Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-01
CHAPTER XII
The Trial OF Jacob Aurentsky

THE proceedings in the case of The
l. People VS.. Jacob Aurentsky present.
ed a rather melancholy aspect. Not
even the conspicuous figures who gath
cred in the, room could relieve the scene
ary f bo sraST Willard A. nBncknssam was in ans ns
jeremiah T. Archer, chief among the
witnesses sat within the rail as guests
Of the court. while Rachel Aurentsky
woe on a row of chairs, also inside the
space reserved for, attorneys and officers
Of the court. Sylvy sat beside Victor:
the general air Of gloom. the clearness
of her skin. the fine chiseling of fea-
lures the. expression of faith and trust
with which from time to time she looked
side, represented the one feature Of
the scene from which an onlooker might
have drawn a gleam of inspra ton.
se pufe ss Sensy sy Ses Sf It se
bbit-eyed, tousel-h haired. wildly-whisk-
cred Jacob Aurentsky. His tall, angu-
tangled dejectedly in. his, chair. where
he twisted nervously from time to time,
while upon his face was an expression
that of distrust and stupidity; at others
It was. that of a. man who recognizes
himself as the victim of a chain of
unacceptable circumstances, sort Of
If that innocent creature of the f1ocks
of ancient Judah. the scapegoat. upon
which the high priest. each ,vear laid
hands and sent him off into The desert,
tribes--if that entirely guiltless animal
could have known what the. ceremony
meant and could have looked his protest
expression of his animal eyes must have
been something such as the expression
OF these starting orbs of ,Aurentsky
at the Judge; at the jury and at the
| spectators who had come to see him
But Of course; this could only ,H apply
one who could view Aurentsky obiec-
lively knew that he had committed a
crime against the peace and dignity OF
mighty commonwealth and against
harmed him. Recognition of this fact
was revealed in the apathetic attitude
OF the mans own att9rney hons vctoy vGHly
sat rather stolidly while the jurors were
being examined. He asked no questions
we pass" said the District Attor-
ney time after time.
Pass" echoed Victor, indifferently.
We are saena y9qbr ben be had
SATISFIED :" said Victor. making
marks on his pad Of yellow paper.
The District Attorney made the open;
to prove, and this statement. was brief
Put in your case" directed the Court
Buckingham was called first.
Did the defendant strike you as pro.
ceeding calmly and deliberately to his
cross-examination had arrived.
"On the contrary" said Mr.. Bucking
ham truthfully, 'the man was wildly
"Did he say anything?'
He was mouthing something. but II
was nothing ineligible to me-.
This was the extent of Victor's cross
examination.
Jerry Archer was next called, and as
the assault was committed upon his per-
son, every ear bent forward to hear his
testimony, but his manner, must have
disappointed the sensation -mongers
Though the attack had cost him pair
and all but taken his life, 1t was evident
that he gave his testimony regretfuil,
and with no feeling of enmity for tht
man who had stabbed him.
Victor asked the same two question.
in cross-examination as he had asked
of Buckingham and Jerry was equally
agreed that Aurentsky had been wildl.
excited and that he was mouthing some
thing, some form of words which th'
1young man reluctantly but honestly ad
mitted sounded to him like slogan o
some sort.
Victor Rollnson!" announced thu
District Attorney. 1t only added ont
case when the attorney for the defendan
was called as witness for the prose
cution.
Victor gravely but tersely, gave hi
satisfied, cross-examined himself as t.
what if anything Aurentsky had said
"'For Isadore! For Isadore ?" wa