Against Shagarach's protest and exception, Chief Justice Playfair allowed the jury to read an article from the Beacon, signed "Robert Floyd," in which the following sentence was marked as especially obnoxious:
"When the highest court in the land decides that offensive combination of capitalists in trusts is right, but defensive combination of workingmen in labor unions is wrong, then the time is ripe for revolution."
Shagarach's defense of his client's right to freedom of speech and thought was eloquent. But courts are and no doubt should be the sanctuaries of orthodoxy, and any other conclusion than that which Chief Justice Playfair and his two colleagues reached, in a matter so personal to themselves, could hardly be expected.
"You know the accused?" asked the district attorney of Carberry.
"I have met him," answered the witness.
"State to the jury the occasion upon which you met him."
"It was at a meeting of the union one Sunday afternoon, about six months ago."
"Did you have any conversation with him at that time?"
"Yes, sir."
"On what topic?"