Camilla. Cosgrave had wanted to work but could find no job because he was long-haired and a foreigner. The only work he had during his years in Sweden was as a dishwasher for two weeks one summer on one of the ferries to Finland. Moreover, he longed to return to the United States. He had job experience and considered that he would have little difficulty in arranging things for himself and his family once he got home.
At the beginning of February, Cosgrave made contact with the United States Embassy and declared himself prepared to return voluntarily, provided he was given certain guarantees. They were anxious to get him home and promised him that his punishment would be mere formality.
Cosgrave flew back to the States on February 12. Rebecka had reckoned on being able to follow in March, when her boy friend’s parents had promised to help with money, but the months had gone by and no word had come from Cosgrave. She went to the social welfare office and was told that because Cosgravewas a foreign citizen, they could do nothing. That was when Rebecka decided to go to the United States on her own, to find out what had happened. To get money, she turned to a bank, with known results.
The character appraisal was mainly positive. It pointed out that Rebecka had been an excellent mother and that she had never sunk to vice or shown criminal tendencies. She was incorruptibly truthful, but had an unrealistic attitude toward the world and often showed signs of exaggerated gullibility. Cosgrave was also appraised briefly. According to his acquaintances, he was a purposeful young man who had not attempted to evade his responsibilities and who had implicitly believed in a future for himself and his family in the United States.
Bulldozer Olsson now rose to give his summation.
Rhea observed him through half-closed eyes. Apart from his hopeless clothes, he was a man who radiated enormous self-confidence and an intense interest in what he was doing. He had seen through Crasher’s line of defense, but he was not going to let his actions be influenced by it. Instead, he expressed himself simply and briefly and stuck to his previous line of argument. He puffed out his chest—in fact mostly stomach—looked down at his unpolished brown shoes and began in a silky voice.
“I wish to limit my summation to a repetition of proven facts. Rebecka Lind went into the PK Bank, armed with a knife and equipped with a capacious shoulder bag in which she intended to put her booty. Long experience with bank robberies of the simpler variety—in fact there have been hundreds during this last year—convinces me that Rebecka was behaving according to a pattern although her lack of experience caused her to be immediately apprehended. I personally feel sorry for the accused, who while so young has allowed herself to be beguiled into committing such a serious crime. All the same, my regard for the law obliges me to demand unconditional imprisonment. The evidence that has been produced in this court is incontestable. No amount of argument can undo it.”
Bulldozer fingered his tie, then concluded: “I therefore submit my case for the approval of the court.”
“Is counsel for the defense prepared for his summation?” asked the judge.
Crasher was apparently not in the least prepared. He shuffled his papers together unsorted, regarded his unlit cigar for a moment, then put it into his pocket. He looked round the courtroom, staring curiously at each person in turn, as if he had never seen any of them before. Then he rose and limped back and forth in front of the judge.
Finally he said, “As I have already pointed out, this young lady who has been placed on the accused’s bench, or perhaps I should say chair, is innocent, and a speech in her defense is largely unnecessary. Nevertheless, I shall say a few words.”
Everyone wondered nervously what Crasher might mean by “a few words.”
Crasher unbuttoned his jacket, belched with relief, thrust out
At the beginning of February, Cosgrave made contact with the United States Embassy and declared himself prepared to return voluntarily, provided he was given certain guarantees. They were anxious to get him home and promised him that his punishment would be mere formality.
Cosgrave flew back to the States on February 12. Rebecka had reckoned on being able to follow in March, when her boy friend’s parents had promised to help with money, but the months had gone by and no word had come from Cosgrave. She went to the social welfare office and was told that because Cosgravewas a foreign citizen, they could do nothing. That was when Rebecka decided to go to the United States on her own, to find out what had happened. To get money, she turned to a bank, with known results.
The character appraisal was mainly positive. It pointed out that Rebecka had been an excellent mother and that she had never sunk to vice or shown criminal tendencies. She was incorruptibly truthful, but had an unrealistic attitude toward the world and often showed signs of exaggerated gullibility. Cosgrave was also appraised briefly. According to his acquaintances, he was a purposeful young man who had not attempted to evade his responsibilities and who had implicitly believed in a future for himself and his family in the United States.
Bulldozer Olsson now rose to give his summation.
Rhea observed him through half-closed eyes. Apart from his hopeless clothes, he was a man who radiated enormous self-confidence and an intense interest in what he was doing. He had seen through Crasher’s line of defense, but he was not going to let his actions be influenced by it. Instead, he expressed himself simply and briefly and stuck to his previous line of argument. He puffed out his chest—in fact mostly stomach—looked down at his unpolished brown shoes and began in a silky voice.
“I wish to limit my summation to a repetition of proven facts. Rebecka Lind went into the PK Bank, armed with a knife and equipped with a capacious shoulder bag in which she intended to put her booty. Long experience with bank robberies of the simpler variety—in fact there have been hundreds during this last year—convinces me that Rebecka was behaving according to a pattern although her lack of experience caused her to be immediately apprehended. I personally feel sorry for the accused, who while so young has allowed herself to be beguiled into committing such a serious crime. All the same, my regard for the law obliges me to demand unconditional imprisonment. The evidence that has been produced in this court is incontestable. No amount of argument can undo it.”
Bulldozer fingered his tie, then concluded: “I therefore submit my case for the approval of the court.”
“Is counsel for the defense prepared for his summation?” asked the judge.
Crasher was apparently not in the least prepared. He shuffled his papers together unsorted, regarded his unlit cigar for a moment, then put it into his pocket. He looked round the courtroom, staring curiously at each person in turn, as if he had never seen any of them before. Then he rose and limped back and forth in front of the judge.
Finally he said, “As I have already pointed out, this young lady who has been placed on the accused’s bench, or perhaps I should say chair, is innocent, and a speech in her defense is largely unnecessary. Nevertheless, I shall say a few words.”
Everyone wondered nervously what Crasher might mean by “a few words.”
Crasher unbuttoned his jacket, belched with relief, thrust out
Similar Books
