Evening star., 1932-04-17


blurred into one great circle. The (
court room swan in a gray mist (
pierced by sharp yellow bars of sun Il,
light falling through the long windows. sI-A
For eight days that room had been NJ
q horror of prejudiced faces, gaping
mouths and wide eyes-a human scale
designed to balance his life. Now for
the first time Charlie Hof saw how
beautiful was sunlight through its
windows, how marvelously green the ET-Es
leaves beyond and how infinite the -
blue sweep of the sky ~ 8
The judge talking, and he
listened vaguely
Gentlemen of the jury, your ~
verdict on the evidence as presented a
could scarcely have been otherwise
=. but this court, in releasing You,
Charles Hof, regrets that action sucn ~
as yours must go unpunished by tine T 4
law.
But you have yet to face higher
law than mans, and perhaps that ~
higher law will exact toll greater
than this court could have done had
the verdict of these II been ~
Guilty. Charles Hoff, your case is W<
dismissed" 49,
CEET scraped on the floor the ~
crowd rose. The judge, his black ~
robe gathered about him swept up the ~
aisle IH
Charlie Hof stood dumbly as the III
jurors passed before him He was sur W
prised to see Steward, his lawyer, and IL
the district attorney laughing and
chatting together they packed their
brief at the long oak table.
Mr. Steward, II want to thank
you, sir, for the way you defended
me-"
'Id do as much for any one whose
case took" said Steward.
"All the same, want to thank you from the
bottom of my heart. I"
Good luck, Hoff."
Steward turned back to his brief case ap-
parently not seeing the extended hand. and
Charlie Hoff walked up the aisle and left the
building, his cheeks flaming as he wondered at
this unexpected snub.
He paused on the court house steps and
locked at the brick walls of the Jail across the
street. For two months those brick walls had
been home; the constantly changing inmates
had suggested various Jobs" to him If he
beat the rap"
In vain he protested that he was not a crimi-
nal that he was garage mechanic, that un-
fortunate circumstances had placed him in
cell. You will be-" they told him. They
won't let you go straight after this"
He set his lips in firm, hard line. How
could they keep him from going straight? He
was straight always had been, always would
be. He threw back his shoulders and moved
DrlSkiy onto the walk. Some one fell into step
beside him with Hello, Hoff"
Charlie looked up quickly. ooh. Hello,
Burke" @-e 'i'
suppose you come along with me?" said
Burke. THE chief wants to see you"
Charlie felt chill travel down his spine.
Listen" said Charlie. What does the chief
want me for? I'm free man"
Just a friendly chat" said Burke.
At the police station Burke took him into
the chiefs Office 1t familiar room; they
had questioned him In it for hours the night
Randall had died
We'll, Hof," the chief said, they let you
off. You're lucky. EVERYBODY knows you were
guilty"
Charlie felt his face burn.
mo, sir 1t like told you that night.
I didn't know the gun loaded. George
grabbed it first himself and fooling with
it, and the next thing"
Didn't know it loadedr" smiled the
chief. That's an old story. Hof The reason
sent for you was to tell you to watch your
step. From now on you're a marked man in
Swampsport We're going to keep our eye on
you. :. Let him go, Burke"