Part 35 (2/2)

”Statistically it is an extremely clear-cut pattern,” he started.

It was no worse than Barbara had expected from an expert witness. He quoted his own works quite often, as well as the work of others in the field. The pattern of childhood tantrums, adolescent violence, suicidal behavior, then adult violence directed toward property, or other persons; domestic violence was very often part of the pattern, and murderous rages most often part of it. Violence was intensified when the subject was physically impaired in any significant way, he said.

”Statistically, if the pattern persists past adolescence into young adulthood, it continues with increasing intensity until the subject is restrained,” he concluded.

”Does Alexander Feldman fit that pattern you have described?”

”Absolutely. He is a cla.s.sic example.”

”From his medical record, please tell the court about his continuing pattern of violence.”

Dr. Jacoby put on his gla.s.ses and referred to the contents of a thick folder and told in detail of the many episodes of violence exhibited by Alexander Feldman from the age of three until eighteen.

”Does his medical record indicate that his violence extended past adolescence?”

”Yes. At least until he was eighteen years old, at which time Dr. Minick's reports ceased to be filed.”

”But his violent outbursts could have continued past that?”

”Objection. Conjecture.”

The objection was sustained.

”From your experience in the field of violent youths, would you predict that if violence had continued to the age of eighteen, it would have persisted beyond that?”

Barbara objected again, but this time she was overruled.

”I would indeed make such a prediction. It is my own experience as well as from statistical a.n.a.lysis that it is inevitable.”

Novak finished with him shortly after that, and Barbara stood up. On her table she had the four books Jacoby had written. She motioned toward them. ”Dr. Jacoby, can you recognize your own books from the stand? Would you like to examine them to make certain I have not made a mistake?”

”I can recognize them,” he said.

”The first one is dated nineteen eighty-five, and the most recent one in nineteen ninety-eight. Is that correct?”

”I believe so,” he said. ”They are all fairly current.”

She picked up the topmost book. ”In this work, The Adolescent Crisis, you cite many references in the index, including work done by Dr. Minick. Is that correct?”

”I believe so.”

”In fact, you quote Dr. Minick a total of twenty-three times in this work. Would you like to see the index?”

He put on his gla.s.ses and she handed him the book, then watched him purse his lips and read the references. He handed the book back to her.

”So you refer to Dr. Minick twenty-three times, and quote him often. Do you recognize him as an authority in the field of juvenile behavior?”

”In his time he was recognized as a leading authority,” he said.

She nodded, returned to her table, and picked up another of the books. ”Is this your work, which you referred to earlier, The Age of Violence?”

He said yes, and she opened it to the index. ”Here you have Dr. Minick referenced thirty-one times. This book is dated nineteen ninety-eight, your most recent book. Has he outlived his usefulness since then, Dr. Jacoby?”

He turned to Dr. Minick and bowed slightly. ”No, of course not. His writings are a valuable resource, but theories evolve as new theories are developed.”

”I see.” She opened the book to a marked page and handed it to him. ”Do you recall that pa.s.sage?”

He put his gla.s.ses on again and looked at the section she was pointing to. ”Of course.”

”Will you describe it to the court, please.”

”It's a description of a series of incidents that often indicate a progression which culminates in eventual mayhem. It starts with childhood animal cruelty and advances step-by-step to a murderous rampage.”

”Will you please read the final sentence of that section before the line break.”

He cleared his throat and adjusted his gla.s.ses, then read: ”Statistics bear witness to the truth of the nature of violent behavior, that without aggressive intervention the child who tortures the cat becomes the adolescent who terrorizes his peers and the adult who is seized by uncontrollable furies that lead to murderous rampages.”

”Thank you,” Barbara said when he handed the book back to her. ”What is meant by the phrase 'aggressive intervention'? Ice baths? Whips? Beatings?”

He smiled a thin, frosty smile. ”No, of course not. It is intervention with purpose, imposed if necessary on the subject. It can be counseling or medication or both, sometimes within the confines of a hospital.”

”In your opinion, is Dr. Minick capable of such intervention?”

”Yes. At least he was when he was still active. I a.s.sume it holds true to this day.”

”The pa.s.sage you read to the court started with the phrase 'statistics bear witness.' Do you recall that?”

”Of course.”

”Does that mean that in most cases what follows is true?”

He hesitated, then said, ”That is close enough, I suppose.”

”And does that mean that it is not true in each and every case?”

”Yes. There is no one hundred percent guarantee where human behavior is concerned.”

”Have you examined Alex Feldman personally?”

”No.”

”Have you spoken with him?”

”No.”

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