Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/182

 that they have nearly stifled all honesty of character; in fact, the feeling for what is virtue and what is crime has vanished entirely.

The civil courts had to be removed, and the military courts had to be introduced for the purpose of rooting out the weeds, replacing the old scales of justice by new ones, and infusing life into the deteriorated conceptions of right and wrong. Further, I call upon the chairman to draw the attention of the accused man Lamm to the fact that he is not to talk unnecessarily nor to interrupt the proceedings."

The Chairman: "I point out to you, Lamm, that you are not to talk unnecessarily."

The accused: "Lamm? Mr. Lamm, gentlemen."

The supreme provost-marshal: "I call upon the chairman to intimate to the accused that he is before a high military court, and that the appellation of gentleman is here inadmissible. Further, that he should particularly draw the attention of the accused to the fact that by impertinent remarks he will only make worse his situation which is bad enough as it is. Finally, he is to begin the proceedings by ascertaining the name, residence and age of the accused."

Chairman: "Prisoner in the dock, I hereby intimate all that to you, so take heed that you, hm, hm,—but you know what I mean, and what is your name?"

Accused: "You've had me already nine months here under arrest, and you don't know."

Members of the court: "Impudence!" "Audacity!" "An affront to the court!"

The supreme provost-marshal: "Members of the court, let me point out that this impertinence has a deeper cause than may appear, and in my speech I shall divulge it. I call upon the chairman to enquire once more and in an emphatic manner for name, domicile and age."