Judge, 1928-01-21 · page 10 of 36
Judge — January 21, 1928 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains three satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **"Justice and Mercy"** mocks the legal system's inconsistency. A defendant accused of murder is acquitted after the jury learns his standard, irritable response to his wife's complaints was merely "What do you want to bring that up for?"—suggesting his habitual rudeness, not guilt, explains the victim's accusations of infidelity. The satire targets how trivial or character-based details can sway juries toward unexpected leniency. **The car design cartoon** jokes about automotive innovation, suggesting a slapstick vehicle design as a "logical" option among new models. **"A Matter of Courtesy"** uses thick ethnic dialect (likely meant as working-class immigrant speech) in a humorous phone conversation where a prisoner requests his warden ask another inmate which bank has the most unreliable burglar alarm—implying the inmates are planning crimes post-release. The satire critiques prison security and rehabilitation failure. All three pieces reflect Judge's satirical focus on American legal, commercial, and social institutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Justice and Mercy The case had gone to the jury some two hours before and throughout the crowded court room opinion was unanimous that the verdict would be “Guilty.” The State had presented a mas terful case and the defense had been shattered before the district attorney's verbal barra It looked bad for the attra » de- Suddenly the door from the jurors’ room opened and the ckoned to the stenog- fr. Bla said the \s “when the defendant asked the murdered man why he had been unfaithful to her what was his reply?” This looks like a good one, boys: “What Freddy Saw Through The stenographer looked the Keyhole.” “Mumsey, 1 wish [had a little sister!” announced through his notes. “His answer Wallace, aged 7. “And why, gorgeous?” asked the good Mrs, was ‘What vu want to bring Belknap. “Because I'm getting darn sick of sticking pins in that up for the tail!” asseverated Wallace, rapidly knifing his mother “LT osee. When the defendant in the back. No fool like an old fool, hey, guys? Acéiscd Wie niuedered: ian of extravagance what did he say te her?” Again the amanuensis looked through his book. “His answer, as before, was ‘What do you t to bring that up fo In fact. according to the stenographic re port of the trial the vietim’s answer to practically all of his wife's questions and statements was an irritable “What do you want to bring that up for?’ Three minutes later the jury filed into the box with a unani- mous verdict of “NOT GUILTY!" —Antuce L. Liresann A Matter of Courtesy Voice (over telephone)——Hullo /HULLO!. 2. Is dis Sing Oh, is dat vou, w: vy dis is . » Yeah, I went over all las’ week. 2. . Fine, tanks, an’ how are you? lissen, warden, I wisht youse a little favor, will yuh? Well, it’s like dis: bef T left las’ week, Number Thoit; Hun-erd an’ Thoiteen give me t'ree floor plans 0’ national banks, see?... Well, what I want youse should do is dis, warden: Would youse please ast him which one o’ dem banks has got de boiglar No, no! They are not fighting. It’s only the picture of a alarm wot's always out o° order? man bumping his nose against a mirror. . —Cuer Jouxsox | J comicbooks.com