Compulsion Page #9

But not enough to be declared

"medically insane"?

Well, that's a very indefinite term,

Mr. Wilk.

We prefer not to use it.

- Very definite in a court of law.

- Of course.

And that's why we prefer you

to draw your own conclusions.

- Thanks, Doc.

- Based on your legal knowledge, of course.

Of course.

And I have to add that...

none of us is in

complete agreement.

Oh. That's going to be

very helpful.

I see you have

the finished report.

Should be intensely interesting.

These have been the most fascinating

four weeks I've ever spent.

Do you think that'll

be a major contribution to criminology?

I'd hardly say that, Judd.

Why don't you tell

him the truth?

It all adds up to six feet of rope

and a hangman.

No. No, no. This report

might be useful.

They're betting

20 to 1 we hang.

If it's the long shot you're looking for,

I've got one just as good.

You know that guard

that brings us up here every day?

He's got a sick wife, five kids and house

they're gonna throw him out of.

I know. I talked to him.

For $5,000 he could be looking the other way

when we come past the admitting desk.

Three steps, we're outside. There's

a car waiting with the motor running.

And a mad dash

to the Canadian border, Artie?

Okay, so we do it your way

and go to trial in the morning.

Well, there's still one subject

that concerns me.

The newspapers have been

playing it up.

The State's Attorney may

try to do something with it.

It's the fact that...

aside from each other...

you don't have

any close friends.

We didn't have any other friends

because there was no one...

of sufficient intelligence and maturity

worth cultivating.

- Is there anything wrong in that?

- Nothing...

unless the State's Attorney

wants to make something of it...

with hostile witnesses.

If he calls 'em I'd...

like to have somebody

speak for you.

I'll give you

a flock of'em.

I've got a little black book

in my desk at home.

If the cops haven't take it,

it's got the addresses of 40 or 50 girls...

I've been out with

in the last two years.

Ask any one of'em

what she thinks of me.

No I haven't any

"little black book".

No girls?

Yes, there is one

I've been out with lately.

- I don't know what she'd say.

- Wanna give me her name?

Ruth Evans.

But I'd sooner you didn't call her, sir.

I don't want her involved in this.

I won't call her

without your permission.

That's it, boys.

Mr. Wilk, can I ask you

one thing?

Will, Mumsy my mother

be there...

and Dad?

Why, what am I talking about?

Tuesday, the old lady

has the bridge club...

and the old man's got his regular date

at the country club.

They'd be suckers to sit in a crummy

courtroom in this weather.

There is no other justice.

There is no other verdict.

There is no other penalty...

because never before

in the history of this city...

Has such a vile...

cold, brutal...

inexcusable...

premeditated murder

been committed.

Gentlemen of thejury,

my office...

representing the outraged citizens

of Cook County...

dedicates itself...

to presenting the evidence

in this case...

in such a manner...

that the perpetrators...

of this crime...

shall be convicted

and hanged...

as swiftly as possible!

Order! Order!

Any further disturbance

of this nature...

and I shall order the bailiffs

to clear the court.

Defense will make

its opening remarks to thejury.

If Your Honor please,

the defense will waive...

its remarks to thejury.

If the court will approve...

the intent at this time

to change the plea to "guilty".

- What?

- We're changing the plea to "guilty"...

With mitigating circumstances.

It took six days

to impanel that jury.

Don't worry. I'll have that jury back

if the mitigating circumstances...

even sound like "insanity".

The State's Attorney

will approach the bench please.

The court accepts your change of plea

to "guilty" for the defense, Mr. Wilk.

Before I dismiss the jury, may I see

both of you gentlemen in chambers?

There will be a short recess.

And, unless you've completely

lost your faculty, sir...

I demand an explanation

for this fantastic about-face.

I have never in my life

Charles, he's trying to

explain for the last five minutes.

He has every right

to question my judgment.

I've taken a big

responsibility.

If I'm going to persuade anybody of the boys'

emotional instability

- Emotional instability.

- It's going to be the judge alone.

But we've hired you on your reputation

of a manipulator of juries.

Of course we did.

That's your reputation.

I was sitting in

the courtroom today...

studying that jury.

We wouldn't have

had a chance with them.

You know, Mr. Wilk...

I can't understand any of this.

Will what you did today

help Artie?

I think so, Mrs. Strauss.

I hope so.

I hope so.

You see...

here in Illinois, when you plead "guilty,"

you don't have to have a jury...

and that means that I'll be talking

just to the judge.

I hope he'll be more tolerant

than any jury.

- You hope.

- But I think they should know...

that if it becomes a question of actual insanity,

a jury will have to decide it.

- But he threw the jury out.

- Then the judge will have to recall the jury.

- That's right.

- What good is...

a psychiatrist's testimony

except insanity?

Functional disorders.

Emotional imbalances.

Oh, tommy rot! They are either

insane or they are not.

A sane person can't commit

an insane act.

- And after what you did today.

- Mr. Strauss...

I'll understand if you'd rather

have another lawyer.

- No, sir.

- Now?

Between now and 9:00

tomorrow morning?

Ridiculous. No.

We're committed to you, sir...

and I think we've made

a tragic mistake.

I hope you're wrong.

I really do, Mr. Steiner.

I object! I object, Your Honor!

I object!

I've said it ten times

and I say it again.

The moment you admit evidence

on insanity, this becomes a mock trial.

So far, nobody's mentioned

insanity except you.

Your Honor, all the defense is asking

is a chance to present expert testimony...

on the mental condition

of these two boys.

- As a mitigating circumstance.

- Your Honor

- It's just another word for "insanity".

- No, it's not.

And that evidence

has to be presented to a jury!

Your Honor, Mr. Horn with virtually

godlike omniscience...

and without hearing

a single word from Dr. Allwin...

has already arrived

at a conclusion...

which the testimony of the witness

may not support.

Your Honor, defense counsel is making

a mockery of procedure.

- I object to his

- Objection overruled.

You may take the stand,

Dr. Allwin.

Raise your right hand.

Well, thank you, Doctor.

Now can you tell us how far...

this tendency, what you call

"schizophrenia,"had progressed...

with Artie Strauss?

Not to any degree

of exactitude.

We do know the habit of lying,

indulging in fantasies...

which the boy developed in infancy,

have progressed to the stage...

where he himself

was having difficulty...

distinguishing what was true

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