Part 55 (1/2)

”I'm beginning to think my original plan was the best after all.”

”You mean we should have lynched those fellows as they were taken?”

queried the Mayor, with a smile.

”Something like that.”

”It won't take long to fix their guilt or innocence, once we get a jury.”

”Perhaps--if we ever get one. But the men of New Orleans seem filled with a quality of mercy which isn't tempered with justice. Those who haven't already formed an opinion of the case are incompetent to act as intelligent jurors. Those who could render a fair judgment are afraid.”

”You don't think there's any chance of an acquittal!”

”Hardly! And yet I hear the defense has called two hundred witnesses, so there's no telling what they will prove. You see, the prosecution is handicapped by a regard for the truth, something which doesn't trouble the other side in the least.”

”Suppose they should be acquitted?”

”It would mean the breakdown of our legal system.”

”And what would happen?”

Blake repeated the question, eyeing the Mayor curiously.

”Exactly! What would happen? What ought to happen?”

”Why, nothing,” said the other, nervously. ”They'd go free, I suppose.

But Maruffi can't get off--he resisted an officer.”

”Bah! He'd prove that Johnson a.s.saulted him and he acted in self-defense.”

”He'd have to answer for his attack upon you.”

Norvin gave a peculiarly disagreeable laugh. ”Not at all. That's the least of his sins. If the law fails in the Donnelly case I sha'n't ask it to help me.”

But his pessimism gave way to a more hopeful frame of mind when the jury was finally impaneled and sworn and the trial began. The whole city likewise heaved a sigh of relief. The people had been puzzled and disgusted by the delay, and now looked forward to the outcome with all the keener eagerness to see justice done. Even before the hour for opening, the streets around the Criminal Court were thronged; the halls and lobbies were packed with a crowd which gave evidence of a breathless interest. No inch of s.p.a.ce in the court-room was untenanted; an air of deep importance, a hush of strained expectancy lay over all.

Norvin found himself in a room with the other witnesses for the State, a goodly crowd of men and women, whites and blacks, many of whom he had been instrumental in ferreting out. From beyond came the murmur of a great a.s.semblage, the shuffling of restless feet, the breathing of a densely packed audience. The wait grew tedious as witness after witness was summoned and did not return. At last he heard his own name called, and was escorted down a narrow aisle into an inclosure peopled with lawyers, reporters, and court officials, above which towered the dais of the judge, the throne of justice. He mounted the witness-stand, was sworn, and seated himself, then permitted his eyes to take in the scene. Before him, stretching back to the distant walls, was a sea of faces; to his right was the jury, which he scanned with the quick appraisal of one skilled in human a.n.a.lysis. Between him and his audience were the distinguished counsel, a dozen or more; and back of them eleven swarthy, dark-visaged Sicilian men, seated in a row. At one end sat Caesar Maruffi, ma.s.sive, calm, powerful; at the other end sat Gino Cressi, huddled beside his father, his pinched face bewildered and terror-stricken.

A buzz of voices arose as the crowd caught its first full glimpse of the man who had so nearly lost his life through his efforts to bring these criminals to justice. Upon Maruffi's face was a look of such malignant hate that the witness stiffened in his chair. For one brief instant the Sicilian laid bare his soul, as their eyes met, then his cunning returned; the fire died from his impenetrable eyes; he was again the handsome, solid merchant who had sat with Donnelly at the Red Wing Club. The man showed no effect of his imprisonment and betrayed no sign of fear.

Norvin told his story simply, clearly, with a positiveness which could not fail to impress the jury; he withstood a grilling cross-examination at the hands of a criminal lawyer whose reputation was more than State-wide; and when he finally descended from the stand, Larubio, the cobbler, the senior Cressi, and Frank Normando stood within the shadow of the gallows. Normando he identified as the man in the rubber coat whose face he had clearly seen as the final shot was fired; he pointed out Gino Cressi as the picket who had given warning of the Chief's approach, then told of his share in the lad's arrest and what Gino had said. Concerning the other three who had helped in the shooting he had no conclusive evidence to offer; nevertheless, it was plain that his testimony had dealt a damaging blow to the defense.

Yet Maruffi's glance showed no concern, but rather a veiled and mocking insolence.

As Blake pa.s.sed out, young Cressi reached forth a timid hand and plucked at him, whispering:

”Signore, you said they would not hurt me.”

”Don't be afraid. No one shall harm you,” he told the boy, rea.s.suringly.

”You promise?”