The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-07-18
Chapter XIV

The court room was in an up
roar, as Mother Clark with a cry
rushed toward Joe.
The clerk raped for order, re-
cess was called until next day.
Joe Clark's heart breaking story
had stirred Carselie to its depths.
A little ashamed that white men
could be so cruel and yet demand
respect from the Negro.
Colored Carselie was feeling a
little hopeful-maybe everything
would come out all right. Still it
was a white jury and the black had
learned not to expect justice, in
Ia case like this. But they would
fight to the last ditch to save Joe
! For years they, the colored peo-
pie had scorned Joe, held him up
to ridicule, wondered why mother
Clark chung to such u worthless
son-now they knew. Joe's heart
was aching with a sorrow, poig-
nant and terrible.
Then Allen Grant tried to tear
down the pitiful story, to make
light of Joe's suffering but, the
court room seemed cold and the
spectators looked unconvinced. The
jury seemed unmoved-"they had a
dangerously impartial attitude"
thought Grant. But he was doing
his duty and he struggled on.
Jason seemed to be resting, he
sat quiet and thoughtful while
the prosecutors, recalled witness
es and tried to break down devas-
tating testimony.
Then the state rested their case.
Jason with quiet force went over
the case, brought out discrepancies
bolstering up weak spots in the
defense lines. Jason rested his
case with these words.
rs Joe Clark to be condemned
because he loved his wife?"
Allen Grant in his address to
the jury waxed sarcastic, he cast
inuendoes at the defense and its
heroics, he charged them to remem-
Der a life for life. Jim Streeter
had a right to live and to bring
melodrama into the case could not
alter that fact.
The prosecution had believed at
the beginning of the trial that win
ming of the Clark case would be
a mere farce, but they reckoned
without Jason.
When Jason arose to address the
jury, there was an excited hush,
a stiffness, every eye was upon the
tall broad shoulders, fitting neatly
snuggly in his we'll tailored blue
suit. His sleek brown hair shone,
with suggestion of a wide wave.
Carselie, white and black never
forgot the figure he made, stand
ing before the jury box. His keen
eyes roved over each one of the
twelve men and women.
His voice low pitched and thrill
ingly rich and resonant.
He began-at the beginning, 60
ing over the case he built ii up
tier up on tier. He pictured a
race fighting for just the chance
to live, to enjoy a home and chill
dren without the shadow of the
lynch law darkening their lives.
This glorious privilege was de-
MED Joe Clark. You men what
would you have done, after years
of carrying the sorrow and pain?
You mothers, what would you ex-
pect from your sons? For two
hours Jason's rich voice went on.
With graphic clearness he brought
to them the broken mangledbody
of little Mable Clark. Her life cruel
ly taken, by one relentless and bru-
tai. The state ask-life for life.
What about poor little Mable's life?
Women in the jury box wept
while the men pressed their lips
and looked away.
"Mable Clark had right to live.
Joe Clark had a right to be a hus-
band and father. A black skin
does not alter that fact either"
While Joe Clark was sacrificing
his life to uphold the traditions
of his country, this vulture stayed
at home In safety and wrecked Joe
Clark's home-the home of a SOL
der. Where is the white mans
charity-his love of fair play-his
craftsmanship. Are you going to
balance the scales of justice by
taking Joe Clark's life as well?"
His voice dropped to a sobbing
whisper" Can we hope for chart
ty-for iustice?"
The scene was never forgotten,
Jason swayed them, he made them
smile, he brought tears in unwill-
ing streams.
AS he ended his address there
was not a dry eye in the court
room.
Upon the streets Of Carselie the
news ran like ripples over a tur-
bulent lake.
The Clark case was in the hands
of the jury. Hours passed, while
the people waited. What would
the verdict be?
The court room was crowded
news spread that the jury would
be out all night, rumors contradict
ed the gossip saying 1t would be
in side Of three hours.
Jason sat at the counsel table
quietly waiting-God knows he