By Advice of Counsel by Arthur Cheney Train
page 65 of 282 (23%)
page 65 of 282 (23%)
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will tell their stories in a language unintelligible to the jury, who
must try to ascertain the true inwardness of the situation through an interpreter. They will realize that they are not getting the real truth--I mean the Syrian truth. As decent-minded men they won't dare to send a fellow to the chair whose defense they cannot hear and whose motives they do not either know or understand. They will feel, as I do and perhaps you do, that the only persons to do justice among Syrians are Syrians." "Well," replied Mr. Pepperill politely, "what have you to propose?" "That you recommend the acceptance of a plea of manslaughter in the second degree." Deputy Assistant District Attorney William Montague Pepperill drew himself up haughtily. He regarded all criminal practitioners as semicrooks, ignorant, illiterate, rather dirty men--not in the real American class. "I can do nothing of the kind," he answered sternly and very distinctly. "If these men seek the hospitality of our shores they must be prepared to be judged by our laws and by our standards of morality. I do not agree with you that our juridical processes are not adequate to that purpose. Moreover, I regard it as unethical--un-eth-i-cal--to accept a plea for a lesser degree of crime than that which the defendant has presumptively committed." Mr. Tutt regarded him with undisguised admiration. "Your sentiments do you honor, Mr. Pepperill!" he returned. "You are |
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