The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-05-15

LEM. his head bowed A policeman
brought tray OF food and set at
on the table
Eat, son. Max said
Il amt hungry
Fl did the best could. Max
said
I'm all right Bigger said
bigger VAS noi al that moment
really bothered about whcihcr
4 Maxs speech had saved his life or
not He was buggine the proud
thought that Max had made the
speech All for him TO save his life
II was not the meaning ~ the
speech that gave him pride. but the
mere act OF IL That Ia itself was
something The food on the tray
grow cold Throueh partly open
ga door window Bigger heard The
rumbling voice Of the mob soon
he would 20 back and hear What
Buckley would say Then y would
an hc over. save what the judge
would say And when the Judge
spoke be would know if ne MAS to
live or die he l,arcd his hoad on
rms hands and closed his eyes 10
heard MIX stand M strike match
and light a cigarette
Here. take smoke, Rieeer
He took one and Max held tho
flame he sucked ne smoke deep
into his lungs and discovered that.
he did not want H. lIe held The
cigarette in his fingers and the
smoke curlcd up past his blood
shot ewes he ierked his head when
The door opened, policeman look
ed in
Counts opcning in two min
utcs'~
"All right Max said
Thanked again by policemen Biz
gor went hack to court He rose
when the Judge came and then sat
again
The Court viii hear the state
the Judge said
Bigger turned his head and saw
Buckley rise He was dressed IN
back suit and there was tiny
pink flower In the lapel Of his coat
The mans very look and bearing
30 grizzly assured made bigger
feel that he was already LOST What
chance had he against man Ike
that Buckley licked his lips and
looked out over the crowd then
he turned to the Judge
"your Honor. we all dwell IN
land Of living law Law embedics
the viii Of The people As an agent
and servant OF the law as a repre-
sentative Of the organized will oil
the people am here 20 see that
the viii OF tho people is cxcrulcd
firmly ana without delay J intend
to stand here and see that that Is
done and II 1t is not done Then q
viii be only over my most solemn
and emphatic protest
AS a prosecuting officer OF the
State OF Illinois ! come before this
honorable Court TO urge that the
lfall extent Of the lae, the death
penalty tho only penalty Of tho
law that is feared by murdcrers'-
be allowed o take its course in this
most important case
Il urge this for The protection Of
our society. our homes and our
loved ones urge this in tho per-
formance OF ms sworn dufy 10 Sc
in so fnr as am humanity capable.
that the administration Of law is
Just. thar the safety and sacredness
OF human life are maintained. that
the social order Is kept intact. and
that crime IS prevented and pun
ishcd have no interest or feel
ing in this case beyond the per-
formance Of this aworn duty
~ represent The families OF Mary
Dalton and Bessie Mcars and a
| hundred million law-abidng men
and women Of this nation who are
laborlne IN duty or industry. rep
resent the forces which allow the
arts and sciences 20 flourish in
freedom and peace thereby enrich
inc the lives OF US all.
II shall not lower the dignity Of
this Court. nor the righteousness
OF the peoples cause by attempt
ing 10 answer the silly alien, com
munIsiic and dangerous IDEAS adj
vanced by The defense And ! know
Of no better way TO discourage such
thinking than the imposition OF The
death penalty upon this miserable
human mend. Bigger Thomas.
MY voice may sound harsh when
I say. Impose the death penalty
and let the law take IT, course ID
spite Of the speclous call for SYM
patty! But am really merciful
and sympathetic. because the en-
forcemcnt OF this law In It's dras-
tic form will enable millions OF
honest men and women 10 sleep In
peace tonight to know that tomor-
row viii not bring the black shad-
ow ~ death Oser their homes and
livesi