Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
I have been in the presence of men to whom I could not talk as freely as
I should like to, and in the presence of others to whom I could talk fast
enough. Those to whom one can not talk freely have a higher power over
one, and those to whom one can talk freely are the persons over whom one
has power. Who has not had the power experience? When we come in touch
with those with whom we can not talk freely, it is power over each other.
I am leading out to the power we can not resist. What is that? I am
able to say that I could not resist going into that house where a crime
was committed to see what the trouble was with the poor lady who was
murdered—murdered, and I accused of the crime!
I was wondering what my fellow-man under whose instructions I was placed
was there for, and I became so deep in thought that I was spoken to by
him:
“Well, you must have your work done for _The Press_, and time for the
press to start is soon at hand.”
“I was so deep in thought I forgot myself, sir. I beg your pardon. I will
try not to let that happen again.”
At that moment the guard stepped in. I was accosted in such a brutal way
that my fellow-prisoner interceded for me and asked the guard to have
mercy on me.
“I am quite sure that the man will do all he can,” he said.
“Yes, he will when he is driven to it. He has caused us trouble from the
day he landed here.”
“I am sorry, guard. If I could have complied with your rules and work, I
should have been glad to do so; but I was not able to do the hard labor
you asked me to do.”
“Was it hard work to strangle a poor woman to death? You found that a
very easy job, did you not?”
“Man, I can not stand it to be accused of a crime I did not commit!” At
that moment I gave way to my feelings and cried out: “O Father in Heaven,
can not I prove my innocence?”
I found myself lying on my cot when revived. I knew not what had
happened. I could remember the conversation and nothing more after that
until the present time.
I was in a dazed condition and had the feeling that someone was near and
could see me. I was taken back to the printer’s shop, and must say that
the instructor seemed to have a cold feeling for me. I said:
“I notice that you are not quite so friendly as before. Have I offended
you?”
“I have no use for a murderer, sir, and especially for one who murders a
helpless woman.”
“I say to you, kind fellow-prisoner, that I am innocent.”
“Yes. I have your reputation from the guard. Now, you get to hard work
here, and no more of your pleading innocence.”
“I am going to do all that I can, sir, and as well as I can, to please
you.”
I continued to prepare the press work. I wrote of the way to live and
live right. We all make mistakes. Some repent, others never do. Who has
not made mistakes which he would, if he could, undo? I wrote:
“O dear fellow-prisoners, we have all made mistakes. If we had not, we
would not be here.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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