第 15 节
作者:
冬儿 更新:2024-04-07 11:52 字数:9322
overshadowing the land。
A familiar phrase rang in his ears: 〃It is to laugh。〃 At the
height of the wrangle; he giggled; once; aloud; and earned a
sullen frown from Judge Witberg。 Worse; a myriad times; he
decided; were these bullying lawyers and this bullying judge
then the bucko mates in first quality hell…ships; who not only
did their own bullying but protected themselves as well。 These
petty rapscallions; on the other hand; sought protection behind
the majesty of the law。 They struck; but no one was permitted
to strike back; for behind them were the prison cells and the
clubs of the stupid policemenpaid and professional fighters
and beaters…up of men。 Yet he was not bitter。 The grossness and
the sliminess of it was forgotten in the simple grotesqueness
of it; and he had the saving sense of humor。
Nevertheless; hectored and heckled though he was; he managed in
the end to give a simple; straightforward version of the
affair; and; despite a belligerent cross…examination; his story
was not shaken in any particular。 Quite different it was from
the perjuries that had shouted aloud from the perjuries of
Patsy and his two witnesses。
Both Patsy's attorney and the Prosecuting Attorney rested their
cases; letting everything go before the Court without argument。
Watson protested against this; but was silenced when the
Prosecuting Attorney told him that Public Prosecutor and knew
his business。
〃Patrick Horan has testified that he was in danger of his life
and that he was compelled to defend himself;〃 Judge Witberg's
verdict began。 〃Mr。 Watson has testified to the same thing。
Each has sworn that the other struck the first blow; each has
sworn that the other made an unprovoked assault on him。 It is
an axiom of the law that the defendant should be given the
benefit of the doubt。 A very reasonable doubt exists。
Therefore; in the case of the People Versus Carter Watson the
benefit of the doubt is given to said Carter Watson and he is
herewith ordered discharged from custody。 The same reasoning
applies to the case of the People Versus Patrick Horan。 He is
given the benefit of the doubt and discharged from custody。 My
recommendation is that both defendants shake hands and make
up。〃
In the afternoon papers the first headline that caught Watson's
eye was: 〃CARTER WATSON ACQUITTED。〃 In the second paper it was:
〃CARTER WATSON ESCAPES A FINE。〃 But what capped everything was
the one beginning: 〃CARTER WATSON A GOOD FELLOW。〃 In the text
he read how Judge Witberg had advised both fighters to shake
hands; which they promptly did。 Further; he read:
〃'Let's have a nip on it;' said Patsy Horan。
〃'Sure;' said Carter Watson。
〃And; arm in arm; they ambled for the nearest saloon。〃
IV
Now; from the whole adventure; Watson carried away no
bitterness。 It was a social experience of a new order; and it
led to the writing of another book; which he entitled; 〃POLICE
COURT PROCEDURE: A Tentative Analysis。〃
One summer morning a year later; on his ranch; he left his
horse and himself clambered on through a miniature canyon to
inspect some rock ferns he had planted the previous winter。
Emerging from the upper end of the canyon; he came out on one
of his flower…spangled meadows; a delightful isolated spot;
screened from the world by low hills and clumps of trees。 And
here he found a man; evidently on a stroll from the summer
hotel down at the little town a mile away。 They met face to
face and the recognition was mutual。 It was Judge Witberg。
Also; it was a clear case of trespass; for Watson had trespass
signs upon his boundaries; though he never enforced them。
Judge Witberg held out his hand; which Watson refused to see。
〃Politics is a dirty trade; isn't it; Judge?〃 he remarked。 〃Oh;
yes; I see your hand; but I don't care to take it。 The papers
said I shook hands with Patsy Horan after the trial。 You know I
did not; but let me tell you that I'd a thousand times rather
shake hands with him and his vile following of curs; than with
you。〃
Judge Witberg was painfully flustered; and as he hemmed and
hawed and essayed to speak; Watson; looking at him; was struck
by a sudden whim; and he determined on a grim and facetious
antic。
〃I should scarcely expect any animus from a man of your
acquirements and knowledge of the world;〃 the Judge was saying。
〃Animus?〃 Watson replied。 〃Certainly not。 I haven't such a
thing in my nature。 And to prove it; let me show you something
curious; something you have never seen before。〃 Casting about
him; Watson picked up a rough stone the size of his fist。 〃See
this。 Watch me。〃
So saying; Carter Watson tapped himself a sharp blow on the
cheek。 The stone laid the flesh open to the bone and the blood
spurted forth。
〃The stone was too sharp;〃 he announced to the astounded police
judge; who thought he had gone mad。
〃I must bruise it a trifle。 There is nothing like being
realistic in such matters。〃
Whereupon Carter Watson found a smooth stone and with it
pounded his cheek nicely several times。
〃Ah;〃 he cooed。 〃That will turn beautifully green and black in
a few hours。 It will be most convincing。〃
〃You are insane;〃 Judge Witberg quavered。
〃Don't use such vile language to me;〃 said Watson。 〃You see my
bruised and bleeding face? You did that; with that right hand
of yours。 You hit me twicebiff; biff。 It is a brutal and
unprovoked assault。 I am in danger of my life。 I must protect
myself。〃
Judge Witberg backed away in alarm before the menacing fists of
the other。
〃If you strike me I'll have you arrested;〃 Judge Witberg
threatened。
〃That is what I told Patsy;〃 was the answer。 〃And do you know
what he did when I told him that?〃
〃No。〃
〃That!〃
And at the same moment Watson's right fist landed flush on
Judge Witberg's nose; putting that legal gentleman over on his
back on the grass。
〃Get up!〃 commanded Watson。 〃If you are a gentleman; get
upthat's what Patsy told me; you know。〃
Judge Witberg declined to rise; and was dragged to his feet by
the coat…collar; only to have one eye blacked and be put on his
back again。 After that it was a red Indian massacre。 Judge
Witberg was humanely and scientifically beaten up。 His checks
were boxed; his cars cuffed; and his face was rubbed in the
turf。 And all the time Watson exposited the way Patsy Horan had
done it。 Occasionally; and very carefully; the facetious
sociologist administered a real bruising blow。 Once; dragging
the poor Judge to his feet; he deliberately bumped his own nose
on the gentleman's head。 The nose promptly bled。
〃See that!〃 cried Watson; stepping back and deftly shedding his
blood all down his own shirt front。 〃You did it。 With your fist
you did it。 It is awful。 I am fair murdered。 I must again
defend myself。〃
And once more Judge Witberg impacted his features on a fist and
was sent to grass。
〃I will have you arrested;〃 he sobbed as he lay。
〃That's what Patsy said。〃
〃A brutal…sniff; sniff;and unprovokedsniff; sniff
assault。〃
〃That's what Patsy said。〃
〃I will surely have you arrested。〃
〃Speaking slangily; not if I can beat you to it。〃
And with that; Carter Watson departed down the canyon; mounted
his horse; and rode to town。
An hour later; as Judge Witberg limped up the grounds to his
hotel; he was arrested by a village constable on a charge of
assault and battery preferred by Carter Watson。
V
〃Your Honor;〃 Watson said next day to the village Justice; a
well to do farmer and graduate; thirty years before; from a cow
college; 〃since this Sol Witberg has seen fit to charge me with
battery; following upon my charge of battery against him; I
would suggest that both cases be lumped together。 The testimony
and the facts are the same in both cases。〃
To this the Justice agreed; and the double case proceeded。
Watson; as prosecuting witness; first took the stand and told
his story。
〃I was picking flowers;〃 he testified。 〃Picking flowers on my
own land; never dreaming of danger。 Suddenly this man rushed
upon me from behind the trees。 'I am the Dodo;' he says; 'and I
can do you to a frazzle。 Put up your hands。' I smiled; but with
that; biff; biff; he struck me; knocking me down and spilling
my flowers。 The language he used was frightful。 It was an
unprovoked and brutal assault。 Look at my cheek。 Look at my
noseI could not understand it。 He must have been drunk。
Before I recovered from my surprise he had administered this
beating。 I was in danger of my life and was compelled to defend
himself。 That is all; Your Honor; though I must say; in
conclusion; that I cannot get over my perplexity。 Why did he
say he was the Dodo? Why did he so wantonly attack me?〃
And thus was Sol Witberg given a liberal education in the art
of perjury。 Often; from his high seat; he had listen