n to say to Albert
Stires that he had just purchased sixty thousand dollars' worth
additional of city loan, and that he would then and there take the check
for it! Had he actually purchased this city loan as he said he had?
Who can tell? Could any human being wind through all the mazes of the
complicated bookkeeping system which he ran, and actually tell? The best
answer to that is that if he did purchase the certificates he intended
that it should make no difference to the city, for he made no effort
to put the certificates in the sinking-fund, where they belonged. 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