Native Son - Richard Wright [149]
“Mr. Erlone, didn’t you give that Negro material relating to the Communist Party?”
“Yes.”
“What was the nature of that material?”
“I gave him some pamphlets on the Negro question.”
“Material advocating the equality of whites and blacks?”
“It was material which explained….”
“Did that material contain a plea for ‘unity of whites and blacks’?”
“Why, yes.”
“Did you, in your agitation of that drunken Negro, tell him that it was all right for him to have sexual relations with white women?”
“No!”
“Did you advise Miss Dalton to have sexual relations with him?”
“No!”
“Did you shake hands with that Negro?”
“Yes.”
“Did you offer to shake hands with him?”
“Yes. It is what any decent person….”
“Confine yourself to answering the questions, please, Mr. Erlone. We want none of your Communist explanations here. Tell me, did you eat with that Negro?”
“Why, yes.”
“You invited, him to eat?”
“Yes.”
“Miss Dalton was at the table when you invited him to sit down?”
“Yes.”
“How many times have you eaten with Negroes before?”
“I don’t know. Many times.”
“You like Negroes?”
“I make no distinctions….”
“Do you like Negroes, Mr. Erlone?”
“I object!” Max shouted. “How on earth is that related to this case!”
“You cannot regulate these questions!” the coroner shouted. “I’ve told you that before! A woman has been foully murdered. This witness brought the deceased into contact with the last person who saw her alive. We have the right to determine what this witness’ attitude was toward that girl and that Negro!” The coroner turned back to Jan. “Now, Mr. Erlone, didn’t you ask that Negro to sit in the front seat of the car, between you and Miss Dalton?”
“No; he was already in the front seat.”
“But you didn’t ask him to get into the back seat, did you?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“My God! The man is human! Why don’t you ask me…?”
“I’m asking these questions and you’re answering them. Now, tell me, Mr. Erlone, would you have invited that Negro to sleep with you?”
“I refuse to answer that question!”
“But you didn’t refuse that drunken Negro the right to sleep with that girl, did you?”
“His right to associate with her or anybody else was not in question….”
“Did you try to keep that Negro from Miss Dalton?”
“I didn’t….”
“Answer yes or no!”
“No!”
“Have you a sister?”
“Why, yes.”
“Where is she?”
“In New York.”
“Is she married?”
“No.”
“Would you consent for her to marry a Negro?”
“I have nothing to do with whom she marries.”
“Didn’t you tell that drunken Negro to call you Jan instead of Mr. Erlone?”
“Yes; but,….”
“Confine yourself to answering the questions!”
“But, Mr. Coroner, you imply….”
“I’m trying to establish a motive for the murder of that innocent girl!”
“No; you’re not! You’re trying to indict a race of people and a political party!”
“We want no statements! Tell me, was Miss Dalton in a condition to say good-bye to you when you left her in that car with the drunken Negro?”
“Yes. She said good-bye.”
“Tell me, how much liquor did you give Miss Dalton that night?”
“I don’t know.”
“What kind of liquor was it?”
“Rum.”
“Why did you prefer rum?”
“I don’t know. I just bought rum.”
“Was it to stimulate the body to a great extent?”
“No.”
“How much was bought?”
“A fifth of a gallon.”
“Who paid for it?”
“I did.”
“Did that money come from the treasury of the Communist Party?”
“No!”
“Don’t they allow you a budget for recruiting expenses?”
“No!”
“How much was drunk before you bought the fifth of rum?”
“We had a few beers.”
“How many?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t remember much about what happened that night, do you?”
“I’m telling you all I remember.”
“All you remember?”
“Yes.”
“Is it possible that you don’t remember some things?”
“I’m telling you all I remember.”
“Were you too drunk to remember everything that happened?”
“No.”
“You knew what you were doing?”
“Yes.”
“You deliberately left the girl in that condition?”
“She was in no condition!”
“Just how drunk was she after the beers and rum?”
“She seemed to know what she was doing.”
“Did you have any fears