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