The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-04-17

tnem. Inc Drick he used to strike
Bessie was shown: then came the
flashllght. the Communist PAM
! phlets. the gun, the blackened
earring. the Ratchet blade, the
signed confession. the kidnap note.
Eessie's bloody clothes. the STAIN
ed pillows and quilts. the trunk.
and the empty rum bottle which
had been found In the snow near
curb. Mary's bones were brought
in and women In the courtroom
began to Sob Then a group OF
twelve workmen brought in the
furnace. piece by piece. from the
Dalton basement and mounted II
upon a giant wooden platform.
People in the room stood 10 look
and the Judge ordered them TO
sit down.
Buckley had a white girl. the
size Of Mary. crawl inside OF the
furnace ito prove beyond doubt
that II could and did hold and
burn the ravished body of inno-
cent Mary Dalton: and 10 show
that the poor girls head could
not go in and the sadistlc Negro
cut 1t off," Using an iron shovel
from the Dalton basement. Buck
lev showed how the bones had
Teen raked out; explained how
Bigger had "craftily crept up the
stairs during the excitement and
taken flight" hopping sweat
from his face. Buckley said:
1.-THE State rests. Your Honor"
"Mr. Max" the judge said. "You
may proceed TO call your wit
nesses
THE defense does not contest
the evidence introduced here"
Max said. II therefore waive the
right to cali witnesses. As I
stated before. at the proper time
I shall present plea in Bigger
Thomas behalf"
The Judge informed Buckley
that he could sum up. For an
hour Buckley commented upon
the testimony OF the States wit
nesses and interpreted the evil
dence. concluding with the words:
"The intellectual and moral
faculties OF mankind may as well
be declared impotent. II the evil
dence and testimony submitted by
:hc State are not enough to COM
pei this Court to impose the death
sentence upon Bigger Thomas.
this despoiler OF women"
"Mr. Max. will you be prepared
/ to present your plea tomorrow 2"
tho judge asked.
II will. Your Honor"
Back in his cell. Bigger tum-
bled lifelessly onto his cot. Soon
It'll all be over. he thought. To-
morrow might be the last day;
he hoped so. His sense OF time
was gone: night and day were
merged now.
The next morning he was awake
In his cell when Max came. On
his way to court he wondered
what Max would say about him.
Could Max really save his life'
In the act OF thinking the thought
he thrust 1t from him. II he
kept hope from his mind. then
whatever happened would seem
natural. AS he was led down the
hall. past windows, he saw that
the mob and the troops still sur
rounded the court house. The
bailding was stu jammed with
muttering people. Policemen had
10 make an aisle for him In the
crowd.
A pang OF fear shot through
him when he saw that he nao
been the FIRST 10 get to the tanle'
Max was somewere behind him.
los, in the crowd. II was then
that he felt more deepHy
than ever what Max had grown
a mean 10 him. He was defense-
less now. What was there 70
prcvent those people from COM
ing across the ratings and drag
r.ne him into the street, now tnat
Max was not here? He sat- not
daring 10 look around. conscious
that every eye was upon him /:
Mnx's presence during the trial mao
made him feel that somewhere IN
that crowd that stared at him so
steadily and resentfully wa.
something he could cling 70. u
only he could get at u. There
smoidered in him the hope tna'
Max had made him feel IN .ne
frnt long talk they had had. bu'
ne did not want TO risk tryins
70 make Il flare into flame nov
not with this trial and the wo1u ~
OF hate from Buckley. But nei.ne'
aid he SNUFF u out; he nurse" w.
kert II a. his last refuge
when Max came Bigger 81"
that his face was pale and drawn
There were dark rings beneath