Trial By Reasonable Men
Posted on Mon Apr 25th, 2016 @ 1:27pm by
Edited on on Thu Jun 2nd, 2016 @ 11:38pm
Mission:
Time and High Society
Location: London, England
Timeline: March 21st, 1896
[ON]
Speediness of court trial is often proportional to the desire of the influential men behind them. Monday Starr sat in chains and leg irons in the prisoner dock. In order to avoid a possible sense of sympathy that the jury might feel over seeing a young lady so restrained, the court received Mr. Bailey's suggestion to allow Mr. Herbert Wells and Miss Riquee San Louie to sit beside her. Mr. Bailey himself sat with the prosecution, all too frequently usurping the role. The presiding judge seemed all to willing to allow the irregularities in deference to the man of popular status.
Council for the defence had virtually no time to become acquainted with the circumstances that led to this unusual preliminary hearing. It had been called under the pretext of protecting good citizens from a dangerous threat. Because of this, Mr. Wells found himself acting more in the role of defence than council did.
The prosecutor declared, "It is quite clear that that the defendant is the only person who could have possibly maimed poor Abney."
Herbert stood, "I most strenuously object! No weapon was found!"
"The answer is obvious. She must have hidden it somewhere."
Herbert was almost livid, "Do you hear yourself? Because someone could have done something, it may be assumed that they actually did?"
Mr. Bailey intervened, "Your honor? If I may?"
"You may, Mr. Bailey."
The man ceremoniously stood to assume poise of authority. "Mr. Wells is right. He raises a completely valid and important point! To assume guilt without proof would... well, it would unravel the very fabric of civilized justice. The consequence would be, any time a crime happened nearby, any one of us could be accused. And we would have no defence at all. He is right." Bailey had his back to the jury. He raised an index finger, "Except... Mr. Wells has missed something very important." He turned to cordially face his social rival, "We are not dealing with a normal person. We are dealing with a savage. Did you, yourself, not declare that she was born to a frontier colony in far distant wild lands? And did you not also say that said colony met with disaster."
Herbert's heart sank at hearing his own prior cleverness used against him, "Yes I did."
Bailey shook his head, seemingly overwhelmed. "Herbert... I mean Mr. Wells. I intend no disrespect. I call you Herbert because you are my friend. In fact, you are a friend to everyone in this room, a friend to anyone in need... including this unfortunate child. London is privileged to claim you as one of her own. And the reason? You are honest. Many men might not freely admit such a painful truth as you have just now done. I am truly humbled." Mr. Bailey approached, "But in you tremendous compassion is found your consequential weakness. You focus so hard on hope and optimism that you sometimes lose sight of the practical." He gestured toward the judge and jury, "That is when you must listen to wise counsel of other reasonable men."
Herbert mustered his courage, "I appreciate that, Sir, but I am afraid that my challenge still stands. How can it be assumed that Miss Starr could have concealed a weapon?"
Mr. Bailey smiled, "Ah! This is the obvious point that you are missing, here, Herbert! We all agree that Miss Starr is a savage by birth. You ask how a reasonable man could assume that she would be clever enough to hide a weapon. That is the wrong question! I put it to you, how could a reasonable man assume that a savage would not do exactly that!"
Men in the jury and seated guests stirred, "Here! Here! Well said!"
Bailey rode the momentum, "A savage must behave so! She can do nothing else!" Applause broke out, to which he held up a hand, "Good Sirs! Please! I have no desire to crush a poor young lady like this. Let us not forget. Years ago, a poor young waif was pulled half starved from a lifeboat, the only survivor of her colony. Her father and everyone she ever knew had perished. Who's heart could not go out for such an unfortunate wretch?"
The judge folded his hands, "Your comments are both well take and well appreciated, Mr. Bailey, but justice must not be forgotten."
"I stand well chastised, your honor. No truer words have been spoken! I beg the court to consider, however, how justice might be meted out without excluding healthy mercy?"
Grumbling ensued. Mrs. Bailey sat in the visitor's gallery near Amy Wells, "The savage must be duly and properly punished!" There was nothing that Amy could say without appearing traitorous.
The judge pounded his gavel.
Mr. Bailey raised a hand, "Good Sirs, hear me out, if you please!" He slowly paced around. "What is important here?" He gestured toward the onlookers, a number of them who were women. "The first duty of reasonable men is to protect our community, our families! We are all in complete agreement on this." Approval once again prevailed.
Monday leaned in a whisper to Ricki, "Why does he keep mentioning 'reasonable men'?"
"It's a form of mental manipulation via verbal induction."
Bailey turned toward the judge, "I have a suggestion, but I am highly fearful that I am overstepping my bounds. Far be it from me to usurp decisions of the court."
The judge nodded, "Indeed, judgment is purview of the court. However, the court does value the wisdom of an upstanding pillar of our community. You may proceed."
"I am humbled and I am grateful, our honor." He resumed his pacing. "A savage is incapable of understanding anything other than raw survival, a complete focus on self. That doesn't mean that savages can't be clever. Oh, indeed they can be! It simply means, when they feel threatened, they have no self restraint. None. But..." His eyes gleamed as though dreaming, "What if it were possible to reach a still young mind, to bring her to the point where someday she realized, there is a better way to live with my fellow man! A moment of epiphany and enlightenment where she realizes, it's not just 'me', it is 'we'!" He walked along the row of jurors, "That is the moment when a savage can truly become civilized."
The prosecutor reluctantly stood, "Mr. Bailey, as much as I agree share the same hope, poor Abney is still without a hand."
Bailey preempted responses, "Too true! too true! And in that vein, no reasonable man could even think of allowing Miss Starr freedom in our society. But..." He paced, the steps of his shoes being the only sound in the silenced room, "Let us consider options, and we do have more than one. The obvious one is prison. But what would that accomplish? If you cage a savage animal, then it forever remains an animal."
The judge asked, "What do you suggest?"
"What if... Miss Starr were remanded to place where she could no longer be a danger to our families, yet... a place where doctors, experts could nurture her. Their goal would be to wrought a miracle, the enlightenment of the heart to cherish 'we' over 'me'."
"The sanitarium, Mr. Bailey?"
"Exactly, your honor!" He took on a humble air, "Of course, it is not my place to dictate what the sanitarium would do. We all know how hard they work and how burdened they are, caring for the unfortunate. That is why I would like to put my money where my mouth is!" He became animated, planting himself a center the room, "I, Edmund Bailey, publicly declare before reasonable men my commitment. I shall, out of my own pocket, pay the full cost of room and board for Miss Starr at the sanitarium, for say... one year? At that time, the doctors can make their professional evaluation of her progress, if any. How sounds this, gentlemen?"
The room erupted into cheers and gave Mr. Bailey a lasting standing ovation.
With all due false modesty, he gestured for people to not do so. When they finally began to settle, he clasped his hands together, "Please, I beg you, not so much praise! You will surely provoke my wife into coming forward to expose what a scoundrel I truly am!"
The courtroom exploded into laughter and more applause. The amused judge eventually pounded his gavel, but it was Mr. Bailey himself who inspired order. He walked over to stand directly in front of the prisoner dock. Amidst the silence of the room, he spoke only loud enough to be barely heard, "I put my charitable hopes and my money toward the belief that you might someday awaken from your savagery." He smiled to Ricki and spoke more loudly, "And! Miss San Louie! No doubt you must feel the pain of regret at having failed poor Miss Starr, here. I certainly would, in your place. However, as you wield considerable influence over her, I invite you to participate in this bold endeavor. Please!" He offered his hand, "Take our hand and join us. Give us your 'full cooperation' under the guidance and approval of professional physicians?"
Herbert was devastated as he sat there. He whispered, "Riquee, you must."
Ricki wasn't stoic like Monday was, but defencive determination gave her the strength to reach out in lady-like fashion to lightly grasp his hand.
The courtroom once again erupted into cheers. Mr. Bailey smiled and spoke quietly, "Cooperation is what it's all about. It's all it has ever been about." He released her hand and stood back, "You should probably explain to Miss Starr what will now happen. We don't want to frighten her into a panic."
An hour later Rick stood alone with Mr. Bailey in an office. He wasn't as playful or polite as before, "It is obvious that Mr. Wells now understands that you are well and truly beaten, but you still don't. I can see it in your eyes. You had better be very careful. From this moment on, the quality of life that Miss Starr lives depends exclusively upon yourself. I could present some scenarios to you, but I think that Mr. Wells will persuade you far better than I." He stepped closer, "Let me tell you what's going to happen. I am going to learn everything about your life. I am going to learn what secret you used to heal the girl. I am going to present it to the professional medical community who will in turn give it proper presentation to the world. I shall be known as the man who cured fevers."
Ricki simply stood there in a quiet stare at him.
Bailey stepped closer, betraying hatred and resentment, "How dare you presume to call yourself a doctor! A woman! It is an insult to the entire medical community! Why, if you were a man, I would strike you!"
She quietly retorted, "And if you were a man, you wouldn't have done this to Monday."
He chuckled, "Oh, don't pout! This is the way of the world! Those in power make the decisions and those who serve, obey. We're about to find out which is stronger, your pride or your love for Miss Starr." He sighed, pacing around, "You know, 'Monday' is not a proper name for a young lady. She needs to leave that in the past with her savagery. She should be honored with a new, proper name." He broke into a predatory smile, "And you're going to help convince her to accept it."
Ricki stared fiercely at him.
"Ohhh! If looks could kill! I have seen that look many a time from my wonderful wife!" He responded pleasantly, "I don't know about the culture of Thoria, which nobody has yet found on a map, by the way. But... just in case your own culture is less civilized than you let on, be mindful that murder is punishable by death, here. And don't think that your skirts will protect you. They will hang a woman."
She replied, "I don't think that murder is appropriate for dealing with you."
He burst into laughter, "Still fighting me, I see! You are a subtle foe." He shrugged, "A beaten one, but subtle, nonetheless." He settled, "You need to go have your talk with Herbert. Listen to his advice. It will save both you and Miss Starr considerable pain and anguish."
[OFF]
Ricki St. Louis
Monday Starr
Mr. & Mrs. Wells
Mr. Bailey {boo! hiss!}
Starbase 332 Twilight Zone
Pegasus Fleet
