I have been in the presence of men to whom I could not talk as freely as I should like to, and in the presence of others to whom I could talk fast enough. Those to whom one can not talk freely have a higher power over one, and those to whom one can talk freely are the persons over whom one has power. Who has not had the power experience? When we come in touch with those with whom we can not talk freely, it is power over each other. I am leading out to the power we can not resist. What is that? I am able to say that I could not resist going into that house where a crime was committed to see what the trouble was with the poor lady who was murdered—murdered, and I accused of the crime!
I was wondering what my fellow-man under whose instructions I was placed was there for, and I became so deep in thought that I was spoken to by him:
“Well, you must have your work done for The Press, and time for the press to start is soon at hand.”
“I was so deep in thought I forgot myself, sir. I beg your pardon. I will try not to let that happen again.”
At that moment the guard stepped in. I was accosted in such a brutal way that my fellow-prisoner interceded for me and asked the guard to have mercy on me.
“I am quite sure that the man will do all he can,” he said.
“Yes, he will when he is driven to it. He has caused us trouble from the day he landed here.”
“I am sorry, guard. If I could have complied with your rules and work, I should have been glad to do so; but I was not able to do the hard labor you asked me to do.”
“Was it hard work to strangle a poor woman to death? You found that a very easy job, did you not?”
“Man, I can not stand it to be accused of a crime I did not commit!” At that moment I gave way to my feelings and cried out: “O Father in Heaven, can not I prove my innocence?”