The Government was represented by the finest legal talent its vast resources and power could command.
For eleven days, before two presiding judges of the United States Circuit Court, the fierce battle of legal giants raged. The great lawyers for the defence fought every inch of ground with dogged tenacity1.
Stella watched from day to day with breathless intensity2 as she sat by John Graham’s side.
It soon became plain that the Court had constituted itself a partisan3 political tribunal for the purpose, not of administering justice, but of crushing the enemies of the party in power.
Every decision was against the prisoner, though, in deference5 to the distinguished6 character of the lawyers for the defence, they were allowed to argue each point. The profound and accurate learning with which they reviewed the Constitutional law of the Republic was a liberal education to the shallow little partisans7 who sat on the judge’s bench before them. But their eloquence8 and learning fell on the ears of men whose decisions were already made.
In violation9 of the rights of the prisoner under the constitutions of the state and nation the indictment10 for murder was ordered to immediate11 trial.
From the moment the actual proceedings12 of the trial began, the Government had no delay or difficulty.
With sinking heart Stella saw the disgraceful travesty13 of justice draw each moment the cords of death closer about the form of the man she loved.
The jury corruptly14 chosen for this case marked the lowest tide mud to which the administration of justice ever sank in our history. A white freeman, a man of culture and heroic mould, whose fathers created the American Republic, was arraigned15 to plead for his life before a jury composed of one dirty, ignorant white scalawag and eleven coal-black Negroes! The white man was not made its foreman, a Negro teamster was chosen.
Steve Hoyle became at once the presiding genius of the prosecution16. The court room was thronged17 with liars19, perjurers and sycophants20 who hung about his fat figure with obsequious21 deference. Old Larkin, who came from the Capitol to assist the prosecution, sat constantly by Steve’s side.
John Graham watched Steve with cold deadly hate, but he had warned his men under no conceivable circumstances to lift a hand in resistance either to constituted authority, or to give the traitor22 his deserts. A pall23 of helpless grief and fear hung over every decent white man who witnessed the High Court of Justice of the Anglo-Saxon race suddenly transformed into a Negro minstrel farce24 on which hung their liberty and life.
0008
The star witness of the prosecution was Uncle Isaac A. Postle. He took his seat before the jury, grinning and nodding at two of his dusky friends among them with calm assurance.
Isaac was allowed to tell a marvellous rambling25 story of Ku Klux outrages—stories which he had heard from Larkin—about whose truth he could possibly know nothing. In vain the lawyers for the defence objected. The court overruled every objection and allowed the Apostle free scope to his vivid imagination.
Reverdy Johnson, the distinguished ex-Attorney General of the United States who stood before the judges protesting with dignity, bowed to the Bench and sat down in disgust with the quiet remark:
“We shall offer no further objection to anything that may be said in this Court.”
He had scarcely taken his seat when Ackerman moved his chair behind him and began to whisper.
The District Attorney watched the detective in astonishment27, while Hoyle and Larkin bent28 their heads together in excited conference.
Susie looked at Stella, smiled and blushed.
Isaac finally came to specific charges against John Graham.
“Now tell the court what you know about John Graham’s connection with the murder of Judge Butler,” said Steve, who was conducting his examination.
“Yassah, I knows all ’bout it, sah. Mr. John Graham de very man dat kill de jedge wid his own han’. I see ’im when he do it. Dey come slippin’ up back er de house, an’ creep in froo de winder while de odder folks wuz in de ballroom29 dancin’. Dey wuz eight un ’em—yassah. Dey slip up an’ grab de jedge an’ hol’ ’im while Mr. John Graham stick a knife right in his heart——yassah. I wuz lookin’ right at ’im froo de winder when he done it. When he kill ’im, dey all mix up wid de odder Ku Kluxes what wuz dancin’, an’ go way ter-gedder.”
“Take the witness,” said Steve with a wave of his hand.
“How did you know it was Mr. Graham?” asked General Johnson.
“I seed ’im wid my own eyes.”
“He wore a complete disguise, did he not?”
“Yassah, but I seed ’im all de same.”
“You could see through the mask?”
“I seed ’im—I done tole ye!”
“Answer my question,” sternly commanded the lawyer. “Could you see his face through the mask?”
“Nasah.”
“Then how did you recognise him?”
“He tuck it off ter scratch his head, sah, an’ I see his face. I knowed it wuz him all de time fo’ I see his face.”
Ackerman whispered to the lawyer.
“Did you tell Mr. Ackerman, Uncle Isaac, that, as you started to run away from the masqueraders that night, you saw John Graham at your gate—ran into him?”
“Nasah, I nebber say no sech thing!” Isaac shouted, glaring and shaking his head at Ackerman.
“Didn’t you tell the same gentleman that later in the evening you saw John Graham seated on a rustic30 near the house watching it from the outside?”
“Nasah! dat I didn’t!”
“Do you know that if you swear a lie——”
“I ain’t swar no lie!” Isaac interrupted with religious fervour. “I’se de Lord’s Sanctified One, sah. I ain’t done no sin since I got sanctification. Yassah, praise God!”
“Don’t you know,” repeated the lawyer, “that if you swear to a lie on that witness stand you can be sent to the penitentiary32 for perjury33?”
“I knows dey ain’t gwine sen’ me dar—I knows dat,” Isaac said with a grin, and his Negro acquaintances in the jury box laughed.
The lawyer changed his line of questions. “You say you saw John Graham strike the death-blow?”
“Yassah, I see ’im wid dese very eyes.”
“Were you close enough to hear what was said?”
“Yassah, I wuz right dar by de open winder.”
“What did he say?”
“Des ez he raise de knife he say, ‘I got you now, you d—— Black Radical34 ‘Publican!’”
“You swear that you heard him say that he killed the Judge because he was a Republican?”
“Yassah! dat’s what de Ku Kluxes kill ’em all fur, sah!”
Larkin shuffled35 uneasily, bent again in conference with Steve who rose immediately and asked for an adjournment36 of two hours.
When the Court reassembled and Isaac took his seat in the witness chair, Aunt Julie Ann’s huge form suddenly appeared in the doorway37 with her hand resting confidingly38 on Alfred’s arm. They walked inside the railing of the bar and took seats assigned to them behind John Graham’s counsel. Aunt Julie Ann handed Ackerman a pair of Isaac’s old shoes. He measured them quickly on a diagram which he drew from his pocket.
Isaac watched Aunt Julie Ann and Alfred with mouth opened in wonder, rage and growing fear.
He rose and bowed to the judges.
“I gotter ax de cote ter perteck me, gemmens,” he said falteringly39.
“What do you mean?” asked a judge.
“Dat nigger Alfred dar tryin’ ter steal my wife from me, sah!”
Alfred grinned, and patted Aunt Julie Ann’s hand and whispered: “Doan min’ de low-live rascal40, honey!”
“Yassah, an’ my wife come here tryin’ ter timidate me, sah. She jes fetch er par4 er my ole shoes inter31 dis cote. She’s a cunjer ‘oman, sah. I try ter sanctify her, but she won’t stay sanctified. She got a kink er my hair las’ night and wrap it up in a piece er paper and put it under de cote house do’ step, an’ she say dat ef I walk over dat into dis house ter-day an’ jestify ergin Marse John Graham she fling er spell over me. I ax de cote fer perfection, sah. I axes de Sheriff ter take dat bunch er hair from under dem steps fo’ I say annuder word!”
“Silence, sir, and proceed with your testimony,” said the Judge.
Aunt Julie Ann fanned her fat face, smiled at Stella and Susie and quietly slipped her hand in Alfred’s.
Isaac dropped into his chair limp and crestfallen41. In a sort of dazed trance he kept his eye fixed42 on Alfred’s face grinning in triumph.
John’s lawyer pounced43 on him in sudden sharp accents.
“Is this a pair of your shoes, Isaac?”
“Yassah,” was the listless answer.
“You wore these shoes the night the Judge was killed, didn’t you?”
“Yassah.”
“You’re sure of it?”
“Yassah. Dem’s my ole ones. I got a new pair now.”
The lawyer stepped close and in threatening tones asked:
“Will you explain to this Court what your shoes were doing making tracks in the soft mud of the underground passage from the family vault44 of the Graham house the night of this murder?”
Isaac’s jaw45 dropped, he drew his red bandanna46 handkerchief and mopped his brow.
A hum of excitement ran over the court room, and an officer cried:
“Silence!”
Isaac continued to mop his brow and fumble47 at his handkerchief while he gazed at the lawyer in a helpless stupor48.
“Answer my question, sir!” the towering figure thundered into his face.
“I doan know what yer means, sah,” he faltered49.
“Yes you do. There were nine other men with you. Who were they?”
“I dunno, sah!”
Larkin whispered excitedly to Steve, who shook his head and gazed at Isaac in amazement50.
“Were they masked so that you couldn’t see their faces?”
Isaac looked appealingly to the judges and whimpered:
“I doan know what dey er talkin’ ‘bout, sah.”
“You must answer the questions,” said the Judge.
The lawyer glared at Isaac whose shifting eyes sought Larkin.
“Think it over a minute, Isaac,” the lawyer continued; “in the meantime examine that knife.”
He drew from its case a long, keen hunting-knife, and handed it to the witness who was now trembling from head to foot.
“Did you ever see that knife before?”
Isaac hesitated and finally answered:
“Yassah, I sold it ter Mr. Ackerman.”
“Where did you get it?”
Larkin suddenly cleared his throat with a deep guttural sound like the growl51 of an infuriated animal.
The lawyer looked at him with annoyance52 and the officer again shouted:
“Silence!”
“I foun’ it, sah,” he answered evasively.
“Now, Isaac, you want to be very careful how you answer my next question.”
The lawyer took the knife from the Negro’s hand and felt of its point.
“You will notice that a tiny piece is broken off the tip of this blade. I hold in my hand the little bit of steel which exactly fits there. It was found embedded53 in a bone in Judge Butler’s body. This is the knife that struck the death-blow. Did you own that knife the night of the murder? Answer me!”
Isaac fumbled54 his handkerchief again and looked about the room helplessly.
Larkin rose carelessly and started from the court room. Ackerman, watching him keenly, sprang to his side.
“Don’t leave, Larkin, we want you as a witness in a moment,” he whispered.
“I’ll return immediately,” the Carpetbagger replied, increasing his haste.
“Wait!” Ackerman commanded.
Larkin quickened his pace and the detective seized his arm.
The Carpetbagger threw him off with sudden fury and plunged55 toward the door.
With the spring of a tiger, Ackerman leaped on him. A brief fierce fight, and he was dragged panting back before the astonished Court, while every man in the room sprang to his feet and pressed around the struggling men.
“What’s the meaning of this disorder56?” thundered the presiding Judge.
“With apologies to the Court for the interruption I beg leave to present the murderer of Judge Butler—I ask a warrant for his arrest,” Ackerman demanded.
A wave of horror swept the crowd of Larkin’s friends.
“The man is a crazy liar18, your Honours,” protested Larkin. “And he has proven himself a renegade and a scoundrel in this court room to-day. I protest against this outrage26.”
“I’ll prove my charge to the Court—every link in the chain of evidence is now complete,” was the cool answer.
With the court room in an uproar57, Larkin was arrested and placed between Ackerman and a deputy, and the trial resumed.
A brief conference between the District Attorney and Isaac preceded the first question asked by John’s counsel after the disturbance58.
“Now, Isaac,” the lawyer began suavely59, “the District Attorney has just promised to spare your life on condition that you tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth—let’s have it.”
“Yassah,” the Apostle responded in humble60 accents. “Mr. Larkin, he tell me ter say what I did, sah.”
Larkin’s head dropped and his keen eyes furtively61 sought the door.
“Who gave you that knife?”
A moment of breathless suspense62 rippled63 the crowded court room and every head was bent forward.
“Mr. Larkin gimme de knife! We’se been powful good friends, sah. I show him de under-groun’ way fum de tomb inter de house. I’se de only black man dat know it—my daddy help dig it—yassah. Mr. Larkin de fust man I ebber tell dat I know ’bout it. He say he want ter beat de Ku Kluxes. He say he make’em smoke dat night, an’ he git eight men an’ dress up jes lak ‘em, an’ I show him de way ter git in froo de panel in de hall. He fool me. I didn’t know he gwine ter kill de jedge, sah, er I wouldn’t er let ’em in, nosah. I doan’ believe in killin’ nobody. He tell me ter git outen de county an’ I stay till de soldiers come back. Yassah, an’ dat’s de whole troof!”
Ackerman motioned the sergeant64, a pair of handcuffs clicked on Larkin’s wrists, and the great white head sank on his breast.
Stella gazed at his pathetic figure with a strange feeling of pity and wonder, while her hand sought John Graham’s and pressed it tenderly.
The count of murder was dropped, but the charge of conspiracy65 was pressed with merciless ferocity. A procession of hired liars ascended66 the witness stand and in rapid succession perjured67 themselves by swearing that they had recognised the prisoner on various raids made by the Klan in the county.
The jury was out fifteen minutes.
When they returned John Graham, in whose veins68 flowed the blood of a race of world-conquering men, entitled to a trial by a jury of his peers, rose with quiet dignity and heard the verdict of his condemnation69 fall from the thick protruding70 lips of a flat-nosed Negro:
“We finds de prisoner guilty!”
“So say you all gentlemen?” asked the clerk.
And in response each black spindle-shanked juror shambled to his feet and answered:
“Guilty!”
The last name called was the little white Scalawag’s, whose weak voice squeaked71 an echo:
“Guilty.”
The Judge imposed a fine of one thousand dollars and sentenced John Graham to five years imprisonment72 at hard labour in the United States penitentiary at Albany, New York.
A low moan from Stella, and her head sank in voiceless anguish73.
To the brave and the proud there are visions darker than death.
John Graham saw this as he was led from the court room back to jail—the vision of the hideous74 leprous shame of a convict’s suit of stripes!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
tenacity
|
|
| n.坚韧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
partisan
|
|
| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
par
|
|
| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
deference
|
|
| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
partisans
|
|
| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
violation
|
|
| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
indictment
|
|
| n.起诉；诉状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
travesty
|
|
| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
corruptly
|
|
| 腐败（堕落）地，可被收买的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
arraigned
|
|
| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
prosecution
|
|
| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
liars
|
|
| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
sycophants
|
|
| n.谄媚者，拍马屁者( sycophant的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
obsequious
|
|
| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
farce
|
|
| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
ballroom
|
|
| n.舞厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
inter
|
|
| v.埋葬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
penitentiary
|
|
| n.感化院；监狱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
perjury
|
|
| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
radical
|
|
| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
adjournment
|
|
| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
confidingly
|
|
| adv.信任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
falteringly
|
|
| 口吃地，支吾地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
crestfallen
|
|
| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
pounced
|
|
| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
bandanna
|
|
| n.大手帕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fumble
|
|
| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
stupor
|
|
| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
embedded
|
|
| a.扎牢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
fumbled
|
|
| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
suavely
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
furtively
|
|
| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rippled
|
|
| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
conspiracy
|
|
| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
perjured
|
|
| adj.伪证的，犯伪证罪的v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
condemnation
|
|
| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
squeaked
|
|
| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |