Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-31
CHAPTER v
In the Magistrates Court

NITN Tlt DtioTe Ill HiHtOTy huu t1e
~ dingy little street, in which North
= Lambeth police court stands, witnessed
such SCENES NJ were presented on that
memorable fourth Of December, when
counsel for the crown opened the case
against Colonel Dan boundary.
Long before the building was opened
the precincts OF the court were besieged
BY people anxious to secure one of the
very few seats which are available for
the public. By o o'clock it became
necessary to summon special force
Of police to clear a way for the NUN.
erous motorcars which came bowling
from every point Of the compass, and
which were nftcrwnrd parked in the
narrow side streets. to the intense
amazement and interest Of the curious
denizens of the unsavory neighbOrho0d
in which the court is located.
Admission wns by ticket. Even the
reporters, those favored servants Of
democracy. had to produce n printed
pass before the scrutinizing policeman
at the door allowed them to enter.
Every available seat had been allotted.
Even the mngistrate's sacristy had been
invaded. and chairs stood three deep
to left and right Of him.
There were some who came out of
sheer morbid curiosity. In order that
they might boast that they were present
when this remarkable case was heard.
There were Others who came. inwardly
Ounking at the revelations which were
promised or hintcd at in the daily press.
for the influence which the boundary
gang exercised was wide and far reach
Ing.
A young man stood upon the con
tnI 4
dent impatience the arrival Of belated
ears. The magistrate had already come
and had disappeared behind the slate
rolored gates which led to the court
yard Stafford saw fashionably dressed
women and worried looking men who
we're figures in the political and social
world, and presently he involuntarily
stepped forward into the roadway, as
though to meet the electric limousine
which came nOiselessly to the main en-
trance.
The solitary occupant of the car
VAS man of sixty--a gray haired
gentleman of medium height. dressed
with scrupulous care. and wearing on
his clean shavrn face n perpetual smile.
AZ though life were an amusement
which never palled.
Stafford King took the extended
hand with little twinkle in his eye.
II was afraid We shouldn't BE- able
to keep your place for YOU. Sir Stan
lcy.' he said.
Sir Stanley BelcOm. first cOmmls-
sioncr of criminal intelligence. accen-
tuatrd his smile.
We'll. Stafford" he drawled. "l'vc
come to see the eliminating triumph
Of your official career"
Stafford King made little grimace.
II hope so." he said dryly.
Il hope so. too," said the barOnet {:
"yct--I'll tell you frankly. Stafford.
have feeling that the ordinary proc
sSses o. the law are imadequate to
trap this organization. The law has
too wide a mesh to deal with the terror
which this man exercises. 49,,
Such mon arc the ouly justification
Of lynch law. the quick, sharp justice
which il administered without subtlety
and without Quibble.
Stafford looked ut the other and made
no attempt to hide his nstOnishnent.
You believe in-the Jack % Juds
ment?" he asked.
Sir Stanley shot swift glance at him.
isn't it,"
$50 Hanson says" replied thu
other. II verify believe that Hanson is
ore afraid OF that mysterious person
nan he is of boundary himself
The attorney general had begun his
or"ning speech when the two men made
their way into the crowded court and
found their seats at the end OF the
,awyer's table.
In the dock sat Colonel Boundary. the
least concerned OF all that assembly.
The colonel was leaning forward. his
nrmS resting on the rails. his chin on
'he back of his hairy hand, his eyeN
Glued upon the ray-haired lawyer who
VAS dispa >sionnteIy opening the ease.
Tho contention of the crown" the
attorney general was saying, ''is that
Colonel boundary is at the head Of Il
h'gc matchmaking organization and that
u the course of the last twenty years.
by such means as l shall suggest. and
as the principal witness for the crown
viii tell you; he has built up his
criminal practice until he now controls
he most complex and the most in
iduit0us organization that has been
known in the long and sordid history
Of crime.
Your worship will doubtless hear.
h" went on, 'of bizarre and fan
tastic figure which fits through the
pages OF this story. u mysterious some
hody who is called The Jack But
shall ask your worship, ns 7 shall ask
the jury. when this case reaches, as |,
must reach ultimately, the central Grim
inal court, to disregard this apparition
which displayed no par, in bringing
boundary to justice.
The contention of the crown j., ~
! say. that Boundary. by means OF
terrorization and blackmail, through tho
medium and assistance of his creatures
has from time TO time secured hOlC
over rich and foolish men and women
nous wealth which is now his and his
prosecution depends very largely upoT
the fnte of Boundary. There are.
believe some of them in court at this
moment, and though they are not mr.
rested, il will be no news to them &c
earn that they are under police obser
vation."
Swell Crew", sitting at the back o
the court. shifted uneasily, and, turn
ing his head, he met the careless gaz'
OF the tall. military looking man wht
had detective" written all over him.
There had been pause in the attOr
ney generals speech while he examined
short -sightcdly the notes before him.
In the presentation of this case
YOUR Worship" he went on, 1.-THE crown
Is in somewhat of n dilemma. w
nave secured one important and, ] think
convincing witness-a man who ha
been closely associated with the prisoner
a Scandinavian named Hanson, who
considering himself badly treated by thi
Eany, has been for long time secretl
getting together evidence Of an in
eliminating character. As to his objec