His counsel says, and he says, that he didn't have to until the first of the month, although the law says that he must do it at once, and he knew well enough that legally he was bound to do it.
His counsel says, and he says, that he didn't know he was going to fail.
Hence there was no need of worrying about it.
I wonder if any of you gentlemen really believed that?
Had he ever asked for a check like that so quick before in his life?
In all the history of these nefarious transactions was there another incident like that?
You know there wasn't.
He had never before, on any occasion, asked personally for a check for anything in this office, and yet on this occasion he did it.
Why? Why should he ask for it this time?
A few hours more, according to his own statement, wouldn't have made any difference one way or the other, would it?
He could have sent a boy for it, as usual.
That was the way it had always been done before.
Why anything different now?
I'll tell you why! [Shannon suddenly shouted, varying his voice tremendously.] I'll tell you why!
He knew that he was a ruined man!
He knew that his last semi-legitimate avenue of escape—the favor of George W. Stener—had been closed to him!
He knew that honestly, by open agreement, he could not extract another single dollar from the treasury of the city of Philadelphia.
He knew that if he left the office without this check and sent a boy for it, the aroused city treasurer would have time to inform his clerks, and that then no further money could be obtained.
That's why!
That's why, gentlemen, if you really want to know.
"Now, gentlemen of the jury, I am about done with my arraignment of this fine, honorable, virtuous citizen whom the counsel for the defense, Mr. Steger, tells you you cannot possibly convict without doing a great injustice.
All I have to say is that you look to me like sane, intelligent men—just the sort of men that I meet everywhere in the ordinary walks of life, doing an honorable American business in an honorable American way.
Now, gentlemen of the jury [he was very soft-spoken now], all I have to say is that if, after all you have heard and seen here to-day, you still think that Mr. Frank A. Cowperwood is an honest, honorable man—that he didn't steal, willfully and knowingly, sixty thousand dollars from the Philadelphia city treasury; that he had actually bought the certificates he said he had, and had intended to put them in the sinking-fund, as he said he did, then don't you dare to do anything except turn him loose, and that speedily, so that he can go on back to-day into Third Street, and start to straighten out his much-entangled financial affairs.
It is the only thing for honest, conscientious men to do—to turn him instantly loose into the heart of this community, so that some of the rank injustice that my opponent, Mr. Steger, alleges has been done him will be a little made up to him.
You owe him, if that is the way you feel, a prompt acknowledgment of his innocence.
Don't worry about George W. Stener.
His guilt is established by his own confession.
He admits he is guilty.
He will be sentenced without trial later on.
But this man—he says he is an honest, honorable man.
He says he didn't think he was going to fail.
He says he used all that threatening, compelling, terrifying language, not because he was in danger of failing, but because he didn't want the bother of looking further for aid.
What do you think?
Do you really think that he had purchased sixty thousand dollars more of certificates for the sinking-fund, and that he was entitled to the money?
If so, why didn't he put them in the sinking-fund?
They're not there now, and the sixty thousand dollars is gone.
Who got it?
The Girard National Bank, where he was overdrawn to the extent of one hundred thousand dollars!
Did it get it and forty thousand dollars more in other checks and certificates?
Certainly.
Why?
Do you suppose the Girard National Bank might be in any way grateful for this last little favor before he closed his doors?
Do you think that President Davison, whom you saw here testifying so kindly in this case feels at all friendly, and that that may possibly—I don't say that it does—explain his very kindly interpretation of Mr. Cowperwood's condition?
It might be.
You can think as well along that line as I can.
Anyhow, gentlemen, President Davison says Mr. Cowperwood is an honorable, honest man, and so does his counsel, Mr. Steger. You have heard the testimony. Now you think it over.
If you want to turn him loose—turn him loose. [He waved his hand wearily.] You're the judges.
I wouldn't; but then I am merely a hard-working lawyer—one person, one opinion.
You may think differently—that's your business. [He waved his hand suggestively, almost contemptuously.] However, I'm through, and I thank you for your courtesy.
Gentlemen, the decision rests with you."