Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/183

 Chairman: "I ask you once more and in an emphatic manner for,—for,—for—"

The supreme provost marshal: "Name, domicile and age."

Chairman: "You heard. Eh,—eh,—eh,—give us this information."

Accused: "Simon Lamm, of Brody in Galicia, 58 years old, married, my father's name was Abraham—"

Supreme provost-marshal: "We did not ask you about your father and whether you are married. As a matter of fact, I'll tell you about your father myself. I call upon the chairman to draw the attention of the accused to the fact that he is not to try and complicate his offence by dragging in persons who do not belong here. Further, I call upon the chairman to ask the accused about his previous punishments."

Chairman: "Yes. Eh,—eh,—eh,—I draw your attention, and, and, and—"

Supreme provost-marshal: "Whether he has already been punished."

Chairman: "Eh?

Accused: "Yes, by my father aforesaid—"

Supreme provost-marshal: "I draw the attention of this court to the fact that the accused, with malicious perseverance, indeed, not to say with scornful cynicism, such as is typical only of the most desperate criminals, is evading a direct answer. The chairman is asking you whether you have been punished in a public court of justice."

Accused: "Never. I have a clean record.

Supreme provost-marshal: "All criminals make that assertion. Unfortunately, the archives of the local and district law courts in Galicia were destroyed by the Russian invasion:—I am sure that they could tell a tale, but a different one from that of the accused.