Capitalists and financiers -- Fiction; Psychological fiction
case feels at all friendly, and that that may possibly—I don’t say that
it does—explain his very kindly interpretation of Mr. Cowperwood’s
condition? It might be. You can think as well along that line as I can.
Anyhow, gentlemen, President Davison says Mr. Cowperwood is an
honorable, honest man, and so does his counsel, Mr. Steger. You have
heard the testimony. Now you think it over. If you want to turn him
loose—turn him loose. [He waved his hand wearily.] You’re the judges. I
wouldn’t; but then I am merely a hard-working lawyer—one person, one
opinion. You may think differently—that’s your business. [He waved his
hand suggestively, almost contemptuously.] However, I’m through, and I
thank you for your courtesy. Gentlemen, the decision rests with you.”
He turned away grandly, and the jury stirred—so did the idle spectators
in the court. Judge Payderson sighed a sigh of relief. It was now quite
dark, and the flaring gas forms in the court were all brightly lighted.
Outside one could see that it was snowing. The judge stirred among his
papers wearily, and turning to the jurors solemnly, began his customary
explanation of the law, after which they filed out to the jury-room.
Cowperwood turned to his father who now came over across the
fast-emptying court, and said:
“Well, we’ll know now in a little while.”
“Yes,” replied Cowperwood, Sr., a little wearily. “I hope it comes out
right. I saw Butler back there a little while ago.”
“Did you?” queried Cowperwood, to whom this had a peculiar interest.
“Yes,” replied his father. “He’s just gone.”
So, Cowperwood thought, Butler was curious enough as to his fate to
want to come here and watch him tried. Shannon was his tool. Judge
Payderson was his emissary, in a way. He, Cowperwood, might defeat him
in the matter of his daughter, but it was not so easy to defeat him
here unless the jury should happen to take a sympathetic attitude. They
might convict him, and then Butler’s Judge Payderson would have the
privilege of sentencing him—giving him the maximum sentence. That would
not be so nice—five years! He cooled a little as he thought of it, but
there was no use worrying about what had not yet happened. Steger came
forward and told him that his bail was now ended—had been the moment
the jury left the room—and that he was at this moment actually in the
care of the sheriff, of whom he knew—Sheriff Adlai Jaspers. Unless he
were acquitted by the jury, Steger added, he would have to remain in
the sheriff’s care until an application for a certificate of reasonable
doubt could be made and acted upon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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