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Authors: Brian Evenson
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again, then watched Lael’s eyes flick back and forth until he had finished as well. He cranked forward a day.
Young, unable to face the trial, had managed to have proceedings delayed a day, and sought to have them delayed further. Hart, his lawyer, begged for delay “on the grounds that his client was physically unable to stand the strain of the trial.” The Court Coroner, recruited as a physician, examined Young and declared him too ill to leave his cell. Justice Herrick, after another examination by another doctor, ordered Young to attend.
Young was literally dragged into court, between two Deputy Sheriffs. He appeared to be in a state of great physical weakness, and seemed to have aged at least twenty years since the time of his arrest last September. The deathly pallor of his features was in pronouncedcontrast to the long, shaggy black beard which he had grown while in prison. Had it not been for his luminous brown eyes the face would have resembled a death mask more than anything else. He wore no collar, and his linen and other clothing were in a state of neglect. When he was taken to the chair at the table of his counsel, he collapsed and fell forward.
After a further examination by eight physicians, the Justice decided the trial would proceed. At first Young “sat in various attitudes of dejection and at times his head swayed weakly from side to side. But after the proceedings began in earnest, he seemed to brighten up and take interest in what was going on about him…. He scanned each talisman called with manifest care and regarded each juror sworn intensely.”
By the following day, his appearance seemed further improved. “His hair was combed, his beard had been trimmed, and he wore a collar. But he still shows signs of great weakness,” and “Once in the afternoon session he wept.”
Yet the reason he looked good was only because he had been dressed by the combined efforts of three prison guards. Indeed, when they first arrived he had not been dressed at all; “they found him crawling about his cell on all fours,” searching for a rabbit’s foot.
By the following day he had assumed “an attitude of dull dejection … his head resting on the table before him and his face buried in his hands.”
On February 10, only six days after his trial had begun, it was over.
YOUNG ADMITS HIS GUILT
Confesses Murder in the Second Degree and Gets Life Sentence
Justice Herrick Advised his Counsel to Enter That Plea—Man Medically, But Not Legally, Insane
William Hooper Young, who has been on trial before Justice Herrick in the Criminal Branch of the Supreme Court for the murder of Mrs. Anna Pulitzer, yesterday pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree. […]
Young looked like a changed man when he entered court yesterday morning. For the first time he walked byhimself up to the table of his counsel, where he pulled his chair into position and sat down. His eye was clear, he bore his head erect, and he looked like a man from whose mind a great burden had been rolled. All in the court room wondered over his altered appearance. […]
After the whispered conference, Clerk Penny of the court called the defendant to the bar. There was a brief silence when he entered the room and then Justice Herrick ordered the prisoner to stand up.
“Young,” said Justice Herrick, “I understand that you want to recall your plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty of murder in the second degree?”
Young stood up, clutching the railing in front of him with both hands. He seemed calm and unperturbed. Prompted by Mr. Hart, he said something which the Justice construed into an assent.
“Do you desire to be sentenced now?” asked the Justice.
“There is no occasion to comment on the heinousness of the crime you have committed,” said Justice Herrick then.
“You are aware of the penalty for your crime. The sentence of the Court is that you be taken and confined to State prison at hard labor for the term of your
Young, unable to face the trial, had managed to have proceedings delayed a day, and sought to have them delayed further. Hart, his lawyer, begged for delay “on the grounds that his client was physically unable to stand the strain of the trial.” The Court Coroner, recruited as a physician, examined Young and declared him too ill to leave his cell. Justice Herrick, after another examination by another doctor, ordered Young to attend.
Young was literally dragged into court, between two Deputy Sheriffs. He appeared to be in a state of great physical weakness, and seemed to have aged at least twenty years since the time of his arrest last September. The deathly pallor of his features was in pronouncedcontrast to the long, shaggy black beard which he had grown while in prison. Had it not been for his luminous brown eyes the face would have resembled a death mask more than anything else. He wore no collar, and his linen and other clothing were in a state of neglect. When he was taken to the chair at the table of his counsel, he collapsed and fell forward.
After a further examination by eight physicians, the Justice decided the trial would proceed. At first Young “sat in various attitudes of dejection and at times his head swayed weakly from side to side. But after the proceedings began in earnest, he seemed to brighten up and take interest in what was going on about him…. He scanned each talisman called with manifest care and regarded each juror sworn intensely.”
By the following day, his appearance seemed further improved. “His hair was combed, his beard had been trimmed, and he wore a collar. But he still shows signs of great weakness,” and “Once in the afternoon session he wept.”
Yet the reason he looked good was only because he had been dressed by the combined efforts of three prison guards. Indeed, when they first arrived he had not been dressed at all; “they found him crawling about his cell on all fours,” searching for a rabbit’s foot.
By the following day he had assumed “an attitude of dull dejection … his head resting on the table before him and his face buried in his hands.”
On February 10, only six days after his trial had begun, it was over.
YOUNG ADMITS HIS GUILT
Confesses Murder in the Second Degree and Gets Life Sentence
Justice Herrick Advised his Counsel to Enter That Plea—Man Medically, But Not Legally, Insane
William Hooper Young, who has been on trial before Justice Herrick in the Criminal Branch of the Supreme Court for the murder of Mrs. Anna Pulitzer, yesterday pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree. […]
Young looked like a changed man when he entered court yesterday morning. For the first time he walked byhimself up to the table of his counsel, where he pulled his chair into position and sat down. His eye was clear, he bore his head erect, and he looked like a man from whose mind a great burden had been rolled. All in the court room wondered over his altered appearance. […]
After the whispered conference, Clerk Penny of the court called the defendant to the bar. There was a brief silence when he entered the room and then Justice Herrick ordered the prisoner to stand up.
“Young,” said Justice Herrick, “I understand that you want to recall your plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty of murder in the second degree?”
Young stood up, clutching the railing in front of him with both hands. He seemed calm and unperturbed. Prompted by Mr. Hart, he said something which the Justice construed into an assent.
“Do you desire to be sentenced now?” asked the Justice.
“There is no occasion to comment on the heinousness of the crime you have committed,” said Justice Herrick then.
“You are aware of the penalty for your crime. The sentence of the Court is that you be taken and confined to State prison at hard labor for the term of your
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