human
I have pledged myself, said the Advocate somewhat wearily,
gpt
Rest is a necessary medicine. The Advocate nodded absently.
human
Pray excuse me while I attend to your affairs. Here are the local and other papers.
gpt
Your business, said Jacob Hartrich,
human
With your permission I will wait,
gpt
The Murder of Madeline the Flower-girl.
human
You have been reading the particulars of this shocking deed.
gpt
I have read what is there written.
human
But you are familiar with the particulars; everybody has read them.
gpt
I am the exception, then. I have seen very few newspapers lately.
human
It was a foul and wicked murder.
gpt
It appears so, from this bare recital.
human
The foulest and most horrible within my remembrance. Ah! where will not the passions of men lead them?
gpt
A wide contemplation. Were men to measure the consequences of their acts before they committed them, certain channels of human events which are now exceedingly wide and turbulent would become narrow and peaceful. It was a girl who was murdered?
human
Yes.
gpt
Young?
human
Barely seventeen.
gpt
Pretty?
human
Very pretty.
gpt
Had she no father to protect her?
human
No.
gpt
Nor mother?
human
No--as far as is known.
gpt
A flower-girl, I gather from the account.
human
Yes. I have occasionally bought a posy of her--poor child!
gpt
Did she trade alone?
human
She had a companion, an elderly woman, who, unhappily, left her a few days before the murder.
gpt
Deserted her?
human
No; it was an amicable parting, intended to last but a short time, I believe. It is not known what called her away.
gpt
This young flower-girl--was she virtuous?
human
Undoubtedly, in my belief. She was most modest and child-like.
gpt
But susceptible to flattery. You hesitate. Why? Do you not judge human passions by human standards? She was young, pretty, in humble circumstances; her very opposite would be susceptible to flattery; therefore, she.
human
Why, yes, of course; I hesitated because it would pain me to say anything concerning her which might be construed into a reproach.
gpt
In such matters there is but one goal to steer for--the truth. I perceive that a man, Gautran, is in prison, charged with the murder.
human
A man? exclaimed Jacob Hartrich, with indignant warmth.
gpt
A monster, rather! Some refined punishment should be devised to punish him for his crime.
human
His crime! I have, then, been reading an old paper. The Advocate referred to the date.
gpt
No--it is this morning's.
human
I see your point, but the proofs of the monster's guilt are irrefragable.
gpt
What proofs? The statements of newspaper reporters--the idle and mischievous tattle of persons who cannot be put into the witness-box?
human
It is well that you express yourself to me privately on this matter. In public it would not be credited that you were in earnest.
gpt
Then the facts are lost sight of that the man has to be tried, that his guilt or innocence has yet to be established.
human
The law cannot destroy facts.
gpt
The law establishes facts, which are often in danger of being perverted by man's sympathies and prejudices. Are you acquainted with this Gautran?
human
I have no knowledge of him except from report.
gpt
And having no knowledge of him, except from report, you form an opinion upon hearsay, and condemn him offhand. It is justice itself, therefore, that is on its trial, not a man accused of a frightful deed. _He_ is already judged. It is stated in the newspaper that the man's appearance is repulsive.
human
He is hideous.
gpt
Then you _have_ seen him.
human
No.
gpt
Calmly consider what value can be placed upon your judgment under the circumstances. You say the girl was pretty. Her engaging manners have tempted you to buy posies of her, not always when you needed them. In making this statement of a fact which, trivial as it appears to be, is of importance, I judge a human action by a human standard. Thus, beauty on one side, and a forbidding countenance on the other, may be the means of contributing--nay, of leading--to a direct miscarriage of justice. This should be prevented; justice must have a clear course, which must not be blocked and choked up by passion and prejudice. The opinion you express of Gautran's guilt may be entertained by others to whom he is also a stranger.
human
My opinion is universal.
gpt
The man, therefore, is universally condemned before he is called upon to answer the charge brought against him. Amidst this storm, in the wild fury of which reason has lost its proper functions, where shall a jury be found to calmly weigh the evidence on either side, and to judge, with ordinary fairness, a miserable wretch accused of a foul crime?
human
Gautran is a vagabond, said Jacob Hartrich feebly, feeling as though the ground were giving way under his feet,
gpt
He is poor.
human
Necessarily.
gpt
And cannot afford to pay for independent legal aid.
human
It is fortunate. He will meet with his deserts more surely and swiftly.
gpt
You can doubtless call to mind instances of innocent persons being accused of crimes they did not commit, and being made to suffer.
human
There is no fear in the case of Gautran.
gpt
Let us hope not, said the Advocate, whose voice during the conversation had been perfectly passionless,