If the public had almost forgotten the existence of Laura and her crime, they were reminded of all the details of the murder by the newspapers, which for some days had been announcing the approaching trial. But they had not forgotten. The sex, the age, the beauty of the prisoner; her high social position in Washington, the unparalled calmness with which the crime was committed had all conspired1 to fix the event in the public mind, although nearly three hundred and sixty-five subsequent murders had occurred to vary the monotony of metropolitan2 life.
No, the public read from time to time of the lovely prisoner, languishing3 in the city prison, the tortured victim of the law’s delay; and as the months went by it was natural that the horror of her crime should become a little indistinct in memory, while the heroine of it should be invested with a sort of sentimental4 interest. Perhaps her counsel had calculated on this. Perhaps it was by their advice that Laura had interested herself in the unfortunate criminals who shared her prison confinement5, and had done not a little to relieve, from her own purse, the necessities of some of the poor creatures. That she had done this, the public read in the journals of the day, and the simple announcement cast a softening6 light upon her character.
The court room was crowded at an early hour, before the arrival of judges, lawyers and prisoner. There is no enjoyment7 so keen to certain minds as that of looking upon the slow torture of a human being on trial for life, except it be an execution; there is no display of human ingenuity8, wit and power so fascinating as that made by trained lawyers in the trial of an important case, nowhere else is exhibited such subtlety9, acumen10, address, eloquence11.
All the conditions of intense excitement meet in a murder trial. The awful issue at stake gives significance to the lightest word or look. How the quick eyes of the spectators rove from the stolid12 jury to the keen lawyers, the impassive judge, the anxious prisoner. Nothing is lost of the sharp wrangle13 of the counsel on points of law, the measured decision’s of the bench; the duels14 between the attorneys and the witnesses. The crowd sways with the rise and fall of the shifting testimony15, in sympathetic interest, and hangs upon the dicta of the judge in breathless silence. It speedily takes sides for or against the accused, and recognizes as quickly its favorites among the lawyers. Nothing delights it more than the sharp retort of a witness and the discomfiture16 of an obnoxious17 attorney. A joke, even if it be a lame18 one, is no where so keenly relished19 or quickly applauded as in a murder trial.
Within the bar the young lawyers and the privileged hangers-on filled all the chairs except those reserved at the table for those engaged in the case. Without, the throng20 occupied all the seats, the window ledges21 and the standing22 room. The atmosphere was already something horrible. It was the peculiar23 odor of a criminal court, as if it were tainted24 by the presence, in different persons, of all the crimes that men and women can commit.
There was a little stir when the Prosecuting25 Attorney, with two assistants, made his way in, seated himself at the table, and spread his papers before him. There was more stir when the counsel of the defense26 appeared. They were Mr. Braham, the senior, and Mr. Quiggle and Mr. O’Keefe, the juniors.
Everybody in the court room knew Mr. Braham, the great criminal lawyer, and he was not unaware27 that he was the object of all eyes as he moved to his place, bowing to his friends in the bar. A large but rather spare man, with broad shoulders and a massive head, covered with chestnut28 curls which fell down upon his coat collar and which he had a habit of shaking as a lion is supposed to shake his mane. His face was clean shaven, and he had a wide mouth and rather small dark eyes, set quite too near together. Mr. Braham wore a brown frock coat buttoned across his breast, with a rose-bud in the upper buttonhole, and light pantaloons. A diamond stud was seen to flash from his bosom29; and as he seated himself and drew off his gloves a heavy seal ring was displayed upon his white left hand. Mr. Braham having seated himself, deliberately30 surveyed the entire house, made a remark to one of his assistants, and then taking an ivory-handled knife from his pocket began to pare his finger nails, rocking his chair backwards31 and forwards slowly.
A moment later Judge O’Shaunnessy entered at the rear door and took his seat in one of the chairs behind the bench; a gentleman in black broadcloth, with sandy hair, inclined to curl, a round, reddish and rather jovial32 face, sharp rather than intellectual, and with a self-sufficient air. His career had nothing remarkable33 in it. He was descended34 from a long line of Irish Kings, and he was the first one of them who had ever come into his kingdom—the kingdom of such being the city of New York. He had, in fact, descended so far and so low that he found himself, when a boy, a sort of street Arab in that city; but he had ambition and native shrewdness, and he speedily took to boot-polishing, and newspaper hawking35, became the office and errand boy of a law firm, picked up knowledge enough to get some employment in police courts, was admitted to the bar, became a rising young politician, went to the legislature, and was finally elected to the bench which he now honored. In this democratic country he was obliged to conceal36 his royalty37 under a plebeian38 aspect. Judge O’Shaunnessy never had a lucrative39 practice nor a large salary but he had prudently40 laid away money—believing that a dependant41 judge can never be impartial42—and he had lands and houses to the value of three or four hundred thousand dollars. Had he not helped to build and furnish this very Court House? Did he not know that the very “spittoon” which his judgeship used cost the city the sum of one thousand dollars?
As soon as the judge was seated, the court was opened with the “oi yis, oi yis” of the officer in his native language, the case called, and the sheriff was directed to bring in the prisoner. In the midst of a profound hush43 Laura entered, leaning on the arm of the officer, and was conducted to a seat by her counsel. She was followed by her mother and by Washington Hawkins, who were given seats near her.
Laura was very pale, but this pallor heightened the lustre44 of her large eyes and gave a touching45 sadness to her expressive46 face. She was dressed in simple black, with exquisite47 taste, and without an ornament48. The thin lace vail which partially49 covered her face did not so much conceal as heighten her beauty. She would not have entered a drawing room with more self-poise, nor a church with more haughty50 humility51. There was in her manner or face neither shame nor boldness, and when she took her seat in full view of half the spectators, her eyes were downcast. A murmur52 of admiration53 ran through the room. The newspaper reporters made their pencils fly. Mr. Braham again swept his eyes over the house as if in approval. When Laura at length raised her eyes a little, she saw Philip and Harry54 within the bar, but she gave no token of recognition.
The clerk then read the indictment55, which was in the usual form. It charged Laura Hawkins, in effect, with the premeditated murder of George Selby, by shooting him with a pistol, with a revolver, shotgun, rifle, repeater, breech-loader, cannon56, six-shooter, with a gun, or some other weapon; with killing57 him with a slung-shot, a bludgeon, carving58 knife, bowie knife, pen knife, rolling pin, car, hook, dagger59, hair pin, with a hammer, with a screw-driver, with a nail, and with all other weapons and utensils60 whatsoever61, at the Southern hotel and in all other hotels and places wheresoever, on the thirteenth day of March and all other days of the Christian62 era wheresoever.
Laura stood while the long indictment was read; and at the end, in response to the inquiry63, of the judge, she said in a clear, low voice; “Not guilty.” She sat down and the court proceeded to impanel a jury.
The first man called was Michael Lanigan, saloon keeper.
“Have you formed or expressed any opinion on this case, and do you know any of the parties?”
“Not any,” said Mr. Lanigan.
“Have you any conscientious64 objections to capital punishment?”
“No, sir, not to my knowledge.”
“Have you read anything about this case?”
“To be sure, I read the papers, y’r Honor.”
Objected to by Mr. Braham, for cause, and discharged.
Patrick Coughlin.
“What is your business?”
“Well—I haven’t got any particular business.”
“Haven’t any particular business, eh? Well, what’s your general business? What do you do for a living?”
“I own some terriers, sir.”
“Own some terriers, eh? Keep a rat pit?”
“Gentlemen comes there to have a little sport. I never fit ’em, sir.”
“Oh, I see—you are probably the amusement committee of the city council. Have you ever heard of this case?”
“Not till this morning, sir.”
“Can you read?”
“Not fine print, y’r Honor.”
The man was about to be sworn, when Mr. Braham asked,
“Could your father read?”
Mr. Braham submitted that the man was disqualified. Judge thought not. Point argued. Challenged peremptorily66, and set aside.
Ethan Dobb, cart-driver.
“Can you read?”
“Yes, but haven’t a habit of it.”
“Have you heard of this case?”
“I think so—but it might be another. I have no opinion about it.”
Dist. A. “Tha—tha—there! Hold on a bit? Did anybody tell you to say you had no opinion about it?”
“N—n—o, sir.”
“Take care now, take care. Then what suggested it to you to volunteer that remark?”
“They’ve always asked that, when I was on juries.”
“Any which?”
“Would you object to finding a person guilty—of murder on evidence?”
“I might, sir, if I thought he wan’t guilty.”
The district attorney thought he saw a point.
“Would this feeling rather incline you against a capital conviction?”
The juror said he hadn’t any feeling, and didn’t know any of the parties. Accepted and sworn.
Dennis Lafin, laborer68. Have neither formed nor expressed an opinion. Never had heard of the case. Believed in hangin’ for them that deserved it. Could read if it was necessary.
Larry O’Toole, contractor70. A showily dressed man of the style known as “vulgar genteel,” had a sharp eye and a ready tongue. Had read the newspaper reports of the case, but they made no impression on him. Should be governed by the evidence. Knew no reason why he could not be an impartial juror.
Question by District Attorney.
“How is it that the reports made no impression on you?”
“Never believe anything I see in the newspapers.”
(Laughter from the crowd, approving smiles from his Honor and Mr. Braham.) Juror sworn in. Mr. Braham whispered to O’Keefe, “that’s the man.”
Avery Hicks, pea-nut peddler. Did he ever hear of this case? The man shook his head.
“Can you read?”
“No.” “Any scruples about capital punishment?”
“No.”
He was about to be sworn, when the district attorney turning to him carelessly, remarked,
“Understand the nature of an oath?”
“Outside,” said the man, pointing to the door.
“I say, do you know what an oath is?”
“Five cents,” explained the man.
“Do you mean to insult me?” roared the prosecuting officer. “Are you an idiot?”
“Fresh baked. I’m deefe. I don’t hear a word you say.”
The man was discharged. “He wouldn’t have made a bad juror, though,” whispered Braham. “I saw him looking at the prisoner sympathizingly. That’s a point you want to watch for.”
The result of the whole day’s work was the selection of only two jurors. These however were satisfactory to Mr. Braham. He had kept off all those he did not know. No one knew better than this great criminal lawyer that the battle was fought on the selection of the jury. The subsequent examination of witnesses, the eloquence expended71 on the jury are all for effect outside. At least that is the theory of Mr. Braham. But human nature is a queer thing, he admits; sometimes jurors are unaccountably swayed, be as careful as you can in choosing them.
It was four weary days before this jury was made up, but when it was finally complete, it did great credit to the counsel for the defence. So far as Mr. Braham knew, only two could read, one of whom was the foreman, Mr. Braham’s friend, the showy contractor. Low foreheads and heavy faces they all had; some had a look of animal cunning, while the most were only stupid. The entire panel formed that boasted heritage commonly described as the “bulwark of our liberties.”
The District Attorney, Mr. McFlinn, opened the case for the state. He spoke72 with only the slightest accent, one that had been inherited but not cultivated. He contented73 himself with a brief statement of the case. The state would prove that Laura Hawkins, the prisoner at the bar, a fiend in the form of a beautiful woman, shot dead George Selby, a Southern gentleman, at the time and place described. That the murder was in cold blood, deliberate and without provocation74; that it had been long premeditated and threatened; that she had followed the deceased from Washington to commit it. All this would be proved by unimpeachable75 witnesses. The attorney added that the duty of the jury, however painful it might be, would be plain and simple. They were citizens, husbands, perhaps fathers. They knew how insecure life had become in the metropolis76. Tomorrow our own wives might be widows, their own children orphans77, like the bereaved78 family in yonder hotel, deprived of husband and father by the jealous hand of some murderous female. The attorney sat down, and the clerk called?
“Henry Brierly.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
conspired
|
|
| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
metropolitan
|
|
| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
languishing
|
|
| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
softening
|
|
| 变软，软化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
ingenuity
|
|
| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
subtlety
|
|
| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
acumen
|
|
| n.敏锐，聪明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
stolid
|
|
| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
wrangle
|
|
| vi.争吵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
duels
|
|
| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
testimony
|
|
| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
discomfiture
|
|
| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
obnoxious
|
|
| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
relished
|
|
| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ledges
|
|
| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tainted
|
|
| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
prosecuting
|
|
| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
unaware
|
|
| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
chestnut
|
|
| n.栗树，栗子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
jovial
|
|
| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
hawking
|
|
| 利用鹰行猎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
royalty
|
|
| n.皇家，皇族 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
plebeian
|
|
| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
lucrative
|
|
| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
prudently
|
|
| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dependant
|
|
| n.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
impartial
|
|
| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
expressive
|
|
| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
ornament
|
|
| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
haughty
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
humility
|
|
| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
indictment
|
|
| n.起诉；诉状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
carving
|
|
| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
utensils
|
|
| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
conscientious
|
|
| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
peremptorily
|
|
| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
scruples
|
|
| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
laborer
|
|
| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
contractor
|
|
| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
expended
|
|
| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
provocation
|
|
| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
unimpeachable
|
|
| adj.无可指责的；adv.无可怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
metropolis
|
|
| n.首府；大城市 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
orphans
|
|
| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
bereaved
|
|
| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |