispered Bucking-
ham to the district attorney as the lat
ter sat down.
Wait - he said, and lifted a long
straight finger before the face of Buck
ingham like some kind of warning or
admontion. Mr.. Buckingham was net
thrust of Victor's jaw that insured his
waiting.
The court instructed the jury simply.
| The jury flied cut and in five minutes
filed back The whole proceedings from
the time when the case was called to the
time when the jury stood in its box with
a verdict in the hands of it's foreman
had occupied but one hour and five min
utes.
;; Guilty" read the foreman. but
I with recommendations to mercy
TO mercy gasped Sylvy under her
the face of the tudge-Judge Boynton-
was he judge of mercy as we'll as of
The effect of this verdict was to in
crease rather than to lessen the tension
of suspense and every eye was turned
toward the bench.
The judge hesitated a moment and
cleared his throat, There was a pro-
vision of the old Roman law that no
Judge might pass sentence upon a man
the same day that he was found guilty
That was to give time for the cooling
of passions that may have been reused
by the trial and prevent him from pro-
nouncing a sentence too severe or too
lenient under the influence of emotions
of the moment. But Pennsylvania does
not follow the Roman law.
Prisoner at the bar, stand up :" The
) voice was not unkindly: the eye OF the
judge as he fixed it upon the man was
the eye OF judge who tried to be just
WHo, TeBdTulIlS SOlefllTlly MS Cdln Ine
people, acknowledged also an oath tc
some higher being, and an obligation tc
do more absolute and impartial jus.
tice than the cold operation of statute
law could insure Aurentsky turned a
questioning glance at his attorney tc
make sure he heard Alright and ther
} slowly undoubled his lank figure ant
stood gazing at the Judge. SO frail thai
J it seemed breath would have blowr
: him over.
Have you anything to say before
J sentence is pronounced upon you?"
Yes, yes," exclaimed the prisoner II
7 a voice hoarse with the hyesteria O.
2 passion-"Dot Buckingham--dot mur.
derer-he kill mein little lizzie" Au
; rentskys manner had become wildly ex
] cited, as with one long bony arm h,
7 reached out and seemed almost to tourl
Y the face of Buckingham when he pill
loried him with the quivering of hi!
e long index finger.
This is insanity" exclaimed Buck
T ingham, starting up and glaring at tn
Judge
e The Judge frowned and locked re
e proachfully at Robinson, but his voic
! was still kindly as he said to the prIs
I oner.
: Calm yourself Aurentsky, and tel
me what you mean by making such
s preposterous charge"
s 1t was obvious that Aurentsky trie,
, wandered to the face of Buckingham
they blazed with animal-like hatred an,
s 1t was apparent that he with difficult.