Page 182 - YB1902
P. 182
Strange, thought I. I wonder how much evidenceinfluencestheir judg- ment, and if for a few dollars their verdict could not be predicted as in the case of other juries I have known. Just then a voice, deep-sounding as from the Styx, rang out: "Is the prisoner ready for trial ?" Your Majesty-" We arc," replied the corpulent attorney. Again in ac- cents bold: " Is the counsel for the criminal in court?" "I-Ie is," someone answers. "Call tbe cese, then." Looking up 1 seethe lanky sheriff-a fac.simileof Icbabod Crane-euter, who is followed by a trembling, shivering lad of about fifteenyears, Then they proceeded with the case, Clerk lV[cDaniel.-"Stand up, sirl You are charged with numerous ir- regularities in conduct, some of which are: forcibly breaking into the kitchen, Premeditated ponying on examinations. A malicious slandering of Professors and many other things, Not being able to pr-ocurethe neces- sary facts for conviction, but knowing that you, like all other boys, are guilty of breaking' rote No, 11,' we charge you with passing notes to the other side, What say you, guilty or not guilty?" "Qui! oui l c'est vra.i," cries the silly Frenchman. BL1tDoc, says, "Be still." "Not guilty," says George ....Vashington. Then Rely begins his argument-a learned and logical product.ion-> "Oh thou sovereign judge and ye saintly jurors! We know this boy is mean, for all boys are mean. In addition to the many aforesaid violations, we believethat he is guilty of many more even worse. My brother's wife tells me that she saw a boy pass a note through a window, and this is surely the boy. Now, although he may be innocent, we should send him home, so that others, seeing how we dispense justice, may beware, for my brother's wife will not always be present to give the miscreant's name." Again the sound, =oui, oui." burst forth. But resuming, Roly says: I' '.ve should like to hear from the other side." Then the statue George Washington arose, choked with dignity and boiling with conceit, and said: ,.Gentlemen! the cause is a plain one. The prosecution fails to set up a clear case. We,in our wisdom and authority, should terrorize and lord it over our subjects, but remember, that expulsion in this case may mean a ruined lite; so instead give him seventy-four demerits that he may be good, witb his liberal allowance for the remaining part of his term." 160
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