The District Attorney said, with some annoyance; "There--there! That will

do."

The defence declined to examine Mr. Hawkins at present. The case for the

prosecution was closed. Of the murder there could not be the least

doubt, or that the prisoner followed the deceased to New York with a

murderous intent: On the evidence the jury must convict, and might do so

without leaving their seats. This was the condition of the case

two days after the jury had been selected. A week had passed since the

trial opened; and a Sunday had intervened.

The public who read the reports of the evidence saw no chance for the

prisoner's escape. The crowd of spectators who had watched the trial

were moved with the most profound sympathy for Laura.

Mr. Braham opened the case for the defence. His manner was subdued, and

he spoke in so low a voice that it was only by reason of perfect silence

in the court room that he could be heard. He spoke very distinctly,

however, and if his nationality could be discovered in his speech it was

only in a certain richness and breadth of tone.

He began by saying that he trembled at the responsibility he had

undertaken; and he should, altogether despair, if he did not see before

him a jury of twelve men of rare intelligence, whose acute minds would

unravel all the sophistries of the prosecution, men with a sense, of

588

The Gilded Age