The Romance of Gilbert Holmes: An Historical NovelKirkman, Marshall M. (Marshall Monroe)
General
The Romance of Gilbert Holmes: An Historical Novel
Kirkman, Marshall M. (Marshall Monroe)
Black Hawk War, 1832 -- Fiction
"May it please the honorable court and this intelligent jury," he went
on, "I appear here on behalf of the people to aid in the punishment of a
monstrous crime—a crime conceived in cunning and lust of wealth by one
who before stood high in the estimation of many good men. You will
notice I do not say all good men, and in this qualification I speak
advisedly. Many have never believed the prisoner honest; I never have,
and for good reason. He is young, of aspiring nature, of unknown
antecedents, and greedy of preferment and gain. This latter some of you
may have known before, but it is well to again call it to your
attention. His downcast look and the lean and covetous lines about his
face tell a story of duplicity and cunning no intelligent man, least of
all a jury so circumspect as this, can mistake," and Moth looked with
lowering eyes upon Uncle Job, whose countenance, truth to say, was
neither lowering nor covetous, but open and manly as one could wish.
Then turning to the jury, he cried, waving his hand: "I do not ask you
to believe me. Look for yourselves, gentlemen."
"I object to this line of procedure, your honor, in advance of the
evidence," Mr. Promb broke in, with considerable spirit, "as being
likely to prejudice the case of my client, and wrongfully."
"The attorney for the state will confine himself to the line of evidence
he proposes to present. The jury may properly be left to form their own
opinion of the prisoner’s personal appearance," Judge Douglas responded,
with some severity.
"Very well, your honor; but it is impossible to prejudice a case so
plain to all men as this will be made to appear further on. Restricting
myself, however, as you justly observe, we shall prove all that I have
intimated and more. We will prove that a sum of money, great enough to
tempt the cupidity of a weak man, such as the prisoner at the bar, was
left in his care, and that taking advantage of the confidence reposed in
him, he deliberately and feloniously and with malice aforethought made
away with it, to his own advantage and the detriment of his patron and
the good morals of society. All this we will prove, may it please your
honor and the honorable jury."
When Moth concluded, Mr. Promb arose, but only to excuse himself from
addressing the court at this stage of the proceedings. Whereupon Moth
sprang to his feet again and asked that Mr. Henry Seymour, a friend of
the prisoner, be sworn. When thus called, Mr. Seymour, who sat some way
off, arose and made his way to the witness-stand, all eyes turned
expectantly upon him, as if he, too, might possibly be guilty, being a
friend of the accused. Passing Uncle Job, the latter smiled upon him as
if in assurance of unalterable good will, whatever his testimony might
be. When Mr. Seymour had been sworn, Moth proceeded:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account