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virtuous citizen whom the counsel for the defense, Mr. Steger, tells you you cannot possibly
convict without doing a great injustice. All I have to say is that you look to me like sane,
intelligent men--just the sort of men that I meet everywhere in the ordinary walks of life, doing an
honorable American business in an honorable American way. Now, gentlemen of the jury [he
was very soft-spoken now], all I have to say is that if, after all you have heard and seen here to-
day, you still think that Mr. Frank A. Cowperwood is an honest, honorable man--that he didn't
steal, willfully and knowingly, sixty thousand dollars from the Philadelphia city treasury; that he
had actually bought the certificates he said he had, and had intended to put them in the sinking-
fund, as he said he did, then don't you dare to do anything except turn him loose, and that
speedily, so that he can go on back to-day into Third Street, and start to straighten out his much-
entangled financial affairs. It is the only thing for honest, conscientious men to do--to turn him
instantly loose into the heart of this community, so that some of the rank injustice that my
opponent, Mr. Steger, alleges has been done him will be a little made up to him. You owe him, if
that is the way you feel, a prompt acknowledgment of his innocence. Don't worry about George
W. Stener. His guilt is established by his own confession. He admits he is guilty. He will be
sentenced without trial later on. But this man--he says he is an honest, honorable man. He says
he didn't think he was going to fail. He says he used all that threatening, compelling, terrifying
language, not because he was in danger of failing, but because he didn't want the bother of
looking further for aid. What do you think? Do you really think that he had purchased sixty
thousand dollars more of certificates for the sinking-fund, and that he was entitled to the
money? If so, why didn't he put them in the sinking-fund? They're not there now, and the sixty
thousand dollars is gone. Who got it? The Girard National Bank, where he was overdrawn to the
extent of one hundred thousand dollars! Did it get it and forty thousand dollars more in other
checks and certificates? Certainly. Why? Do you suppose the Girard National Bank might be in
any way grateful for this last little favor before he closed his doors? Do you think that President
Davison, whom you saw here testifying so kindly in this case feels at all friendly, and that that
may possibly--I don't say that it does--explain his very kindly interpretation of Mr. Cowperwood's
condition? It might be. You can think as well along that line as I can. Anyhow, gentlemen,
President Davison says Mr. Cowperwood is an honorable, honest man, and so does his
counsel, Mr. Steger. You have heard the testimony. Now you think it over. If you want to turn
him loose--turn him loose. [He waved his hand wearily.] You're the judges. I wouldn't; but then I
am merely a hard-working lawyer--one person, one opinion. You may think differently-- that's
your business. [He waved his hand suggestively, almost contemptuously.] However, I'm
through, and I thank you for your courtesy. Gentlemen, the decision rests with you."
He turned away grandly, and the jury stirred--so did the idle spectators in the court. Judge
Payderson sighed a sigh of relief. It was now quite dark, and the flaring gas forms in the court
were all brightly lighted. Outside one could see that it was snowing. The judge stirred among his
papers wearily, and turning to the jurors solemnly, began his customary explanation of the law,
after which they filed out to the jury-room.
Cowperwood turned to his father who now came over across the fast-emptying court, and said:
"Well, we'll know now in a little while."
"Yes," replied Cowperwood, Sr., a little wearily. "I hope it comes out right. I saw Butler back
there a little while ago."
"Did you?" queried Cowperwood, to whom this had a peculiar interest.
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