Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 23.pdf/442

 The Green Bag

408

At his home at Red Hill, June 6, 1799, he died. One sentence was inscribed

marked his grave, an apt commentary on his life-"His fame is his best

on

epitaph."

the

simple

marble

slab

that

Nutley, N. J.

A Conscientious Juryman BY EDGAR Wrrrrs

“

ENTLEMEN, are your opinions such as would preclude you from

returning a verdict of guilty where the punishment would be death, although

of Mr. Crafton's mind at that stage of the game it would probably have blotted out his name.

But mental telepathy

cal not application, having reached the the sternstage talesman of pl'ﬂcti' had

justiﬁed by both the law and the evi dence?"

Talesman Crafton looked around loft ily at his fellows to see if any showed the white feather at the sinister question of

the court.

One

kindly

featured,

white-haired gentleman raised his hand.

the grim satisfaction of answering to his name when after twenty-four hours'

careful winnowing by both sides the twelve were called. The defendant was a young man Ol

unattractive personality.

His lips were

Mr. Jones?"

thick, and he constantly moistened them

asked the judge. “I couldn't do it, your Honor," said

Out of the sallow face gleamed two restless black eyes, shaded by midm'ght brows. Beside him was a light-hail‘edv

"What's the matter,

the old gentleman; "my conscience is against it.”

"Although justiﬁed by the law and the evidence?" said the judge. “Although justiﬁed by the law and the evidence," repeated the talesman, with solemn ﬁnality. "Stand aside.”

girlish creature, who chatted vivaciousl)’ with the lawyers, and seemed to enjoy

the unusual prominence the trial 83"‘: her.

She was the defendant's wife, and the tragedy occurred in the protection of her honor, the lawyer for the defense

Talesman Crafton smiled sneeringly at the brother's weakness and timidity.

said.

He had no such scruples. He would track the law to the bitter end. Courts were instituted among men that criminals might be punished and society pro tected. He gloried in the opportunity the trial would give him to vindicate the

nesses that Charles Montgomery. the slain tation,man, thatbore he anwas irreproachable happily married fepu'

The state proved by a score of wit

and that he wasn't at all the sort of man who would offer an insult to a

woman. The testimony showed that

majesty of the law. According to his way of thinking the country was going

on the night of the killing Montgomery

to the dogs because of the absence of

wife and children, and had strolled out of the park to enjoy a cigar, intending to return shortly and take his folks

vertebrae in jurors.

Had the defense known the workings

had been to an ice-cream social with his