The Financier, a novel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about The Financier, a novel.

The Financier, a novel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about The Financier, a novel.

He was through finally, and the effect on the jury of his testimony and his personality was peculiar.  Philip Moultrie, juror No. 1, decided that Cowperwood was lying.  He could not see how it was possible that he could not know the day before that he was going to fail.  He must have known, he thought.  Anyhow, the whole series of transactions between him and Stener seemed deserving of some punishment, and all during this testimony he was thinking how, when he got in the jury-room, he would vote guilty.  He even thought of some of the arguments he would use to convince the others that Cowperwood was guilty.  Juror No. 2, on the contrary, Simon Glassberg, a clothier, thought he understood how it all came about, and decided to vote for acquittal.  He did not think Cowperwood was innocent, but he did not think he deserved to be punished.  Juror No. 3, Fletcher Norton, an architect, thought Cowperwood was guilty, but at the same time that he was too talented to be sent to prison.  Juror No. 4, Charles Hillegan, an Irishman, a contractor, and a somewhat religious-minded person, thought Cowperwood was guilty and ought to be punished.  Juror No. 5, Philip Lukash, a coal merchant, thought he was guilty.  Juror No. 6, Benjamin Fraser, a mining expert, thought he was probably guilty, but he could not be sure.  Uncertain what he would do, juror No. 7, J. J. Bridges, a broker in Third Street, small, practical, narrow, thought Cowperwood was shrewd and guilty and deserved to be punished.  He would vote for his punishment.  Juror No. 8, Guy E. Tripp, general manager of a small steamboat company, was uncertain.  Juror No. 9, Joseph Tisdale, a retired glue manufacturer, thought Cowperwood was probably guilty as charged, but to Tisdale it was no crime.  Cowperwood was entitled to do as he had done under the circumstances.  Tisdale would vote for his acquittal.  Juror No. 10, Richard Marsh, a young florist, was for Cowperwood in a sentimental way.  He had, as a matter of fact, no real convictions.  Juror No. 11, Richard Webber, a grocer, small financially, but heavy physically, was for Cowperwood’s conviction.  He thought him guilty.  Juror No. 12, Washington B. Thomas, a wholesale flour merchant, thought Cowperwood was guilty, but believed in a recommendation to mercy after pronouncing him so.  Men ought to be reformed, was his slogan.

So they stood, and so Cowperwood left them, wondering whether any of his testimony had had a favorable effect.

Chapter XLIII

Since it is the privilege of the lawyer for the defense to address the jury first, Steger bowed politely to his colleague and came forward.  Putting his hands on the jury-box rail, he began in a very quiet, modest, but impressive way: 

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The Financier, a novel from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.