Ithaca (N.Y.) -- Fiction; New York (State) -- Fiction; Social classes -- Fiction
When she turned into town, her mind was at work with the thought of how
she would bring Daddy triumphantly through the row of squatter huts,
lead him even through the streets of Ithaca. Her vivid imagination
played with the scene: Frederick the student would see her; he would
know that together they had saved the dearest life ever given into the
hands of a jury.
Up the snow-covered street, through Dewitt park, and Into the little
lane she tramped. Here Tessibel halted. The court-room was so crowded
that an overflow of men stood in the street with overcoats tightly
buttoned, stood listening for the words that would satisfy their
demands: Orn Skinner must die. A demonstration of joy ringing from the
court made the child shiver--then smile. Not even the wicked jeering of
Daddy's enemies could shake her faith in the student's word. Twelve
jurors sat in their chairs, but a useless set of men, for a unanimous
ban of death had been pronounced upon the fisherman before any one of
the jury had taken the oath. Some of the evidence did not reach their
ears for they were thinking of other things--the man of two humps was as
far away from their homes or their hopes, as the rope that would end
him.
During the trial the prisoner had remained silent in his chair, with a
stolidity that aroused no sympathy for him. Not once was he seen to lift
his eyes to the judge; and but once, when Tess was being maligned by
Dominie Graves, did the bible-back rise and fall as if the heart beneath
were beating wildly. Skinner had not been allowed to testify in his own
defense, and, knowing the futility of it, he had not insisted upon
speaking.
His attorney made a few feeble remarks which, because of the speaker's
indifference and his disbelief in his client, fell without effect. The
prosecuting attorney took but ten minutes to sum up the case, telling
the jury that they knew their duty too well for him to attempt to
instruct them. "But," said he, "I will add one word of your own
convictions. These people have infested our beautiful city, sapping its
life like a great pest. The law is nothing to them--human life less.
There is one thing, gentlemen of the jury, of which they stand in awe,
and it is in your hands to give them one more lesson. That one thing
they fear is--the rope."
He sat down amid a dense silence. The judge spoke shortly and the twelve
jurors filed out past the stooping prisoner, who seemed to care so
little that he did not look upon them as they went.
Twenty minutes elapsed and the court officer announced in stentorian
tones that the verdict had been reached. Solemnly the twelve men seated
themselves whilst an expectant flutter passed over the room.
Then a voice droned:
"Prisoner, rise."
The lumbering form painfully raised its two humps.
"Prisoner, look upon the jury; jury, look upon the prisoner."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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