An American Tragedy Page #7

on the trip, how much did you have?

About $50.

- Don't you know exactly?

I had $50, yes sir.

While you were in Utica and Grass Lake,

how much did you spend?

I spent $20 on the trip, I think.

Don't you know?

Not exactly, it was about $20.

Let's see if we can't find out

about that exactly.

What was the fare from

Fonda to Utica for yourself?

$1.25

How much was the hotel in Utica

for you and Roberta?

That was...$4.00.

And of course, you had dinner and

breakfast there which was how much?

About $3.00 for both meals.

That's all you spent at Utica?

Yes. sir.

How about that straw hat it's been

proved you purchased there?

I forgot about that. That was $2.00.

Then your fares to Grass Lake were

$5.00, is that right?

Yes, sir.

And you had a boat at Grass Lake.

How much was that?

That was...

35 cents an hour.

- You had it how long?

3 hours.

- Making $1.05

Isn't it too bad there were

too many people at Grass Lake?

You might have saved yourself some

money by drowning Roberta there!

I object, your Honor!

This isn't cross-examination!

Objection sustained.

Please be careful.

Then that night at the hotel,

they charged you how much?

$5.00, wasn't it?

- Yes, sir!

And didn't you buy that lunch that you

carried out to the lake?

Yes, sir. I think it was 60 cents.

And how much did it cost

to get to Big Bittern?

A dollar for the train to Gun Lodge

and a dollar for the bus to Big Bittern.

You know these figures well, I see.

Naturally, you would.

You didn't have much money,

so it was important.

How much was the boat

at Big Bittern?

The same as at Grass Lake.

35 cents an hour, the boatman said.

It was, was it?

So the boatman told you, did he?

Yes, sir!

Don't you recall that you never

even asked the boatman at all?

It was not 35 cents an hour,

but 50 cents!

But you don't know that because you

were so anxious to get out on the water!

And you didn't expect to come back

and pay for it anyway!

So you never even asked, do you see?

Do you recall that now?

Well, any explanation for that?

Doesn't it strike even you as strange...

that you can remember

all your other expenditures correctly?

I don't know how I forgot that!

Of course you don't!

A man who is plotting to kill

a girl on a lone lake...

has a lot of things to think of!

It's no wonder he forgets

a few of them!

The kid hasn't enough courage.

It just isn't in him, that's all.

He must have really killed her.

- I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Griffiths, only yesterday on the stand

you swore that you personally...

had no plan to go to Big Bittern

when you left Lycurgus.

No sir, I hadn't!

But when you two got in that

hotel room in Utica...

and you saw how tired she looked...

you suggested a vacation of some kind?

A little one?

Something you could afford?

Yes, sir!

But up until that time, you hadn't

even thought of the Adirondacks?

No, sir! No particular lake!

And after you suggested it, it was she

who said you better get some maps?

Yes, sir!

- And you went downstairs and got them?

Yes, sir!

- In the Renfrew House in Utica?

Yes, sir!

- I see.

Do you remember these?

They look like the ones I had there.

They are the ones you had there!

They were found in your bag!

And you say you got these at the Renfrew

House in Utica? - Yes, sir!

Them will you explain to me

or this jury if you can...

under your solemn oath

which you respect so much...

how it is that

these circulars are marked...

"Compliments of the Lycurgus House"?

Lycurgus, New York?

I don't know!

I got them in Utica!

They must have been in

the Renfrew House rack!

And if I bring 2 witnesses to swear

that on July 3...

3 days before you left Lycurgus...

you were seen by them to go into

the Lycurgus House...

and take 4 or 5 circulars

from the rack there?

Will you still say it must have been

the Renfrew House in Utica?

It must have been!

I didn't get them in Lycurgus!

Very good.

You didn't get them in Lycurgus.

Meanwhile, we'll let these gentlemen

look at them.

That's all gentlemen. I don't think we

need to hear him lie anymore.

I ain't convinced that he's guilty!

I don't believe his lawyers

would let him lie about it!

And I don't like the

District Attorney's politics!

We'll fix you for this, Sutton!

- That's threatening him.

I'll fix you too!

Run you both out of town!

The idea of sympathizing

with that dirty murderer!

You better vote guilty

or you'll regret it!

Well, I don't want to seem obstinate.

Maybe you're right.

Then we're all agreed!

- You bet!

I'm surprised at you!

- He has a right to his opinion.

He changed his mind, didn't he?

Take off your hats.

Take off your hats.

Order in the court!

Everybody please rise!

Gentlemen of the jury,

will you please rise?

The defendant will please rise

and face the jury.

Gentlemen of the jury,

have you agreed upon a verdict?

We have. We find the defendant

guilty of murder in the 1st degree.

I move the verdict be set aside

as contrary to the evidence.

Denied. - May I ask your Honor to

defer sentence for a week to 10 days?

If council desires, I will listen to

arguments on the matter tomorrow.

Please remove the prisoner

before anyone leaves!

Mother, I'm glad you came!

Did you come alone?

- Yes, your father couldn't come.

He isn't strong and there

was no money.

How'd you get the money, Ma?

- You mustn't think harshly of me.

There was no other way. One of the

newspapers sent me here as a reporter!

I, your mother!

There was no other way!

Your rich uncle has abandoned you!

"Still has not he guided us

thus far?"

Clyde, I must know the truth.

Nothing else matters.

You are not guilty.

I'm not guilty, Mother.

I've sworn to the truth.

"Thou wilt not require of a Mother in

her darkest hour to doubt her child."

Order in the court! His Honor,

everyone please rise!

Is the prisoner ready

to hear the sentence? - He is.

The prisoner will please rise

and face the court.

Have you any cause to show why the

judgment of death...

should not be pronounced

against you according to law?

I'm innocent. I did not kill

Roberta Alden...

and therefore this sentence

should not be passed.

Is there anything else you care to say?

- No.

The judgment of the court is that you,

Clyde Griffiths...

for the murder in the 1st degree of

Roberta Alden...

whereof you are convicted,

you are hereby sentenced

to the punishment of death.

It is ordered that within 10 days

after this day's session of court...

the Sheriff of this county deliver you,

together with the warrant of this court...

to the Warden of the State Prison

at Auburn....

where you shall be kept

in solitary confinement...

until the week beginning

Monday, the 28th day of January.

And upon some day

in the week so appointed...

said agent and Warden of the

State Prison of the State of New York...

is commended to do

execution upon you, Clyde Griffiths....

in the mode and manner prescribed

by the laws of the State of New York.

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