Bill knew that this man was a friend worth winning. "Not guilty!" he answered joyfully.
Black Douglas looked at the crowd. "I want you all to know," he said, "that I don't pretend to any training at all in law or in court procedure. I'm a trader. But I am a white man claiming British blood. Deep down in all our hearts there is one root principle of our common sense, fair play between man and man. We are here to play the game. A prisoner is a man restrained by the law because his conduct has been called in question, held until Justice can give him absolute fair play, and he stands free in presence of his fellows. He is an innocent man in trouble, in jeopardy."
Here the Reverend Beaver, seated in the front row of the spectators, was unrestrained in his impatience.
"Pish! Pshaw! Mawkish sentiment! Playing to the gallery! Disgraceful!"
The magistrate seemed to be pleased, and addressed the remainder of his remarks directly to the chaplain. As he drove home the attack, great was the joy of his brother officers.
"To slander a prisoner behind his back, to question, bully, or punish him, or in any way to treat him as a felon before he is proven guilty, is a beastly and contemptible act of cowardice. The prisoner before me has been slandered by the news-sheets behind his back prior to his trial. I cannot shoot the reptiles of the press, but I can and will defend the prisoner in the establishment of his own innocence. As magistrate I am allowed to ask him which way he pleads, in guilt appealing to the Crown for mercy, or in innocence demanding release as an act of justice. Pleading 'Not guilty,' he has demanded trial.
"Prisoner, Dr. David McLoughlin, Chief Factor, asks leave to appear on your behalf as prisoner's friend to see that you get fair play and benefit of doubt. Do you accept his help?"
There were tears in Bill's eyes and his voice was very gruff as he answered "Yes."
Press cuttings were then read by the clerk of the court and noted as documentary evidence, completing the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Dodd, mate of the Beaver, was sworn for the defense, and presently examined by the doctor.