Life — March 14, 1907 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

382 father’s carcer so often that you were not in your right mind, and while in this condition you thought it was easy to give away all you had.” ‘The case for the people was tried as usual by the District Attorney, who consented to undertake it only when he learned that the members of the Ice Trust, Gas Trust, Insurance Trust and other close friends were not involved ‘The District Attorney was known as the the world. ‘The principal witness was David's mother, who, thou sixty years of age, appeared in a sailor suit with an Eton collar, short skirt and a tam-o’-shanter. She also carried under her arm an album containing five hundred portraits of herself taken by Barony for distribution to the papers “Now, my dear friend,” said the lawyer for the defense, as he kissed her hand gracefully and looked at her fixedly, “you are a woman.” “Tam.” \re you sure?” The District Attorney sprang to his feet “T object,” he cricd, with a derisive smile. “This is an appeal to the jury, your Honor, and entirely irrelevant. ‘This person—by calling attention to the witness being a woman, is exciting the sympathy of every one in the court-room—that is, of course, every one but myself.” Objection sustained “Now, madam, we will proceed want to know the truth. Never forget that I am a criminal lawyer. All I want to know is the story of what you told the defendant.” “Ttold him that if we didn’t gi be ruined.” “Ah! Anything else? “I told him he would have to compete with every other artest man in Understand me, I don’t away our money we would multimillionaire in the country.” “Ah! Proceed.” “T told him that unless we succeeded, neither of us could ever again look a Baptist church in the face.” “And did this excite him?” “Very much The lawyer for the defense bowed to the District Attorney. “Every newspaper artist and reporter in the room having practically secured a good story,” he said, “T will now turn the witness over to your learned attentions.” ‘The District Attorney then took the witness in hand “Where were you born?” “T don’t remember.” “Ts that because it was so long ago, or” for the defense sprang to his feet “LT object, yourtlonor,” he cried. he learned and dis- tinguished and chivalric District Attorney has a sardonic grin He had several fits on the spot.” ‘The lawyer on his face “T can’t help that, sir manner.” Twas born with it. [t's my natural Can't you try to conceal it?” “Well, I'l do the best 1 can.” Ile continued: “Did you tell anything else to this defendant than what you ave testified 2” “T don’t remember.” Pa; 1S THE BABY ALL RIGHT FOR THE NIGHT? Ma: 1 THINK SO, 1 JUST TUCKED MIM UP. “WELL, PUT A COUPLE MORE SHOVELFULS OF SNOW ON HIM.”” ‘The testimony at this point became so dull and uninteresting that it wasn’t worth using. “Tam through,” said the District Attorney at last. “If this se should continue for three years more, neither you nor I could get any better advertisement. So we might as well stop.” ‘The attorney for the defense bowed in reply and the case went to the jury. They brought in a verdict of not guilty. ‘Three hours later David and his mother stood once more alone in their house. ‘There was a glad, happy light in the boy’s eyes, as he clasped his mother in his arms. “Free at last,” he murmured. “Free!” exclaimed his mother. ‘Alas! David, how can you ay such a thing? It is true that you are out of jail, but think of how our fortune has grown since our trouble.” She buried her face in her hands. “If it was hard to get rid of before,” she cried, “what must it be now?” But David only smiled bright! a long paper “Nay, nay, mother dear,” he replied, joyfully. “We have now nothing to look forward to but a life of uninterrupted poverty, God has indeed answered our prayer. Our fortune is now no more. Here is our lawyer's bill.” Thomas L. Masson. 2s he drew from his pocket comicbooks.com