Chapter 44 Section 19

"We will prove to the court that around October or November last year, the two defendants began a huge conspiracy to extort money. They committed murder to achieve that goal." Robert Corot took off his glasses and took out a handkerchief to wipe them carefully.A reporter from the Chicago Tribune later reported that Coro wiped his glasses "50 times" throughout his opening remarks.Now, the chief prosecutor went to the evidence table placed against the wall and examined the physical evidence on it one by one: the glasses Nathan lost at the scene, the broken and incomplete portable typewriter picked up from the bottom of the lake, the dark blue Willie Knight The blood-soaked floor mats in the brand car... Prosecutor Koro unfolded a letter of conviction and said:

Dear Sir: Please take the box to the platform at the end of the train immediately.On your right, at the far east end of the railway, you will see a tall red brick factory building with the word "Champion" written on the water tower on the roof.Once the train has passed the southern end of the factory building completely, you count to five, then quickly throw the box as far east as possible. Remember, this is the only chance to save your son. your loyal george johnson Attorney General Corow explained that the police found the letter in the signal box of the last car of the train bound for Michigan City, Indiana at 4:00 p.m. every day.

Attorney General Corow continued: "We will prove to the court that all of this happened in the Cook area of ​​Illinois. Then, after the prosecution hearing is over, the defense hearing is over, and both parties have concluded their statements, In the name of all the people of Illinois, in the name of mothers and fathers, and in the name of all the children of Illinois, we will demand the death penalty of these two cold-blooded, cruel, vicious executioners." Claren Darrow's opening statement on behalf of the defense lasted only five minutes: "We will insist, Your Honor, that this tragedy, like all killings, has been very bloody and very violent. If two more people of this age Sending the lads to the gallows and hanging nooses around their necks until they die will undoubtedly only add to the blood and violence of the whole event, and will not bring Bobby Fanks back to life, or the life we ​​live in. society will be more peaceful and stable.”

The prosecution called 15 witnesses before the court adjourned that day.The prosecution's strategy is to show the court as detailed and vivid as possible all aspects and details of Nathan and Richard's crimes, so as to deepen the judge's impression of the horror of the incident and achieve the goal of portraying the two defendants as homicides. Demonic effect. Although, as one Chicago Tribune reporter put it in his report, "the noose was dangling over their heads," Nathan and Richard looked heartless the next morning. look. "We have one great hope for today," Richard announced to the reporters solemnly. "Mr. Leop and I have, after a long analysis and discussion, reached a consensus. We have only one wish." .We sincerely hope that today is cooler than the fucking yesterday." After saying that, he laughed heartily.

During the trial of the case, a total of 81 witnesses testified for the prosecution, including Bobby Fanks' parents and uncle, Tony Mankowski and the railway signalmen who discovered the body, police officers and coroners who participated in the case The store clerks who sold the ropes, chisels, hydrochloric acid, etc. The staff that Richard has dealt with.The prosecution not only wants to prove that the two defendants kidnapped and murdered, but also that they had carefully planned in advance so that they could escape punishment, and that their crime methods were very cruel, and that they had no remorse for the crimes they committed. meaning.Attorney General Robert Corow hoped that all of these factors combined would prompt Judge John Gavelli to hand down the death penalty.

The defendant obviously understood the opponent's intentions, so during the entire process of the prosecution's evidence collection, Claren Darrow seldom asked any cross-examinations, so as not to increase the weight of the testimony due to repetition, and make people unforgettable about the specific circumstances of the case.But there is one exception.A police detective named James Golan testified about a conversation he had with Nathan Leop on the evening of June 1: "I asked, 'How are your lawyers going to defend you?' He said: "It depends on my father and the lawyers. If they want me hanged, I will plead not guilty and the jury will sentence me to death. Or if I want to be imprisoned for life. pleaded guilty before a friendly judge."

Upon hearing this, Kraren immediately turned and stared at Nathan: "Is that what you said?" "I didn't!" Nathan exclaimed in a low voice. The next day, after James had finished testifying, Claren began his only cross-examination in the case. "Who else was there?" "No one else, just me and him." ………… "How long have you been talking to him?" "Just a little while." "Is there a record?" "Not at that time." Forensics continues.James Golan said he had told other police officers, journalists, relatives and even "citizens on the street" about the "friendly judge" part of the conversation.

"Have you told anyone else in the Attorney General's office?" "Yes, I wrote a note to Attorney Corot." ………… "Is this the note you wrote in your own hand? According to your testimony, it was written only on Thursday?" "Yes, sir." "That is to say, the day before yesterday?" That is, on July 24, after the defendant withdrew its plea of ​​"not guilty".Claren Darrow stared at the police detective: "Do you know that your 'friendly judge' story is purely fabricated out of thin air, and it is suspected of intimidating the court?"

"I don't know, sir." James Golan sweated like rain, but apparently it wasn't just the weather.