Life, 1917-05-10 · page 41 of 46
Life — May 10, 1917 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece inverts the justice system to critique judicial corruption and bias. A common citizen becomes prosecutor, reversing roles with a Judge who becomes the accused. The satire exposes how judges allegedly: - Stack juries with biased strangers rather than impartial jurors - Use the courtroom to generate income through prosecutions - Manipulate proceedings ("do all I can to make them bring in a verdict against you") - Abuse power through arbitrary fines and delays The Judge's desperate protests highlight the injustice of a rigged system. The citizen's candid admission—"I am not dealing in justice. I am trying to make a good living out of prosecuting them"—reveals the real motivation: profit over fairness. By reversing roles, Life magazine lampoons judicial corruption of the era, suggesting judges operated as self-interested operators rather than impartial arbiters. The humor works by making the injustice obvious when applied to someone with power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If Things Were Reversed “YOU are my prisoner,” said the common citizen to the Judge “Now, don’t get uneasy. I have a charge against you, and in order to be as unfair as possible I am going to get twelve men who are total strangers. and who are much more likely to believe me than you, to pass on your case—with my help, of course.” “Hold on!” said the Judge, who was by this time terribly excited. “Can't you make it an even thing? Let me pick out six friends and you take the rest. Then you keep quiet to them.” The common citizen smiled sagely. “My dear Judge,” he replied, “ you don’t understand the law I have made for judges, who are a_ particularly reprehensible class of people and need to be severely dealt . Remember that I am not dealing in justice. I am trying to make a good living out of prosecuting them. I am going to tell the twelve fellows I shall select just what I think of you, and, in fact, do all I can to make them bring in a ver- dict against you. It makes business for me and those who help me, to do this. That is the way I keep up my present extensive establishment.” beaten path Trips by saddle and pack - team Orauto-through NewMexico Arizona nt Enchanted Land-penonally conducted Se, Tatas b}Os Ollmpses of Navajo ees ‘Alter days toloue wrens Cost about $10 e di Som fe seer aa MILITARY BOOKS! | Largest stock in North America. Helps for Officers | aed new recruits, Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, Air-| Galt, Bombing, Signalling, Field Engineering, Ma- shine Gunnery, Army Medical, Army Service, Ete. rite or wire for catalogue. RUSSELL. LANG & CO., Dept. “A,” Winnipeg, Canada For Milady’s Hope Chest IVORY PY-RA-LIN Exquisite in its mellow tones with the delicate graining of old-elephant ivory—what could be more appropriate—more dainty—for the bride-to-be than a boudoir set of Ivory Py-ra-lin? TO = Our distinctive Du Barry design epitomizes supremacy of style and craftsmanship in this charming all-American product. aD. KAS The better class stores show a representative assortment. Our Ivory Py-ra-lin brochure, sent on request, depicts some most desirable pieces. THE ARLINGTON COMPANY 725 Broadway, New York The Judge turned pale the verdict should, by any possibility, “But, look here!" he exclaimed. be in my favor the delay will, I fear, “You are fined ten dollars for say- ruin me.” ing, ‘Look here!’ That shows disre- “That is the intention,” smiled the spect and contempt for my humble common citizen. “ You see, the more office. Go on!” judges we can ruin in the course of a The Judge began again, but this year, the better it will be for us. When time he was more careful. can You get a verdict? Oh, maybe in “If your honor please,” he said, a couple of years or so. In the mean- humbly and cautiously, “when can I time I'll lock you up in my private get a verdict one way or the other? jail just to convince you that I am This suspense is killing me. Even if ivilized and that you are not.” comicbooks.com