Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 555 Those with Evil Intentions Are Shamed! (Second Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

As summoned by the court, a man in his thirties walked in. He was wearing a gray coat, holding a hat, and looked somewhat nervous.

The clerk asked him to place his hand on the Bible and swear an oath, which he did, though his voice trembled slightly.

Foster stepped forward to the witness stand: "Mr. Weber, did you interview any of the defendants this July?"

Thomas Weber glanced at the dock, saw the unfortunate faces, and quickly and guiltily looked away.

He glanced at the judge and jury again before answering, "Yes. In late July, Sean O'Mara and two other men, Joe Harris and William Carter, came to my office at the newspaper."

They said they wanted to express their support for "Mr. James Bond" and prove he was a good man. Oh, actually, they contacted us last year after Lionel Sorel was confirmed as the author of "The Happy Prince."

"What did they say?"

“Mr. Omara said that Mr. Bond was a true gentleman who listened to the suffering of the poor, helped them write letters, and only charged two pence. He said that such a person should be known by more people.”

Weber recalled slowly, “He said that those who spend all day criticizing French writers in the newspapers should see what Mr. Bond has done and what they have done for their own poor people.”

A buzzing murmur arose in the gallery, clearly indicating that these words had provoked quite a few people.

Foster then asked, "Did they mention Pirates of the Caribbean? Or The Happy Prince?"

Webber nodded. "He mentioned it. Mr. Harris said he liked Captain Jack Sparrow because Jack 'fears no one.' He also said it was satisfying to watch Jack mess with those old sailors."

William Carter said that "Mr. Bond" was like the swallow in "The Happy Prince," an angel sent by God to earth, much more approachable than the adults in London.

"At the time, Pirates of the Caribbean was being serialized and was causing a huge controversy, right?"

"Yes. There are many critical articles in the newspapers."

Foster turned to the jury: "So these defendants, knowing the work was controversial, still publicly praised the author and endorsed the 'playing with the navy' plot in the work."

Isn't this an expression of contempt for imperial authority?

Brad immediately stood up: "Objection! This is a leading question."

Judge Kollridge shook his head: "Objection overruled. Mr. Foster, please continue with your questions!"

Foster became even more smug and then turned to Thomas Weber: "Mr. Weber, did they arrange to come to you beforehand?"

"No. They come directly to our door."

"Did the three of you come together?"

"Yes."

"It looks like it was planned in advance?"

"It seems...yes."

Foster turned to the jury: "Three men, going to the newspaper office together, telling the same story, expressing the same viewpoint. Does that seem like a spontaneous individual act?"

Before the jury could react, he continued, "Mr. Weber, did you see any other defendants after that?"

“I’ve seen him.” Weber hesitated for a moment. “In early August, James McGregor—old Jimmy—came to the newspaper office with four men. He was also telling a story about Mr. Bond.”

He recounted how Mr. Bond patiently helped people write letters while staying at the bar, and how he left all his money behind when he left. He said that such a person shouldn't be criticized.

"Five people, went together?"

"Yes."

Foster nodded and looked at the jury again. The meaning was clear.

He removed Weber from the witness stand and called a second witness—the editorial assistant of the Star.

The testimonies were similar: the defendants contacted the newspaper on their own initiative, and in groups of several, recounted the good deeds of "Mr. Bond".

The third witness was a patrol officer from the Whitechapel Police Department. He provided transcripts of the defendants' statements—they admitted to saying those things, admitted to liking "The Happy Prince" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," and one even said that "1984" was "quite accurate."

"Quite accurate?" Foster repeated the word. "To say to the police that a novel that insults the Queen is 'quite accurate.' Isn't that enough? My questioning is over."

Sir Coleridge gave a fleeting smile and turned to the defendant's dock: "Mr. Brad, it's your turn."

Henry Brad stood up and began cross-examining the testimony, his strategy being to weaken its validity.

He asked Weber, "Mr. Weber, how did these people treat you when they came to you? Were they angry, defiant, or peaceful?"

Weber thought for a moment: “Peaceful. They are just…storytellers.”

"Did they call for a rebellion? Did they say 'Down with the Queen'? Did they plan any violent acts?"

"No."

"They're just talking about one person's good deed, right?"

"Correct."

Brad turned to the inspector: "Sir, in their statements, did the defendants admit that they belonged to any organization? Did they admit that they planned and intentionally incited others?"

The inspector shook his head: "They didn't explicitly admit it. But they admitted to frequently meeting at bars to discuss these things."

"What were you discussing? What were the specifics?" "Well... Mr. Bond, oh, the story of Lionel Sorel, and what he wrote."

Did they reach any decisions during their discussions? For example, 'What are we going to do?'

“There is no record.”

Brad nodded, looking at the jury: "So, there was no organization, no plan, no intent to violence. Just some civilians chatting in a bar—"

Talk about someone who helped them, talk about stories they like. That's all.

Foster stood up again: "But the very content of their conversation was inflammatory. To endorse Pirates of the Caribbean as a contempt for naval authority, to endorse 1984 as an attack on the monarchy—that endorsement is inflammatory."

The two sides exchanged several more blows. The atmosphere in the courtroom grew increasingly tense.

On the jury bench, twelve gentlemen sat with serious expressions. Some were taking notes, some were deep in thought, and some remained expressionless.

Finally, Foster began his concluding remarks, summarizing the progress made.

He walked up to the jury and said in a steady voice, “Gentlemen, the key to this case is not whether these people are ‘good people’ or whether Lionel Sorel has done good deeds.”

The key question is whether these individuals, through their words and actions, participated in an organized campaign of seditious incitement aimed at undermining imperial authority.

He paused for a moment, allowing each word to penetrate the jury's hearts like a wedge.

"Evidence shows that, firstly, they frequently gathered at a specific location—the Bentham Bar; secondly, they proactively contacted the media, acted collectively, and spread praise for foreign agitators."

Third, they openly endorsed the content of inflammatory works; fourth, they expressed their dissatisfaction with the imperial system in private discussions.

These actions are not isolated or accidental. They constitute a conscious and coordinated organization.

He looked toward the dock: "And James McGregor and Sean O'Mara were the core of this organization. One provided the venue and gathered the crowds; the other actively promoted and agitated."

The remaining ten were active participants. Together, they formed the foundation of an agitated organization.

After saying that, he turned to the defense lawyer, a mocking smile on his lips: "Mr. Brad, you are defending these people, saying they are 'ordinary people' and 'being dragged into this'."

Then I want to ask you—where are your witnesses? Where are those witnesses who can prove their 'innocence'? Besides a few testimonies from neighbors, what else do you have?

Henry Brad remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic, maintaining the composure expected of a lawyer.

Foster continued his sarcasm: "I'm afraid your only witness is that 'good Mr. James Bond' who only exists in the documents, isn't he?"

But where is he? Is he in his luxury apartment in Paris, sipping red wine, waiting to see news of this place in the newspaper tomorrow?

Then continue writing things that denigrate the imperial rule and incite the common people against Her Majesty the Queen!

The courtroom was silent. Everyone looked at Brad, hoping this lawyer, who frequently represented labor lawyers, could turn the tide.

But in the dock, old Jimmy had already lowered his head, while Sean O'Mara clenched his fists tightly.

In the back row of the audience, the workers looked grim, yet they seemed powerless to do anything about it.

Foster spread his hands: "No witnesses, no evidence, only weak and feeble explanations. We have police statements, journalists' testimonies, and their own admissions. Gentlemen, the facts are clear."

He bowed slightly to the jury and sat down. A moment of silence fell over the courtroom.

Meanwhile, behind the courtroom where the trial was in progress, in a small room where the conversation could be clearly heard, two men exchanged a glance.

Before Foster could finish his summary in court, both men understood the meaning in each other's eyes: "It's over."

Yes, the trial is over, and the outcome is already decided.

This was never a fair fight to begin with. Henry Brad had done everything he could, but the lack of key witnesses and the judge's bias towards the prosecution would render all his efforts futile.

The key is the composition of the jury. With the joint efforts of the royal lawyers and the cabinet, they have been thoroughly and purely selected, making it impossible for them to make any unexpected decisions.

The two men stood up in unison, quickly left the small room, walked through the long corridor, and exited the Central Criminal Court in London. They needed to report the results as soon as possible.

This way, once the doors of Royal Court No. 1 reopen, the person who appointed them can quickly gain the most favorable position in public opinion.

Standing at the entrance of the London Criminal Court, they could still faintly hear a huge commotion coming from inside the courtroom, as if the defendants' families were protesting in unison.

But in their eyes, these protests, no matter how loud, are completely futile.

One of the older men said, "See you tomorrow, Mr. Norris."

The younger one nodded: "See you tomorrow, Mr. Lister."

They quickly separated, walking briskly in different directions, each boarding one of the two carriages that were already waiting in front of the courthouse.

One of the vehicles was decorated with a four-pointed shield emblem, behind which was a lion standing in profile, surrounded by ribbons.

The other one is much more complex, with four shield emblems featuring three golden lions on a red background, a red lion on a gold background, and a golden harp on a blue background. There is also a crown on the top of the shield, and it is surrounded by the Garter Knights' garter belt.

The band of the garter belt bears an inscription in Old French: “Honi soit qui mal y pense”, meaning:

"Those who harbor evil thoughts shall be ashamed!"
(Second update, please vote with monthly tickets)

(End of this chapter)