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The parade of witnesses for the State began. Robert Di Silva had not missed a single opportunity. His character witnesses for the deceased, Raymond Thorpe, included a minister, prison guards and fellow convicts. One by one they took the stand and testified to the sterling character and pacific disposition of the deceased.
Each time the District Attorney was finished with a witness, he turned to Je
And each time Je
She knew that there was no point in trying to discredit the character witnesses. By the time they were finished, one would have thought that Raymond Thorpe had been wrongfully deprived of sainthood. The guards, who had been carefully coached by Robert Di Silva, testified that Thorpe had been a model prisoner who went around Sing Sing doing good works, intent only on helping his fellow man. The fact that Raymond Thorpe was a convicted bank robber and rapist was a tiny flaw in an otherwise perfect character.
What badly damaged Je
The District Attorney was saying, “We’ll probably never know what caused Abraham Wilson to attack this harmless, defenseless little man—”
And Je
“—We may never know the reason for the defendant’s vicious attack, but one thing we do know, ladies and gentlemen—it wasn’t because the murdered man was a threat to Abraham Wilson.
“Self-defense?” He turned to Judge Waldman. “Your Honor, would you please direct the defendant to rise?”
Judge Waldman looked at Je
Je
Judge Waldman said, “Will the defendant rise, please?”
Abraham Wilson sat there a moment, his face defiant; then he slowly rose to his full height of six feet four inches.
Di Silva said, “There is a court clerk here, Mr. Galin, who is five feet nine inches tall, the exact height of the murdered man, Raymond Thorpe. Mr. Galin, would you please go over and stand next to the defendant?”
The court clerk walked over to Abraham Wilson and stood next to him. The contrast between the two men was ludicrous. Je
The trial was going worse than Je
Ken Bailey was seated among the spectators and, during a recess, Je
“It’s not an easy case,” Ken said sympathetically. “I wish you didn’t have King Kong for a client. Christ, just looking at him is enough to scare the hell out of anybody.”
“He can’t help that.”
“As the old joke goes, he could have stayed home. How are you and our esteemed District Attorney getting along?”
Je
When the parade of prosecution witnesses was over and Di Silva had rested his case, Je
The assistant warden of Sing Sing Prison reluctantly rose and moved toward the witness box, all eyes fixed on him. Robert Di Silva watched intently as Patterson took the oath. Di Silva’s mind was racing, computing all the probabilities. He knew he had won the case. He had his victory speech all prepared.
Je
District Attorney Di Silva was on his feet. “The State will waive the witness’s background in order to save time, and we will stipulate that Mr. Patterson is the assistant warden at Sing Sing Prison.”
“Thank you,” Je
“Yes.”
“Would you tell the jury why you had to be subpoenaed to get you here?”
“I’ll be glad to. I’ve been dealing with men like Abraham Wilson all my life. They’re born troublemakers.”
Robert Di Silva was leaning forward in his chair, gri
Je
“If he were unjustly accused, yes.” The emphasis on unjustly brought a knowing look to the faces of the jurors.
“There have been killings in prison before this case, have there not?”
“When you lock up hundreds of violent men together in an artificial environment, they’re bound to generate an enormous amount of hostility, and there’s—”
“Just yes or no, please, Mr. Patterson.”
“Yes.”
“Of those killings that have occurred in your experience, would you say that there have been a variety of motives?”
“Well, I suppose so. Sometimes—”
“Yes or no, please.”
“Yes.”
“Has self-defense ever been a motive in any of those prison killings?”
“Well, sometimes—” He saw the expression on Je
“So, based on your vast experience, it is entirely possible, is it not, that Abraham Wilson was actually defending his own life when he killed Raymond Thorpe?”
“I don’t think it—”
“I asked if it is possible. Yes or no.”
“It is highly unlikely,” Patterson said stubbornly.
Je
Judge Waldman looked down at Howard Patterson. “The witness will answer the question.”
“Yes.”
But the fact that his whole attitude said no had registered on the jury.
Je
District Attorney Di Silva rose. “What kind of material?”
“Evidence that will prove our contention of self-defense.”
“Objection, Your Honor.”
“What are you objecting to?” Je
Judge Waldman said, “The court will withhold a ruling until it sees the evidence. A man’s life is at stake here. The defendant is entitled to every possible consideration.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Je
He nodded, tight-lipped. “Yes. But I’m doing this under protest.”
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