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Article CRIME, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN ITHACA* ← Page 6 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Crime, And Criminal Justice In Ithaca*
ihe scene which now presented itself and the image long familiar to my fancy—of that where Telemachus , like this poor schoolmaster , the victim , with his family—of a cruel conspiracy of his fellow-citizens , ex-postulates ivith his oppressors , added much to the interest of a first view of the humble council-hall , and the assembly that filled it . It was a small two-storied edifice of the most homely architecture , with a wooden staircase outsideaccording to the prevailing fashion of the
, islands , and of the whole of continental Greece , in the few cases where access to an upper floor is required . The tribunal offered much the appearance of the room set apart for the meetings of justice-courts in a second-rate English market-town . The judges , three in number , sat at one extremity , on a platform considerably raised above the level of the floor ; the crown advocate in the corner below , to their right , near to whom Captain W ancl myself were accommodated with
chairs ; on the other side , the clerk of the court . The prisoner , who was also allowed a seat at the bar , was a thin , infirm-looking old man , with a haggard , care-worn countenance , in which a naturally mild ancl placid expression was nearly effaced by one of deep and poignant grief . Behind him , the remainder of the floor was filled with spectators , who , though very attentive , displayed little of that intense interest in thc proceedings which their rancorous prejudice against him might have
led , one . to expect . The pleadings were in Italian , in which language the whole business of the court was conducted ; unless in the ease of witnesses , of the lower and less-educated class , who were examined in their . native Greek . The form of process differed in no great degree from that of our own tribunals . When we entered , the counsel for the
defence , a young Cefalonian lawyer , was speaking to the evidence of tbe discovery of the sword , which he impugned with some ability . The sword itself was produced , and handed round the court for inspection . After he had concluded , testimony was brought forward to the character of the prisoner . The most important ancl interesting was tbat of the crown advocate of the island , a remarkably pleasing , good-looking young man , an intimate friend of my host , ancl who
dined that afternoon at his table . He recapitulated , with much eloquence and feeling , a number of proofs which he himself had witnessed , of the fond affection borne by the unfortunate old father to his murdered son , who , it seems , had been a youth of remarkable promise ; of the pride he had taken in him ; how often he had boasted of tlle excellent education he had given him ; ancl with what delight he looked forward to the honour that would crown his own gray hairs , from the
distinction he ivas destined to attain in whatever civil or literary career it might be his lot to pursue . The countenance of the old man , who had hitherto listened in mute apathy to what was going on , here became slightly convulsed , ancl torrents of tears rolled down his cheeks ; but he remained silent , and , in other respects , motionless . It certainly was a most affecting scene , and ought to have gone far to convince of his innocence even those among his bitterest enemies
, whose hearts were not so hard as the rocks of their native island . It would , indeed , be difficult to conceive a more horrid destiny than that pf li the poor sufferer , assuming him to be guiltless : after having witnessed the : murder of a wife and only son , the joy , ancl hope . ; of . an . Otherwise forlorn ancl comfortless old age , to be impeached arid exhibited , in public , as their assassin ; to lie in prison in a foreign land during a year , under so odious an imputation ; and to have , from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Crime, And Criminal Justice In Ithaca*
ihe scene which now presented itself and the image long familiar to my fancy—of that where Telemachus , like this poor schoolmaster , the victim , with his family—of a cruel conspiracy of his fellow-citizens , ex-postulates ivith his oppressors , added much to the interest of a first view of the humble council-hall , and the assembly that filled it . It was a small two-storied edifice of the most homely architecture , with a wooden staircase outsideaccording to the prevailing fashion of the
, islands , and of the whole of continental Greece , in the few cases where access to an upper floor is required . The tribunal offered much the appearance of the room set apart for the meetings of justice-courts in a second-rate English market-town . The judges , three in number , sat at one extremity , on a platform considerably raised above the level of the floor ; the crown advocate in the corner below , to their right , near to whom Captain W ancl myself were accommodated with
chairs ; on the other side , the clerk of the court . The prisoner , who was also allowed a seat at the bar , was a thin , infirm-looking old man , with a haggard , care-worn countenance , in which a naturally mild ancl placid expression was nearly effaced by one of deep and poignant grief . Behind him , the remainder of the floor was filled with spectators , who , though very attentive , displayed little of that intense interest in thc proceedings which their rancorous prejudice against him might have
led , one . to expect . The pleadings were in Italian , in which language the whole business of the court was conducted ; unless in the ease of witnesses , of the lower and less-educated class , who were examined in their . native Greek . The form of process differed in no great degree from that of our own tribunals . When we entered , the counsel for the
defence , a young Cefalonian lawyer , was speaking to the evidence of tbe discovery of the sword , which he impugned with some ability . The sword itself was produced , and handed round the court for inspection . After he had concluded , testimony was brought forward to the character of the prisoner . The most important ancl interesting was tbat of the crown advocate of the island , a remarkably pleasing , good-looking young man , an intimate friend of my host , ancl who
dined that afternoon at his table . He recapitulated , with much eloquence and feeling , a number of proofs which he himself had witnessed , of the fond affection borne by the unfortunate old father to his murdered son , who , it seems , had been a youth of remarkable promise ; of the pride he had taken in him ; how often he had boasted of tlle excellent education he had given him ; ancl with what delight he looked forward to the honour that would crown his own gray hairs , from the
distinction he ivas destined to attain in whatever civil or literary career it might be his lot to pursue . The countenance of the old man , who had hitherto listened in mute apathy to what was going on , here became slightly convulsed , ancl torrents of tears rolled down his cheeks ; but he remained silent , and , in other respects , motionless . It certainly was a most affecting scene , and ought to have gone far to convince of his innocence even those among his bitterest enemies
, whose hearts were not so hard as the rocks of their native island . It would , indeed , be difficult to conceive a more horrid destiny than that pf li the poor sufferer , assuming him to be guiltless : after having witnessed the : murder of a wife and only son , the joy , ancl hope . ; of . an . Otherwise forlorn ancl comfortless old age , to be impeached arid exhibited , in public , as their assassin ; to lie in prison in a foreign land during a year , under so odious an imputation ; and to have , from