american tragedy

Chapter 123 (1)
Chapter 317 (1)
How exciting and full of fierce struggles the trial of this sensational murder case was! Brockhart and Katschman expressed to Belknap and Jefferson that they believed that Jefferson's plan "may be the only feasible plan." ’, however, it would be best to leave the Griffiths unmentioned.

Thus, Belknap and Jefferson made some preliminary statements, the gist of which was their belief in Clyde, and his portrayal of an innocent young man who was virtually vilified and wronged.His motives and conduct towards Miss Alden were nothing compared to what Mason had said.It also mentioned that the District Attorney was eager to ask the Supreme Court to hold a special session, which may be for political rather than purely judicial purposes.Otherwise, why the rush, especially with a countywide election coming up.Is it intended to use the results of this trial to satisfy the political ambitions of some individual or group? Messrs. Belknap and Jefferson hope that this is not the case.

However, even if a certain person or a certain group has such a plan, whether it is biased or politically motivated, the defense lawyers in this case do not intend to let a wronged child like Clyde fall into the trap — By contrast, the defense's lawyer was prepared to prove it; he didn't want to be rushed to the electric chair just for the Republican victory in November.Moreover, in order to correct these absurdities and mistakes, the defendant needs to have ample time to prepare their case.So they formally protested to Albany against the District Attorney's request that the Governor convene a special Supreme Court division.In fact, there is no need to hold a special court at all, because the regular hearing of this kind of case is in January, and there must be plenty of time to prepare this case.

However, this perhaps belated reply in a strong tone, although it was valued, Mason accused the groundless "political conspiracy" and the claim that Clyde was innocent. As a representative of the people of this county, I have no reason to call this young Has anyone rushed anywhere, or charged him with any crime. Unless in fact the charges, the evidence itself, has proved that he did kill the girl? Also, did he have any reaction or behavior to remove some Suspicious circumstances? No! Only silence and lying. Until these able gentlemen can refute the facts, I will continue to accuse him. I have enough evidence to convict the young prisoner now. If it is delayed until January, they will also know: by then, I will resign. All these evidences that I am very familiar with will have to be re-studied by new people. This will only cost the county a lot of money. And the witnesses I'm looking for are all here now, and it's easy to find Bridgeburg to testify, without having to pay such a large expense for the county.

But once it comes to January or February, where will these people be? What's more, the defendant will try their best to disperse them.No, sir! I absolutely disagree.However, from now on, if within ten days, even within two weeks, they can come up with something, as long as they can prove or even a few of the crimes they put forward are not true, I am willing to go with them to the chief judge Judge.If they could present to the trial judge all the evidence they had, or any evidence they could hope to have, if they could find some witnesses, even if very ill-informed, who would exonerate the guy, well, that would be great.Then I agree to let the judge give them as much time as they think is enough, and even postpone the hearing until after I leave office.However, if the court can be held while I am here, as I sincerely hope, I will do my best to prosecute.It's not that I'm seeking public office, it's because, as District Attorney, it's my responsibility to do so.As for what kind of politics I am involved in, ah, isn’t Mr. Belknap also involved in politics? Last time, he was the one who ran with me.And this time, it is said, he will also participate in the election. "

So Mason made a trip to Albany to further press the governor to draw his attention to the urgent need for an immediate Supreme Court special session to prosecute Clyde.The governor heard the debates between Mason and Belknap face to face, and decided to adopt Mason's proposition, on the grounds that there was no conflict between allowing a special court and postponing the trial.Because, none of the reasons put forward by the defendant's lawyers can explain that holding a special court will prevent them from having enough time to make necessary preparations for the trial of the case.Moreover, hearing those arguments is the job of the Supreme Court-appointed justice, not his.Therefore, he ordered a special court to be held by the Supreme Court, and No.11 Judicial District Judge Frederick Oberworth served as the presiding judge.Later, Mason asked the judge to set a date for the grand jury to decide to indict Clyde, and the judge fixed August [-] for the grand jury.

Then the grand jury was called.For Mason, there was no difficulty in getting the grand jury to decide to indict Clyde immediately.

After that, the only way for Belknap and Jefferson was to ask the Democrat Oberworth, who was appointed by the previous governor, to transfer the trial.The reason is that some of Mason's public and private statements have a deep influence.It is impossible to find twelve people among the residents of Kadalaki County, who have not long been resolutely hostile to Clyde and do not believe that he committed the crime of murder. Now, before the defendant's lawyers have even spoken to the jury, he is actually convicted.

"And where are you going to transfer it?" said the fairly impartial Judge Oberworth, a little displeased. "This kind of material is published everywhere."

"However, Mr. Judge, the District Attorney has been busy exaggerating the crime.. . . " (Mason draws out a resolute dissent.)

"Nevertheless, however, we firmly believe," continued Belknap, "that the public has been unduly aroused, when in fact it has been deceived. There are no twelve persons to judge the matter fairly. people."

"How ridiculous!" Mason exclaimed angrily. "It's nonsense! The newspaper itself has collected and published more evidence than I have. In this case, if there is any prejudice, it is the facts discovered by the public." I do not think, however, that these prejudices are much more violent than in other places. Moreover, most of the witnesses are here. If the case were transferred to a farther county, it would have to bear a huge expense. The county can't afford it, and it doesn't need it."

Judge Oberworth, dignified and moral, a slow and delicate man, always inclined to take the conservative approach in everything, was inclined to agree with Mason.For the next five days he gave the matter little more than casual thought.Five days later, he decided to reject the request to transfer the court.If his decision is wrong, the defendant can also appeal.As for the trial period—for he had appointed October [-]th—(in his judgment, the accused had plenty of time to prepare for the case) he was going to the Blue Mountains for the remainder of the summer. Lake in his own villa to live some days.If there were any legal disputes that were complicated or could not be resolved locally, the prosecutor and the defendant's lawyers might as well go to him there, and he could hear their opinions in person.

However, since Mr. Belknap and Jefferson participated in the case, Mason felt that he had to do more to make Clyde's conviction as certain as possible.On the one hand he was afraid of Belknap, and on the other hand he was equally afraid of that young Jefferson.For this reason he took Burton Burleigh and Earl Newcombe to Lycurgos again.There, among other things, he discovered the following: (a) where Clyde bought his camera; I want to take my camera with me, and I want to buy some film; ([-]) The owner of a grocery store named Olin Short knows Clyde very well, but four months ago, Clyde once paid for a worker His wife was pregnant and he had to advise him, and (this was privately told by Short to Burton Burleigh, who discovered him), he had recommended to Clyde a man named Glenn's doctor; ([-]) They found Dr. Glenn, and after showing him a picture of Clyde and Roberta, the doctor recognized Roberta, although he did not recognize Clyde.He also described the manner of Roberta when she came to him, and what she had said.The passage didn't involve Clyde or himself, though, so Mason decided it was best to leave it alone, at least for now.

And (five), as a result of these encouraging efforts, the Utiga hatter who sold the hat to Clyde also came to the surface.Because when Burton Burleigh was in Utiga, a reporter visited him and put his picture in the papers along with Clyde's.The hatter happened to see the photo, recognized him immediately, and immediately got in touch with Mason.As a result, his testimony was typed according to the format, and after being sworn in, the testimony was taken away by Mason.

Besides, the country girl who had noticed Clyde on the steamer Swan wrote to Mason that she remembered that Clyde wore a straw hat and that he landed at Sharon.This testimony fully confirmed the captain's words, so Mason felt that God really took care of him.Finally, and most important of all discoveries to him, was that a woman who lived in Bedford, Pennsylvania, wrote to tell him that during the week of July [-]rd to [-]th, she Camped with her husband on the east shore of Great Biton, that is, on the south shore of the lake.About six o'clock in the afternoon on July [-]th, she was rowing on the lake when she heard a scream, which sounded like it came from an unfortunate woman or girl. The sound was sad and miserable.The voice was very faint, and seemed to come from the other end of the island.The island was southwest of the bay where they fished.

Regarding this news, as well as the camera, film, Clyde's criminal materials in Kansas City, etc., Mason is now going to keep absolute silence, and he plans to wait until the upcoming trial date or when the trial is in session. The defendant's lawyer has no way to refute it. Or only when it is whitewashed, it is brought up.

As for Belknap and Jefferson, on the basis of his change of heart upon his arrival at Grass Lake, he had been trained in denials, and pleaded about the two hats and the suitcase, and nothing else. Besides, they feel that there is not much to do.Yes, and the suit that was left in Lake Four near the Cranstons' house.However, a fisherman who looked like an occasional fisherman had been fishing there for a long time, and the suit was salvaged, washed and ironed, and now hangs in Belknap and Jefferson. in a locked closet.Also, there was the camera at Great Patton, which they had never found when they had been submerged, leading Jefferson to the conclusion that Mason must have got it.So he decided that in court, whenever he got the chance, he'd hit her, even if it was inadvertently, well, that's how they decided it was for him to deny it, although Rob After Ta's body was recovered at Beards, even then it was found that the scars on her face did in some way match the size and shape of the camera.

If Clyde were to be a witness, they still doubted very much whether he could tell the whole story with such force and sincerity as to convince any jury that he did not intend to hit her. What? Actually, it doesn't matter whether there is a scar or not, that's all it takes for the jury to believe him.If the jury didn't believe that he hit her by accident, of course he would be convicted of murder.

Thus, they waited for the day of the trial, trying to find, as far as possible, some witnesses or proofs of Clyde's past good conduct in time.But there was one thing that made them very difficult: at Lycurgus, he had pretended to be a model young man on the surface, but secretly he was another.In Kansas City, his first job in the business world, he ended up with such a disgrace.

However, as far as Clyde and his confinement are concerned, it seems to Belknap, Jefferson and the prosecutor that the most troublesome thing is that up to now, his own house and his uncle's house , Not even one person will stand up and speak for him.Moreover, he never told anyone where his parents were except to Belknap and Jefferson.Belknap and Jefferson mentioned from time to time that in order to have anything to prove for him, his parents, or at least one of his sisters or brothers, had to come forward and say a word or two for him.Otherwise, Clyde might be considered a libertine since he was a child, and everyone who knew him deliberately avoided him now.

(End of this chapter)