Murder at the Washington Tribune - Margaret Truman [70]
“I’m afraid there’s not a lot I can do for Michael,” the attorney said. He was an older man who attended the same church as Michael’s parents. “He’s confessed to the murder, and all the evidence supports that confession.”
“Do they want to kill him?” Mrs. Wilcox asked.
“Yes, ma’am. The prosecutor is calling for the death penalty.”
She closed her eyes and prayed silently.
“The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain,” her husband said aloud, citing Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. “My firstborn has brought a plague to this Christian house.”
“I understand,” the attorney said, “but we have a legal problem here. I know the two of you well. You are hard-working, decent people who follow the word of the Lord and practice His moral teachings. But the law doesn’t always recognize such truths. What we must do—what I must do—is to try and spare Michael’s life. He was obviously not of his right mind when he committed this act. The young Jones woman evidently had questionable moral principles. Michael has told me of seeing her undressing in the window of her own bedroom, enticing and corrupting impressionable young men like your son.”
“A harlot!” Mr. Wilcox said with finality.
“Perhaps not that,” said the attorney, “but someone who must be, at least, partially culpable in this unfortunate incident. I know that your fine son has had many troubles in his young life, at school, in the community. His anger and aggressiveness is well known in Kankakee.”
“He’s been a bad seed,” the father offered. “I pray, most merciful Father, to be forgiving of me for bringing such a soul into Your world.” He said it to the ceiling.
It became silent downstairs, and Joseph crawled to the very edge of the stairs to better hear. Finally, the attorney spoke.
“The important thing,” he said, “is to spare Michael’s life.”
“But you said—” the mother said.
“I said the prosecutor is asking for the death penalty. But I believe I might be successful in pleading insanity for Michael. If so, he would be found not guilty by reason of insanity and would be remanded to a hospital for the criminally insane.”
“Insanity,” the mother wailed, and began to cry.
“He must be that,” said the father. “Only an insane person would do such a terrible thing.”
“Exactly,” the attorney agreed. “I believe that based upon Michael’s past behavior, and the behavior of the young lady next door, I stand at least a decent chance of defending Michael on that basis. There’s also the possibility that a plea bargain can be struck with that as the outcome. Citizens around here aren’t keen on laying out thousands of dollars for trials. The prosecutor’s comin’ up for reelection soon. He might see the wisdom of sparing the county that expense.”
“I see,” the father said.
“Do I have your permission to pursue that course of action?”
“Michael has taken a life,” the father said. “It is written in Exodus that there shall be eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
“But our God is forgiving,” the mother said. “If Michael’s life can be spared, it will be God’s will.”
And the will of twelve jurors, the attorney thought.
“Please,” Joseph heard his mother say. “I don’t want my firstborn to die.”
After a long pause, the father said to the attorney, “I hereby give my permission.”
“I will have to discuss it with Michael,” the attorney said.
“I will tell him what to do,” said the father. “How long will he remain in the institution?”
“Until he is judged fit to rejoin society. It will be years. But I stress to you that I may not succeed in achieving a not guilty verdict, or be able to arrange a plea bargain with the prosecutor. But I assure you I will try.”
“That is all we can ask,” the mother said.
“Let us pray,” the father said.
The muffled words of prayers drifted up the stairs. Joseph returned to his room, flung himself on his bed, and sobbed, his body heaving until there were no more tears to shed.
Michael was held without bail until his trial, which commenced seven months later. Joseph asked his parents if he could join them when