The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-02-06

want 10 see them nave
chance"
"Have you ever employed arv
OF the Negroes you helped to ed
ucate?"
why. no."
mir. Dalton, do you think that
the terrible conditions under
which the Thomas family lived IN
one Of your houses may in some
way be related to the death OF
your daughter?"
Il don't know what you mean"
That's ALL" said Max.
After Mr.. Dalton left the stand
Peggy came. then Britten. host
of doctors, reporters. and many
policemen.
I'VE will now hear from Bigger
Thomas" the coroner called
A wave OF excited voices swept
over the room. Bigger's fingers
gripped the arms OF the chair.
Max's hands touched his should.
er. Bigger turned and Max whis-
pered:
"Sit still"
Max rose.
"Mr. Coroner"
"Yes?"
"In the capacity OF Bigger
Thomas lawyer. I'd like to state
that he does not wish TO testify
here"
Ills testimony would help to
clear up any doubt as to the cause
OF the death of the deceased the
coroner said.
MY client is already in police
custody and 1t is his right to re-
"All right. All right the coron-
er said.
Max sat down.
Stay in your seat. It's all
right" Max whispered to Bigger.
Bigger relaxed and felt his heart
pounding He longed for something
TO happen so that the white faces
would stop staring at him. Finall-
y, the faces turned away. The
ccroner strobe to the table and
lifted the kidnap note with a slow.
long. delicate. and deliberate ges-
ture.
Gentlemen" he said, facing the
six men In the rows OF chairs.
You have heard the testimony Of
the witnesses. | think, however,
that you should have the oppor-
tunity TO examine the evidence
gathered by the Police Depart
ment."
The coroner gave the kidnap
note 10 one OF the Jurors who read
1t and passed IL on to the others.
All OF the Jurors examined the
purse. the blood-Stained knife. the
blackened Ratchet blade. the COM
munist pamphlets. the rum bottle,
the trunk, and the signed confess
sion.
Owing TO the peculiar nature
OF this crime, and owing to the
fact that the deceased's body was
all but destroyed, | deem IL inn
peratiye that you examine one ad-
ditional piece OF evidence. 1t will
help shed light upon the actual
manner OF the death OF the de-
ceased the coroner said.
He turned and nodded In the di-
rection OF two while-coated al
tendents who stood at the rear
door. The room was quiet. Bigger
wondered how much longer it
would last, he felt that he could
not stand much more. Now and
then the room blurred and a slight
giddiness came over him. but his
muscles would flex taut aud 1t
would pass. The hum Of voices
grew suddenly loud and the coron-
er raped for order. Then a COM
motion broke out. Bigger heard q
mans voice saying:
Move aside, pleased"
lie looked and saw two white
coated attendants pushing an OBJ
long. sheet-covered table through
the crowd and down the aisle.
What's this? Bigger wondered. He
felt Maxs hand come onto his
shoulder.
Take it easy, Bigger. Thisl
soon be over"
What they doing?" Bigger ask
ed in tense whisper.
For a long moment Max did not
answer. Then he said uncertainty:
II don't know"
The oblong table wac pushed TO
the front OF the room. The coroner
spoke in deep. slow voice that
was charged with passionate
meaning:
"As Deputy Coroner, have
decided, in the interests OF justice,
10 offer In evidence the raped ana
mutilated body OF one Bessie
Mears. and the testimony OF police
officers and doctors relating TO
the cause and manner OF her
ueatn.
The coroner's voice was drown
cd out. The room was In an up
roar. For two minutes the police
had to pound their clubs against
the walls TO restore quiet. Bigger
sat still as stone as Max rushed
past him and stopped a few feet
from the sheet-covered table.
"Mr. Coroner" Max said. This
Is outrageousl Your indecent ex-
hibition OF that girls dead BODY
serves no purpose but that OF an
Indictment TO mob violence. :"
1t will enable the jury 10 de-
termine the exact manner oil the
death OF Mary Dalton. who was
slain by the man who slew Bessie
Mears!" the coroner said In q
scream that was compounded OF
rage and yIndictiveness.
Continued next week.