The Green Bag
408
At his home at Red Hill, June 6, 1799, he died. One sentence was inscribed
marked his grave, an apt commentary on his life-"His fame is his best
on
epitaph."
the
simple
marble
slab
that
Nutley, N. J.
A Conscientious Juryman BY EDGAR Wrrrrs
“
ENTLEMEN, are your opinions such as would preclude you from
returning a verdict of guilty where the punishment would be death, although
of Mr. Crafton's mind at that stage of the game it would probably have blotted out his name.
But mental telepathy
cal not application, having reached the the sternstage talesman of pl'flcti' had
justified by both the law and the evi dence?"
Talesman Crafton looked around loft ily at his fellows to see if any showed the white feather at the sinister question of
the court.
One
kindly
featured,
white-haired gentleman raised his hand.
the grim satisfaction of answering to his name when after twenty-four hours'
careful winnowing by both sides the twelve were called. The defendant was a young man Ol
unattractive personality.
His lips were
Mr. Jones?"
thick, and he constantly moistened them
asked the judge. “I couldn't do it, your Honor," said
Out of the sallow face gleamed two restless black eyes, shaded by midm'ght brows. Beside him was a light-hail‘edv
"What's the matter,
the old gentleman; "my conscience is against it.”
"Although justified by the law and the evidence?" said the judge. “Although justified by the law and the evidence," repeated the talesman, with solemn finality. "Stand aside.”
girlish creature, who chatted vivaciousl)’ with the lawyers, and seemed to enjoy
the unusual prominence the trial 83"‘: her.
She was the defendant's wife, and the tragedy occurred in the protection of her honor, the lawyer for the defense
Talesman Crafton smiled sneeringly at the brother's weakness and timidity.
said.
He had no such scruples. He would track the law to the bitter end. Courts were instituted among men that criminals might be punished and society pro tected. He gloried in the opportunity the trial would give him to vindicate the
nesses that Charles Montgomery. the slain tation,man, thatbore he anwas irreproachable happily married fepu'
The state proved by a score of wit
and that he wasn't at all the sort of man who would offer an insult to a
woman. The testimony showed that
majesty of the law. According to his way of thinking the country was going
on the night of the killing Montgomery
to the dogs because of the absence of
wife and children, and had strolled out of the park to enjoy a cigar, intending to return shortly and take his folks
vertebrae in jurors.
Had the defense known the workings
had been to an ice-cream social with his
