“Louie,” he said, “I want you to go over to Mr. Barkman and show us just how you were holding that pistol against the banker’s back while he was talking over the telephone. We’ll say Mr. Barkman’s the banker.”
Everybody in the court room was astonished at this slip of the attorney.
It would appear that he, like every one else, was convinced of the guilt of the prisoners, and that this conviction had thus unconsciously appeared in his words.
The man seemed not to realize what he had said. But the prisoner saw it at once.
“Colonel,” he objected, “how can I show him how it was done when I didn’t do it?”
The attorney made an exasperated gesture.
“Oh, Louie,” he said, “you are such a liar that nobody believes anything you say. Do what I tell you.”
Then he stooped over the prisoner.
“Just a moment, Judge,” he explained; “I have got to encourage my client.”
He whispered something in the man’s ear.