The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-07-11
SILENT COUNSELOR
(By ALMA BEAN LovING)

IL hip lOOh tue Slduu WIFI
a slightly bored air.
The prosecutor questioned DR..
Kirby.
The doctor told in detail Jim
Streeter's death.
Was the deceased still alive
when he was brought into the hos
pital" questioned the prosecutor.
Eyes, but unconscious" he an
swered.
Did he regain consciousness at
any time after being brought in.
mo, he died on the operating
table"
What caused the deceased's
death?"
Cerebral hemorrhage," replied
the doctor carefully.
will you explain the condi-
ton Of the deceased-his injuries"
"A diagonal fracture, near the
cerebral hemisphere, several abra-
sions on head and face"
Were the injuries sufficient to
cause death?"
The doctor smiled.
Absolutely"
Death occurred at what timer"
AT eighteen p. NJ"
The examination of the doctor
was brief. The prosecutor then
turned the witness over to the at
torney for the defense.
Jason did not cross examine DR..
Kirby and the witness left the
stand.
For days the legal battle waged.
Allen Grant was fighting his
greatest court battle, for Jason
was making glazing in roads into
the prosecutors intrenchmens.
The states witnesses told and
re-told the story of the now ia
nous mothers day murder, only
to admit under the fire of Jason's
cross examination decreprencys
that lead them to admitting-Jim
Streeter invited the vicious attack
of Joe Clark.
Joe Clark's character was as
sailed by the lawyers for the state
with vehemence and determination
to prove Joe an utterly worthless
individual.
The court room rocked day after
day with the rumblings of racial
hatred. Bitterness of long stand
ing welled up and more than once
threatened to break in to an over
towering deluge.
Like heavy pail the attempted
lyching hung over the city of
Carselie.
Negroes were careful not to
group themselves all in one place.
Both black and white were waiting
for the climax. If Joe Clark should
be found guilty what would hap
pen? The white people were wor-
dering. If Joe Clark was freeded
of this charge, what would take
place the Colored populace was
thinking
Rev. Thomas called a secret
meeting and the threatining let
ters received by Jason was the
subject discussed. What was to be
done? Jason must be protected.
And so secret guard was thrown
around tho dafapea 1ou,xar To ,.,o 4,
never alone. At his home public
spirited colored guards stayed at
his side. In the court a cordeon of
lawyers stood at his elbow. pre-
supposedly acting as his legal
aides.
The nordics could sense the
tense feeling that seemed to per-
meate the very air. They watched
the wary glances that passed back
and forth. What were these Ne
groes up to any way.
Jason now that Nancy had as
sured him of her love for him was
free to give himself up entirely
to the cause of his people.
The white people resented ia
sons play to the jury and the in
tense interest displayed when ia
son addressed them. aJason mere
ly smiled at the prosecutors Obvi-
Gus irritation, for his smole SEEM
ed to say why should you worry,
the odds are against me-"
At last the state rested their
case, and Jason as the defense at
torney gave a triumphant smile
called Joe Clark as witness in his
own defense.
1t was surprise move to Joe,
because he had said over and over
he would not testify in his own
defense.
Joe answered the preliminary
questions in surly mood.
Jason smiled to himself. Joe
couldn't be better if he had been
rehearsed in his role.
After that first day when he had
visited Joe in his cell Jason had
completely ignored Joe until he
called him to the witness stand.
1t had disconnected Joe. He had
not expected to be called to the
stand.
expected to be called to the stand.
Joe's face pale, his mouth
drawn into a thin line faced the
court. He seemed dimly to realize
he was on trial for his life.
Jason faced Joe quietly.
"How old are you Joe?"
"Thirtynine," Joe answered, his
voice sullen.