american tragedy

Chapter 118 (1)
Chapter 314 (1)
It turned out that Mr. Katchman was no better than Mason or Smillie, and he couldn't find anything new.He was shrewd enough to piece together a class of probable facts from the tangle of conversation, but not so simple in the mental activity that was so important in Clyde's case.He was too rigid and indifferent.So on a scorchingly hot afternoon in July, he grilled Clyde for four full hours and got nowhere, and finally gave up.He deeply felt that Clyde was probably the most incompetent and full of loopholes among the conspirators he had ever met.

After Smily left, Mason escorted Clyde to the Great Benton Lake area, where the tripod and the camera were found, and Clyde made up some lies.Mason now explained to Katchman that Clyde denied he had a camera, but he had enough evidence to say he did, and that he had it with him when he set off from Lycurgus.But when Katchman asked Clyde, he just kept saying that he didn't bring it, and that the tripod wasn't on his camera.This lie angered Katchman, who decided to give up arguing with him.

However, Brockhart had told him that, whatever his personal feelings about Clyde, an advocate was indispensable, and that it was a matter of justice for the Griffiths, not to mention their reputation.Brockhart also said that the Griffiths in the west had no money and no power to use in this case.So he decided that he must choose a good lawyer before going back.Knowing nothing about the local judiciary, he approached the office of Ella Kellogg, president of Citibank's Kadalaki branch.For religious and moral reasons, Kellogg was both indignant and disgusted by Clyde's alleged crimes.But at the same time, he also knows that this case may give the Republican Party another victory in the upcoming primary election, so he knows that it will be beneficial to weaken Mason's popularity, and Clyde and his crime seem to prove that the Republican Party is too serious. Luckily.

Since the incident, Mason has become a household name and a national celebrity.This kind of thing has not been seen in many years by the District Attorney in this area.Everyone has seen with their own eyes or indirectly known that many newspaper correspondents, reporters, and photographers came from distant cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Mangga, New York, and Boston to conduct interviews, sketches, or write to Clyde, Mason and the Aldens take pictures.Mason has always been praised locally, and even those who support the Democratic Party are now praising Mason, saying that he deserved what he did to this young murderer, saying that this young prosecutor is not motivated by money, whether it is The Griffiths' money, or the girl's money that Clyde was after, was a really good prosecutor. "Don't worry, he's still doing his best."

That's exactly what happened.The coroner's jury had already assembled once when Katchman was absent.Mason was at the meeting and even had a major role.The resulting verdict stated: "The girl's death was the result of the premeditation and actions of Clyde Griffiths, who is now held in the Bridgeburg jail and shall remain in custody pending the verdict of the county grand jury. , and his crimes should immediately be referred to a grand jury." Mason also petitioned the Governor for a special sitting of the State Supreme Court, which is well known.In this case, the county grand jury will naturally hold a hearing in July to decide whether to indict Clyde or release him.Catchmancha came here at this time, hoping to find a local lawyer of real ability who could give Clyde some useful defense.In order to recover, Kellogg immediately thought of Alvin of the local "Bernalp & Jefferson" law firm.

Belknap was as prestigious as he was.He has been a member of the state Senate for two terms, and served as a member of the Democratic State House of Representatives as a representative of his district three times. Recently, some Democratic politicians believe that he should have a better position. Of course, if the bipartisan dispute can be properly resolved, A case where Democrats win local office.In fact, when this Belknap competed with Mason for district attorney three years ago, he was the closest candidate in the Democratic Party.He is very good at politics, and he is scheduled to be a candidate for the county judge this year, and this position is exactly what Mason has long wanted.If it weren't for Clyde, everyone thought that as long as Belknap was nominated, he would be elected.The intricacies of the local political situation were very interesting, and Mr. Kellogg didn't tell Katchman much, but he did mention that if one wanted to go against Mason, a capable man like Belknap was ideal.

After this brief introduction, Kellogg also offered to take Katchman to the law firm of Belknap & Jefferson, across the street in Bowis Plaza.

They knocked on the door and a man told them to come in.The man is about 48 years old, of medium build, vigorous and attractive in appearance.Katchman was impressed by his deep blue eyes, and he felt that this man, if not quite a broad-minded and efficient man, was a window into his soul that was very shrewd.Belknap's daily words and deeds are full of style and admiration.He had gone to college, was handsome when he was young, had a good family background, high social status in the local area (his father was a judge and a senator representing the state), and had experienced a lot of fun.Therefore, the character traits that people like Mason could not get rid of, such as rude behavior, abstinence and other troubles, for Belknap, had already been replaced by his calmness and sophistication.Therefore, he can give a thorough understanding of any moral or social complex issues that make sense.

To be honest, he was by no means as fierce as Mason about Clyde's matter, and he hated it deeply. At 20, he himself was in trouble with two girls: one he was just playing with and another he was seriously in love with, but he had seduced the first little girl.There were two paths in front of him at the time: get engaged, or run away.In the end he chose to escape, but he told his father the truth beforehand, and his father persuaded him to go on a trip.While he was away, they called the family doctor to help, and later spent a thousand dollars to cover the necessary expenses for the pregnant girl to live in Utiga.His father solved the problem for him, let him come back with ease, and finally married another girl.

Therefore, Belknap has absolutely no sympathy for the cruel and extreme means that Clyde used to get rid of the accusation (although he has been practicing as a lawyer for many years, he still cannot understand the psychology of murderers), but because of the rumors that it involves a rich family The girl, and her love influence (her name has not yet been disclosed), he has a little suspicion that Clyde may have gone astray emotionally.He's poor, but ambitious and vain, isn't he? It's said so.He also thought about the local political situation. Defending Clyde might be beneficial to him, and it could be a blow to Mason's dream. That is, at least through a series of court debates and delays, Mason would not be able to win the county judge's position so easily.Although the public opinion is so strong at the moment, he can still request to move the case to another court for trial through legal means, and this public opinion can also be one of the reasons for the request, or he can request an extension of time to find new evidence , so that Mason cannot participate in the trial before leaving office.He and his new young colleague, Mr. Reuben Jefferson of Vermont, had thought of this not so long ago.

At that very moment Mr. Kellogg arrived with Mr. Katschman, and they immediately began talking.Mr. Kellogg thought that from a political point of view, it was very suitable for Belknap to take over the case. In addition, Belknap himself was very interested in this case, so he quickly decided to take over after discussing with that colleague. .Even if public opinion will be dissatisfied, it will not do him any harm politically.

So Katchman advances Belknap a fee for his defense, and also gives him a letter introducing him to Clyde.Belknap asked Jefferson to notify Mason, telling him that Belknap and Jefferson had accepted the commission of Samuel Griffiths to act as Clyde's defense lawyer, and asked him to provide a detailed report. Written report, including all charges and all evidence collected, autopsy notes, coroner's autopsy report.In addition, I want to know whether the application for special session of the Supreme Court has been approved. If it has been approved, who is the judge and when and where the grand jury will meet.Also, he wanted to add that it was said that Miss Alden's body had been sent home for burial, and they planned to apply for a consent certificate in duplicate to reopen the coffin for medical examination by the defendant's lawyer.The proposal was immediately opposed by Mason, but in the end he backed down and did not apply to the Supreme Court for approval.

(End of this chapter)