"Suppose he should arrange the machinery so it would bust up or smash up, what would the consequences be?"
"If negligently, carelessly, not purposely done, he would be only civilly liable for damages caused by his negligence; but if it was wilfully done, there would be a further criminal liability for malicious injury to the property of the company."
"You wouldn't want me, would you," said the poor man to his late employer and friend, "to do anything to lay myself liable?"
"You have been police justice," said the Vacuum man to the lawyer, "and have had some experience in criminal law. I would like to have you look up the law carefully on that point, and we will see you again."[461] Or, in effect: "See about how much crime we can commit," District Attorney Quinby paraphrased it afterwards to the jury.
In a day or so the two managers of the Vacuum—father and son—came back again with Albert.
"Have you looked up that matter, Mr. Truesdale?" asked they.
"Yes, I have looked it up."
"What do you think about it?"
"My impression has not changed. Such a course would involve him in a criminal liability if he did it on purpose. Everybody who advised or counselled him in such a course would be equally liable with him. The consequences, if you follow that course, would be that you would get into State's prison. If he is an honest man he won't think of taking any such action as that. I advise him to keep out of any such thing."