The COURT.
JUDGE. Is Alexandersson an honest and reliable man?
ALL THE JURORS. Alexandersson is a reliable man.
JUDGE. Is Alma Jonsson known as an honest servant?
ERIC OTTO BOMAN. I had to discharge Alma Jonsson last year for petty thievery.
JUDGE. And nevertheless I have now to fine Alexandersson. There is no way out of it. Is he poor?
LUDWIG ÖSTMAN. He's behind with his Crown taxes, and his crop failed last year. So I guess the fine will be more than he can carry.
JUDGE. And yet I can find no reason to postpone the case, as it is a clear one, and Alexandersson has no right to prove anything on his side. Has any one here anything to add or object?
ALEXANDER EKLUND. I would just ask leave to make a general reflection. A case like this, where one not only innocent, but offended against, has to take the punishment, while the thief has his so-called honour restored, may easily bring about that people grow less forbearing toward their fellow-men, and that taking cases to court grows more common.
JUDGE. This is quite possible, but general reflections have no place in the proceedings, and the Court has to make a decision. Consequently my one question to the jury is: can Alexandersson be held guilty under Chapter Sixteen, Section Thirteen, of the Criminal Code?