elinor wyllys-2-第52章
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After the court opened its session； it became doubtful at one moment； whether the cause would he tried at that term； but others which preceded it having been disposed of； the Stanley suit was at length called。
On one side appeared William Stanley； the plaintiff； with Messrs。 Reed and Clapp as counsel； a number of witnesses had been summoned by them； and were now present； mingled with the audience。 On the other hand were the defendants； Mr。 Wyllys； Hazlehurst； Ellsworth； and Mr。 Grant； a distinguished lawyer of Philadelphia； appearing more particularly for Mrs。 Stanley； they were also supported by witnesses of their own。
While the preliminary steps were going on； the jury forming； and the parties interested making their arrangements； the court…room filled rapidly with the friends of Hazlehurst； and a crowd of curious spectators。 Among the individuals known to us； were Robert Hazlehurst； Mr。 Stryker； and Charlie Hubbard； the young artist； who found that his want of inches interfered with his view of the scene； and springing on a bench； he remained there； and contrived to keep much the same station throughout the trial； his fine； intelligent countenance following the proceedings with the liveliest interest： Harry soon perceived him； and the young men exchanged friendly smiles。 Mr。 Stryker was looking on with cold； worldly curiosity； while Robert Hazlehurst watched over his brother's interest with much anxiety。 In one sense the audience was unequally divided at first； for while Harry had many warm； personal friends present； the sailor was a stranger to all； the aspect of things partially changed； however； for among that portion of the crowd who had no particular sympathies with the defendants； a number soon took sides with the plaintiff。 The curiosity to see the sailor was very great； at one moment； in the opening of the trial； all eyes were fixed on him； nor did Harry escape his share of scrutiny。
It was immediately observed； by those who had known the late Mr。 Stanley； that the plaintiff certainly resembled his family。 He was dressed like a seaman； and appeared quite easy and confident； seldom absent from court； speaking little； but following the proceedings attentively。 His counsel； Mr。 Reed； bore a calm and business…like aspect。 Clapp was flushed； his eye was keen and restless； though he looked sanguine and hopeful； running his hand through his dark curls； he would lean back and make an observation to his client； turn to the right and whisper something in the ear of Mr。 Reed； or bend over his papers； engrossed in thought。
The defendants； on their side； were certainly three as respectable men in their appearance； as one would wish to see； they looked； moved； and spoke like gentlemen； in manner and expression they were all three perfectly natural； simple； easy； but firm； like men aware that important interests were at stake； and prepared to make a good defence。 Mr。 Grant； their colleague； was an insignificant…looking man when silent； but he never rose to speak； without commanding the whole attention of his audience by the force of his talent。
The judges were…well known to be respectable men； as American magistrates of the higher grade are usually found to be。 In the appearance of the jury there was nothing remarkable； the foreman was a shrewd…looking man； his neighbour on the left had an open； honest countenance； two others showed decidedly stupid faces； and one had a very obstinate expression； as if the first idea that entered his head； on any subject whatever； was seldom allowed to be dislodged。
Such was the appearance of things when the trial commenced。 Leaving the minutiae of the proceedings to the legal report of Mr。 Bernard； understood to be in the press； we shall confine ourselves to a brief； and very imperfect outline of the speeches； and the most important points of the testimony； merely endeavouring to give the reader a general idea of the course of things； on an occasion so important to Hazlehurst。
Mr。 Clapp opened the case in a regular speech。 Rising from his seat； he ran his fingers through his hair； and commenced； much as follows：
〃We come before you on this occasion； gentlemen of the jury； to plead a cause which it is believed is unprecedented； in its peculiar facts； among the annals of justice in our great and glorious country。 Never； indeed； should I have believed it possible that an American citizen could； under any circumstances whatever； have been compelled during so long a period to forego his just and legal rights； ay； that he could be forced to the very verge of abandoning those rightsall but forced to forget them。 Yet； such are the facts of the case upon which you are now to decide。 The individual appearing before you this day； claiming that the strong arm of the law be raised in his behalf； first presented himself to me； with the very same demand； six years since； to my shame I confess it； he was driven unaided from my doorI refused to assist him； he had already carried the same claim to others； and received from others the same treatment。 And what is this claim； so difficult to establish？ Is it some intricate legal question？ Is it some doubtful point of law？ Is it a matter which requires much learning to decide； much wisdom to fathom？ No； gentlemen； it is a claim clearly defined； firmly established； never yet doubted； never yet denied： it is a claim； not only recognized in the common…law of every land； protected in the statute…books of every nation； but it is a claim； gentlemen； which springs spontaneously from the heart of every human beingit is the right of a son to his father's inheritance。 A right； dear alike to the son of one of our merchant princes； and to the son of the porter on our wharves。〃
〃Mr。 Clapp paused； he looked about the court； rested his eyes on his client； ran his fingers through his curls； and then proceeded。
〃Gentlemen； I have told you that it is the right of a son to his father's inheritance； which we this day call upon you to uphold。 It is more； it is the sacred cause of the orphan that you are to defend。 Yes； gentlemen； at the moment when William Stanley should have taken possession of the inheritance； which was his by the threefold title of nature； of law； and of parental bequest； he was a mere boy； a minor； a wanderer on the deep； one of that gallant class of men who carry the glorious colours of our great and happy country into every port； who whiten every sea with American canvasshe was a roving sailor…boy！〃
And setting out from this point； Mr。 Clapp made a general statement of the case； coloured by all the cheap ornaments of forensic eloquence； and varied by allusions to the glory of the country； the learning of all judges； particularly American judges； especially the judges then on the bench； the wisdom of all juries； particularly American juries； especially the jury then in the box。 He confessed that his client had been guilty of folly in his boyhood； 〃but no one； gentlemen； can regret past misconduct more than Mr。 Stanley； no son ever felt more deeply than himself； regret； that he could not have attended the death…bed of his father； received his last blessing； and closed his eyes for the last time！〃 Mr。 Clapp then read parts of Mr。 Stanley's will； gave an outline of his client's wanderings； and was very particular with names and dates。 The sailor's return was then described in the most pathetic colours。 〃He brought with him； gentlemen； nothing but the humble contents of a sailor's chest； the hard…earned wages of his daily toil； he； who in justice was the owner of as rich a domain as any in the land！〃 The attempts of this poor sailor to obtain his rights were then represented。 〃He learned the bitter truth； gentlemen； that a poor seaman； a foremast hand； with a tarpaulin hat and round…jacket； stood little chance of being heard； as the accuser of the rich and the powerfulthe men who walked abroad in polished beavers； and aristocratic broad…cloths。〃 Aristocracy having once been brought upon the scene； was made to figure largely in several sentences； and was very roughly handled indeed。 To have heard Mr。 Clapp； one would have supposed aristocracy was the most sinful propensity to which human nature was liable； the only very criminal quality to which
