The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-11

1ANC dlLtI OullSG
L n Drannon walked into his
chambers from the courtroom and
swung off his black robe which fell
into the hands Of Johnny Day, his
clerk. He put up both hands and
rubbed his forehead between the
eyes.
Tired, judge?" Johnny asked.
"a little" the Judge admitted. He
walked over to his desk and slurnped
into the chair and automatically
put his hand upon sheaf Of papers
directly before him. Whats this?"
he asked looking down at them.
List Of sentences" Johnny told
him. "Tomorrows Sentence Day."
Friday" Judge Drannon said
and glanced at the desk calendar.
"And the 18TH" His mouth twisted
in a grimace. "Are there any"
"One," Johnny told him.
"All right All right" His tone
was irritable. His face twisted
again. And what better day to
sentence q man to death than Fri
day, the 13th?"
tits not your doing, judge. You
haven't anything to say about it.
The jury's said it for you. 1t was
out less than a hour"
q
THIS was ritual as old as John
l. ny's association with the judge
in the Common Pleas Court. 1t
was oil of the reinsurance Johnny
could give the man who hated
more than anything else in the
world the task of sending a man to
his death.
81 know, I know" Judge Dram
non said testify. "It's not supposed
to be my responsibility. But say
the words" He shut and opened his
eyes and then bent over the paper,
his big shoulders launching as he
peered at the list. He pulled his
long nose and ran down the paper.
Where is he? Burglary, shop
lifting, rape, breaking and-entering
oh, here he is. John Kumcha,
convicted by a jury of murder in
the first degree in the death of his
wife. Family man, too
1.-TWO kids" Johnny said tersely
"a girl and boy A."
open and shut" Judge Drannon
said and looked up and stared at
nothing across the room. "He was
drunk, He killed his wife. So
we'll kill him. We, the Common
wealth, the sovereign state of New
Jersey, throw our billion-dollar legal
machine upon a man to snuff out
his life. And I'm the microphone
through which the law speaks
doom. I don't believe in capital
punishment, Johnny"
II know you don't, judge"
Johnny went to closet and
emerged carrying a bottle and a
glass"
The judge watched him approach
the desk and put them down. He
watched him pour the liquor in the
glass.
Water, judge?" Johnny asked.
COR soda?"
"TOHNNY,"-the judge looked up
- and smiled that's for you. You
knew that when you poured, didn't
youP You know never take a
drink from the time I learn of a
death sentence have to pronounce
till after I've pronounced it."
"Yeh, judge" Johnny admitted.
I know. But I'm always hoping.
What are you doing tonight? A
little drink might give you another
attitude. Would you like me to get
you pair of theater tickets fol
you and Mrs. Drannon? Going to
a good musical comedy would bring
you way up past midnight. And
maybe you'd get some laughs"
Il don't know" The judge
scratched his chin AMI looked at
Johnny. mo. Now, Johnny, if you'd
gone and bought the tickets with
out leaving the decision to me, I
might have gone over this list to-
morrow morning with Probation Of
ficer Murphy"
AS matter of fact" Judge
Johnny grinned, 81 did make the
decision myself. I bought the tick
cts. They're in Row B."
Judge Drannon smiled.
Johnny" he said, II don't know
what I'd do without you. You're
always trying to make things easier
for me. But can't go to the the
alter tonight. I'll go hcine and read.
] got some fine books to go through.
"Say!" Johnny said, that's great!
Mrs. Days been crazy to see that
show"
Judge Drannon's smile was sar-
donic.
I suspect that's why you bought
them for me-" he said.
"oh, no, judge"
MO" the Judge said quickly.
~ II know you didn't. know
you brought them on the chance
that I'd get through the first part of
bad evening. And I appreciate it.
Johnny. Really. Now, about this
John Kumcha. Remember that YER
dict?"
Yeah" Johnny answered. HE
said that whatever the law did to
him would be okay because he loved
his wife. He was a laborer and hit
the rum plenty al his life
And the sentence is mandatory.
It's out of my hands, but in nv
jurisdiction. Conviction carries the
sentence with it. Why can't a Jury
sentence TO death? Twelve raen
telling man he must die. Killing
him. Instead of putting his death
or the head of any one man."
It's not on your head, Judge.
You know that"
who am l." the Judge said,
disregardins him. ito say to a man.
Your life is forfeit. You shall dep
It's too terrific a responsibility.
What do you suppose God will saw
10 me or you? I'll warrant He hes
itates long time before sentenc-
ing soul to eternal damnation."
But you can't help 1t, judge?"
Johnny protested. aIt'e the law.
You're Just an instrument