Life, 1910-11-03 · page 63 of 72
Life — November 3, 1910 — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a poem satirizing the American legal system's absurdities, framed as a mock trial over the nursery rhyme death of Cock Robin. The satire mocks several legal conventions: the sparrow's defense uses the "unwritten law" (a contemporary loophole), expert witnesses (alienists/psychiatrists) provide dubious testimony claiming the sparrow was "neuro-mentally abstracted" and compulsively violent when seeing red, and the defense successfully manipulates the prosecution's case to achieve acquittal. The dark humor critiques how wealthy defendants (Cock Robin's heirs) could lose their inheritance to legal costs while the actual killer escapes justice through technicalities and expert testimony. The poem suggests the legal system prioritizes procedural cleverness over justice—a "famous trial" that achieves the opposite of fairness. The surrounding advertisements (California travel, cocktails, books) are typical Life magazine content and unrelated to the satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OKING ASIDE—€VER HEAR OF SALTO-NUTS—ITALIAN CHOCOLATES $1.25 1b. Mixed FOR THAT. us1guE Took “HATCH AN APPETI ‘i Broadway at 30th St., N.Y. City Who Killed Cock Robin? (Continued from page 789) ‘A chance the sparrow’s lawyer saw To argue the unwritten law. On cross-examination, he Twisted the State’s case shamefully. Three doctors said the sparrow acted While neuro-mentally abstracted, The very sight of something red Made funny noises in his head, (These famous alienists all said). So when he saw cock robin’s breast He simply had to do the rest. The prosecution thus outwitted— Why—Mr. Sparrow was acquitted. Thus the decedent’s money went Or else to meet the costs was spent, And so cock robin’s lawful heirs Got naught for their respective shares. And yet there could be no denial It really was a famous trial. —Charles B. Connolly in McDougall’s Magazine. The Latest Books Lady Good for Nothing, by A. T. Quiller-Couch. (Charles Scribner's Sons. $1.20.) | Get a glimpse Of the | | Golden “West Spend your winter in California. Visit the old missions—bask in the bright golden sun- shine—breathe the sweet summer breezes— revel in a bower of roses and an atmosphere of romance and enchantment. Get away from dreary winter into cheery summer. The all year ‘round, de luxe Golden State Limited via Rock Island Lines —exclusively for first class travel—makes the trip a real joy. Less than three days en route, with every moment one of happiness amid the environments of superb Pullmans, new this season—cosy state- rooms—downy berths, a chef whose dishes are a delight and barber and valet to attend to your needs. Victrola Recitals every day—good books and a journey that will interest you. Daily from Chicago and St. Louis to El Paso, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Del Monte—the Golfer's Paradise—and San Francisco via the route of lowest altitudes. e new “Californian” and other ood trains every day from Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Oroaha and Memphis, with choice of routes Our beautifully illustrated book on California free upon request L. M. ALLEN, Passenger Traffic Manager Room 241 La Salle Station, Chicago Rock Island Cocktails No fuss, no Here’s to You! No fussino bother, Simply strain through cracked ice and serve. phd (sin'base) and Manhattan (whiskey bets) are the most popular. At all good dealers. Gr. The Brownies’ Latest Adventures, by Palmer Cox. (Century Company. $1.50.) The Frontiersman, by H. A. Cody. (George H. Doran Company. $1.20.) & Co. Song-Surf, (Doubleday, Page & Co.) Freda, by Katharine Tynan. $1.20.) by Caleb Young Rice. (Cassell A Dixie Rose, by Augusta Kortrecht. (J. B. Lippincott Company.) Keith of the Border, by Randall Par- rish, (A. C. McClurg & Co. $1.35.) Yozonde of the Wilderness, by Harry Iring Greene. (Desmond Fitzgerald. $1.00.) Leonora, by Frances Rumsey. (D. Ap- pleton & Co.) m™m For 10c In ersarms y Arms Coin ne cuts, showing hands, without any apparatus PROF. ANTHONY RARKER T will send as long as wey last my 25e Book Mlustrated with 20 full page hal! 5 exercises that will quickly develop, beautity and gain great strength in your shoul 1601 Barker Bide 110 West 42nd St.,New York comicbooks.com