american tragedy

Chapter 124 (2)
Chapter 317 (2)
It was for this reason that when they consulted with Darla Blockhart, they asked about Clyde's parents, and learned that on the part of the Griffiths in Lycurgus, they firmly opposed mentioning their family. The one in the west.According to his explanation, the disparity in social status between the two families was too great, and the Griffith family of Lycurgus would not be happy if it was publicized here.Moreover, once the yellow newspapers pay attention to or discover Clyde's parents, who can guarantee that they will not become the object of publicity.According to Blockhart to Belknap, Samuel Griffiths had also mentioned that, if Clyde had no objection, it would be better to keep some of his close relatives in the background.In fact, their financial help to Clyde probably depended entirely on this, at least in part.

Mr. Clyde agreed with the Griffiths on this idea.Those who had talked to him deeply or told him about it said that he felt somewhat sorry for his mother after what had happened.None of these people would doubt the blood and emotional relationship between him and his mother.The whole truth, in fact, was this: his present attitude towards her was one of fear and shame, lest she would not know what to think of his present embarrassment, not to speak of social status, at least of moral depravity.Would she believe the change-of-heart story that Belknap and Jefferson had devised? Just let it go, and let her come all the way and watch him over these railings, see him so humiliated, and And he had to see her face and talk to her every day! How bright her eyes were, yet full of questioning and pain! And, about, about the layer of his innocence, how suspicious she was She deeply felt that although Belknap and Jefferson had devised so many plans for him, they were still a little puzzled about the fact that he accidentally hit her.Maybe they didn't really believe him, and maybe they'd tell her that thought.Would his pious, God-fearing, sin-abhorred mother be more easily convinced than they were?

They asked him again what he thought he should do about his parents. He replied that he thought he could not see his mother, that meeting would do no good but cause pain to both parties.

As far as he could tell, not a word of all that had happened to him had fortunately reached his parents in Denver.Because they have some special beliefs in religion and morals, all those secular and degenerate newspapers are often rejected in their families and churches, not to mention that the Griffiths of Lycurgus do not want to inform them.

But one night, around the time when Belknap and Jefferson were seriously discussing whether his parents should come forward and what to do about it, and when the grand jury at Fort Butch decided to charge Clyde with After the indictment, Esta, who was living in Southeast Denver at this time, happened to read the Los Angeles News:

Indictment of Young Murderer of Female Workers, Bridgeburg, N.Y.-August [-]th: Clyde Griffiths, nephew of Lycurgus collar manufacturing magnate Griffiths, N.Y., was recently Charged with murdering Miss Roberta Alden, of Biltz, N.Y., on July [-]th on Great Bilton Lake in Atrondax.The special grand jury appointed by the governor of the state to accept the case today decided to indict Clyde, accusing him of murder.

After the indictment, the defendant Griffiths still insisted that the crime was inadvertently caused in the face of conclusive evidence. Accompanied by the city's lawyers Alvin Belknap and Ruben Jefferson, the defendant was arrested He pleaded not guilty before Supreme Justice Oberworth.Clyde was immediately remanded in custody, and the trial will be held on October [-]th.

Young Griffiths, twenty-two years old, had been a respected member of Lycurgus high society before his arrest.It is reported that he first knocked out the lover who was a female worker, and then threw him into the lake to drown.Griffiths once had an improper relationship with her, and later planned to abandon her in order to meet another richer girl.The lawyer in this case was hired by his wealthy uncle, Lycurgus.So far, he has remained aloof.According to local sources, apart from his uncle, no other relatives appeared in court to defend him.

Esta hurried to her mother's at once.Although the news had been made very clear, she still refused to believe that it was Clyde.The names of places and people mentioned are also very powerful - Griffith, the rich man of Lycurgus, has no relatives of his own.

She took the tram as fast as she could to the door of the boarding house in Bidwell Street called "Hope Star," which was also a church.This place isn't much higher than the one I used to run in Kansas City.Because, although there are a few rooms here for guests to board, at twenty-five cents per night, it is claimed that it can cover expenses, but the work is heavy, so there is no additional benefit.Moreover, both Frank and Julia were tired of the gray world, and they managed to get out of it, leaving the church work to their parents.Julia was nineteen and worked as a bookkeeper in a downtown restaurant; Frank was turning seventeen and had only recently found work at a fruit and vegetable broker.In fact, the only child in the family during the day was little Russell, Esta's illegitimate child, now three or four years old, who his grandparents supposedly had adopted as an orphan in Kansas City.The kid had dark hair, and looked a lot like Clyde in some places, and, like Clyde when he was a child, he hated learning the basics the most.

Esta was now a very quiet, discreet wife, and when she entered Mrs Griffiths, busy mopping floors, dusting, and making beds, saw her daughter running in with pale cheeks, and beckoned her to another Mrs. Griffiths, who was more or less used to this kind of scene, was surprised and hesitated for a moment, and her eyes immediately showed a cloud of worry.Was there any new misfortune or bad news? For Esta's gray, absent-minded eyes and her expression clearly showed that disaster was approaching.She held a newspaper in her hand, opened it immediately, looked at her mother very anxiously, and then pointed to the news.Mrs. Griffiths read it right away, wondering what the hell was going on?

Prosecute the young murderer of the working woman.

Accused of massacring Miss Roberta Alden on July [-]th at Great Patton Lake in Atrondax...  

charged with manslaughter

Regardless of the overwhelming evidence, he insisted on defending his innocence

Remanded in custody, trial scheduled for October [-]

Knocked out his female worker lover first, and then drowned

no relatives in court

Her eyes, her heart, naturally picked out the most important lines to read first, and then read them again.

Clyde Griffiths, nephew of Lycurgus, NY collar magnate!

Clyde - her son! And only recently, but, no, more than a month ago (she and Asa, they must have been worried about this, because he didn't...) [-]th of July! Now it's It's the eleventh of August! Well... yes! But not her son! Impossible! Clyde is the murderer of his lover, the murderer of a girl! She wrote a letter, saying how he was trying to improve himself, he was the head of a large department, and his future was very promising, but she didn't mention the girl.But what is it now! What about that little girl in Kansas City?! Good God! And Griffith of Lycurgus, her husband's brother, knew it, but didn't Write and tell them! Of course he must be ashamed, disgusted, and indifferent.But no, he still hired two lawyers.But how terrible it is! Asa! Her other children! What will the papers say! And this church, they have to give up this church and go somewhere else.But was he guilty or not? She had to find out before she could judge, and the paper said he had pleaded not guilty.Ah, that mean, flashy, hedonistic hotel in Kansas City! And the other bad boys! What did he do when he was loitering, not writing, and changing his name to Harry Turner? What, what did you learn?

She paused for a moment, in utter misfortune and terror.She had proclaimed the revealed, comforting truth of faith in mercy and salvation, but this faith was now unable to withstand the extreme misfortune and horror.My boy! My Clyde! In prison, charged with murder! She must send a telegram! She must write a letter! Maybe she should go.But where can I get the money? What can I do after that? How can she have the courage and confidence to bear all this! But, whether Asa, Frank or Julia, must not let them know.Asa, his firm and sorrow-tortured confidence.How could his poor eyesight and his weakened body bear such a blow.Moreover, Frank and Julia have just embarked on the road of life, must they be affected and branded by this?

Good God! Is there no end to her misfortunes?

She turned around, and her big hands, which were worn out by work, were shaking while holding the newspaper.Esta stood beside her, and she felt infinitely sympathetic to her mother for the misfortune she had to suffer.She is so tired, and now she is suffering from this torture again! However, she knows that her mother is the strongest soul leader in the family, she is so upright, so tenacious, indomitable, and consistent.

"Mother, I can't believe it's Clyde," was all Esta could say. "That's impossible, isn't it?"

But Mrs. Griffiths just stared at the ominous title.Then her gray-blue eyes glanced hurriedly across the room.Her large face was pale and majestic from the extreme tension and pain.Her very unfortunate son was led astray, he dreamed of climbing up and causing death.He's going to the electric chair for killing people! He killed a poor working girl, so the paper said.

"Hush!" she put a finger to her lips. "At any rate, Asa must not know that we must send a telegram, or write a letter. The reply may be sent to you, and I will send the money to you." You. But now I have to sit somewhere. I feel a little weak. Here I am. Give me the Bible, please."

There is a Bible on the dresser.Sitting on the edge of an ordinary iron bed, she instinctively turned to the third and fourth Psalms.

"O Lord, how abominable is my enemy."

"God of my righteousness, answer me when I cry."

Then, silently, and even apparently peacefully, she read the sixth, eighth, tenth, No. 13, No. 20, third, and No. 90, while Esta silently stood in amazement and grief. next to.

"Oh, Mom, I can't believe it. Ah! This is horrible!"

Mrs. Griffiths read on, however, as though, in spite of this, she could still retire to a place of stillness and silence.There, human misfortune will not befall her, at least temporarily.Then, calmly at last, she closed the book, stood up, and continued:

"Now, let's think about what to say about who sent this telegram to Bridgeburg. I mean, of course, wherever Clyde has been." words—"God, you will answer us with majesty and justice!" "Otherwise, maybe to the two lawyers whose names are on it. I am afraid to telegraph Asa's brother and he will call back. Sa, (continuing: "You are my strength and my shield. I lean on you.") But if we call that judge or ask those two lawyers to pass it on to him, they'll show him , huh? But I thought it best if I called him directly. (“He led me by still waters.”) I could just tell him that I read about him in the papers, but I Still trust him and love him as long as he tells me the truth and what we should do. If he needs money, I'll figure out how to do the best I can (“He revives my soul.”).”

Although she calmed down, she began to rub her big rough hands again, "Oh, this can't be true. God, no way! Anyway, he is my son. We all love him and absolutely believe in him , we should say so. God will save him, we have to watch, we have to pray, we have to have faith. You should be very confident in God's shadow."

She was in a trance, not knowing what to say.Esta beside her said, "Yes, mother! Oh, yes, I will, he must be all right." But she was saying to herself again: "My God! My God! It's too bad, too bad. Oops--charged with murder! Surely it can't be true, though. It can't be true! If only he had heard!" (She was thinking of her husband.) "And something happened at Russell Later, and after what happened to Clyde in Kansas City. Poor mother, unfortunate mother."

After a while, the two of them avoided Asa who was tidying up the room, and came to the hall downstairs of the church.There is silence here, surrounded by many pictures showing God's mercy, wisdom and eternal justice.

(End of this chapter)