Chapter 10: The Strongest Voice from Scotland Yard
Arthur’s words silenced the boisterous courtroom.
The apprentice judge leaned towards the magistrate, “Sir, is this proper?”
The magistrate, his face grim, was clearly annoyed by Arthur, but he had no energy for this anymore.
“It’s a recess. Officer Arthur can do whatever he wants. I can’t shut his mouth.”
Although the magistrate didn’t object, the jury members remained prejudiced against Arthur’s previous actions. They assumed he had coerced young Adam into confessing.
Why else would Adam be so frightened and crying uncontrollably?
Just as the gentlemen of the jury prepared to take a break outside, and the ladies were busy comforting young Adam, the boy, at the center of the storm, insisted on staying.
He whispered, “Officer Arthur is a good man.”
Some of the ladies were indignant, “Adam, you don’t have to be afraid. We’re here, he won’t do anything to you. Don’t say these insincere things.”
Mrs. Peel, heartbroken, took his small hand, “I’m here. No one can touch you. If you want to cry, cry. Tell us all your grievances, we will give you a fair trial.”
But Adam shook his head, tears welling up, “No, I’m telling the truth. Officer Arthur is the second best person in my eyes, only after Mr. Tom’s wife. Mr. Tom’s wife mended many of my torn clothes and told me wonderful stories. Officer Arthur is the only one on the entire street who is willing to listen to me seriously. He even gave me some money, he’s my good friend.”
The ladies were stunned.
“My God!”
“What’s going on?”
“But he just wanted to hang you, are you sure he’s your friend?”
The gentlemen were also puzzled and turned to Arthur, “Officer, can you explain your seemingly contradictory behavior?”
Arthur, seeing all eyes on him, felt the stone in his heart finally settle.
He calmly stated, “It is my duty as a prosecutor and a policeman to charge the defendant. From the first day the Metropolitan Police was established, I have been told that my duty is to bring all criminals to justice.
Young Adam did steal the umbrella, he never hid it from me. He is a very honest child. From the first day I met him, I knew he was an honest and trustworthy boy.
We could chat without reservation, exchange opinions, talk about our worries, and offer advice on each other’s troubles.
Since he did commit theft, when I stood in court as the prosecutor, I couldn’t lie about his mistake and allow him to escape punishment.
Because that wouldn’t help him correct his behavior. It would only increase his wrongdoing and breed deeper malice in him.
But on the other hand, young Adam is also my good friend.
Therefore, when I left the prosecutor’s seat, I had to consider his situation.
Although he broke the law, I believe that a sentence of hanging for stealing an umbrella is too severe.
I need to save my friend, even though he committed a crime, I hope he has a chance to reform. Not to end his life at the age of nine.
I must apologize for my previous behavior. Due to my personal reasons, I gave the jury and Mr. Judge a false impression, which affected your correct judgment.
I am deeply ashamed and regretful.”
Arthur bowed slightly, “I apologize to everyone.”
After Arthur finished his speech, the tense atmosphere in the courtroom dissipated.
The gentlemen and ladies of the jury calmed down, even the magistrate was no longer in a hurry to go to the back room for tea.
The gentlemen chuckled and waved their hands, “We should apologize to you. Sorry, Officer, we misunderstood you.”
The ladies blushed with embarrassment, “I almost mistook you for a villain. Goodness! You’re a true gentleman.”
“You must have received a lot of education, you speak so politely, and you have a heart that separates public and private affairs. We should give you a chance to speak.”
“Officer, it’s not your fault, we didn’t understand. I’m impatient, you know, mothers are like that.”
The magistrate awkwardly scratched his wig, “Arthur, you know I have some opinions about Scotland Yard. But it’s not against you, it’s about some other legal concerns. I don’t dislike you as a person, I even admire you a little.”
Seeing the atmosphere clearly improve, Arthur smiled and said, “Can I start talking now?”
“Of course, without a doubt.”
“It’s your right, no one can stop you.”
Arthur picked up his uniform from the chair, pointing to the badge on it, “As you can see, I am a policeman from Scotland Yard.
I’m lucky to have started this job right after graduating from university.
I’m also unlucky to have started this job right after graduating from university.
I, like all my colleagues, earn a weekly salary of twelve shillings, work seven days a week, fourteen hours a day, and patrol over fifteen miles.
I don’t want to deceive you, this job is very tiring, and it’s not respectable, but these are not the hardest problems I face at work.
I fully understand why the gentlemen and ladies here were so hostile towards me at the beginning of the trial.
Because even in our daily work, we face such malice, even more nakedly, more directly.
In the six months I’ve been working at Scotland Yard, my Greenwich district has had sixty assaults on police,
But ironically, we have less than thirty police officers in our area.
I have many colleagues who joined at the same time as me, but less than a third remain by my side.
Some of them left because the pay was too low and the workload was too heavy.
But the vast majority left because we felt no respect at all in our work. We even felt more guilty than the criminals.
The whole world is hostile towards us, looking for trouble at any time.
But I don’t blame those people, just like I don’t blame the gentlemen and ladies here today.
Because if someone could potentially hang me at any time, I probably wouldn’t give him any good face either.
But do all policemen want to hang criminals?
Today’s example of young Adam is here. I don’t want to hang him, but my duty doesn’t allow it.
Look at our legal provisions.
Damaging roads, death penalty.
Cutting down trees, death penalty.
Stealing envelopes, death penalty.
Salvaging shipwrecked goods, death penalty.
Going out with a black face at night, death penalty.
Stealing goods worth more than five shillings, death penalty.
Unmarried mothers concealing miscarriages, still death penalty.
If I were to list all of our death penalty statutes, I wouldn’t finish until nightfall.
This strange phenomenon is not just discovered by me alone. Lord Samuel Romilly proposed reforming our criminal law in Parliament as early as 1808. Unfortunately, his efforts did not succeed.
In 1808, we stipulated more than 160 death penalties, and after 20 years of effort, we have added another 70.
But has the rapid increase in the number of death penalties effectively improved the security environment?
Unfortunately, I have to report another set of data to you.
In 1805, there were 4605 arrests for criminal offences in England and Wales alone.
And last year, just last year!
Gentlemen,
Ladies,
Guess if this number has decreased?
No!
Of course not!
Last year, we had a staggering 30,000 criminal cases in England and Wales, a sixfold increase!
That is to say, the increase in death penalty crimes has not only failed to help us improve the environment, but has also led to a sharp increase in crime rates.
Of course, I’m not saying I’m in favor of abolishing the death penalty, but I hope we can use a more appropriate scale to measure minor crimes.
I don’t understand our society. I don’t understand why stealing five shillings should be punished by death.
And in 1825, we had over seventy banks collapse, causing significant losses to countless depositors.
Those banking partners stole far more than five shillings, yet I haven’t seen any of them hanging on the gallows.
I don’t understand, I don’t understand this society.
I don’t know what I’m doing this job for. I’m clearly enforcing the law, fulfilling my duty, but I always feel like I’m committing a crime!
I damn well don’t understand, and no one has told me why!
Why should my friend die for five shillings, while others cause five million pounds of damage and still live well!
When I joined the job, I often recited the “Police Instructions,” which told me.
Police officers should always maintain good relations with the public and respect the historical tradition of “police are the public, and the public are the police.”
But now, the public tells me I’m not one of them.
And I’m clearly a policeman, yet I always want to make statements that are inconsistent with my duties.
I’ve been confused about this for a while, until I read a notice recently.
And because of it!
I decided to be here today!
I leave this notice for myself, and I also want to share it with you all.
No one is an island,
Isolated from the world,
Everyone is part of a vast continent.
If a wave washes away a rock,
Europe is diminished.
Like a cape losing a corner,
Like your friend or your own territory losing a piece.
Every death is a sorrow for me,
Because I am a member of humanity.
Therefore,
Don’t ask for whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee!
Thank you all,
Thank you for listening to a soon-to-be-retired patrol officer say these pointless words.
Because this will probably be my last time in the magistrate’s court.
Thank you,
Really thank you.”
Arthur’s chest heaved, gasping for breath. Sweat soaked his white shirt, highlighting his broad and open chest.
Although he knew his emotions would be agitated by the speech, he was still surprised by the extent.
The courtroom was silent, everyone’s eyes focused on his face.
But after a brief quiet, applause began to sound in the courtroom.
Then, everyone stood up from their seats.
Soon, the applause gathered into a wave, exploding in the magistrate’s court like lightning and thunder.
Accompanied by cheers and shouts, Officer Tom, sobbing, knelt down in front of Arthur, clutching his leg, “Arthur, I’m heartbroken, I’m so heartbroken. Why are we losing such an outstanding colleague? I don’t understand, I really don’t understand…”
“Well done! Officer Arthur!”
“You said it perfectly! Why not punish the five million pounds, but insist on the five shillings! I can’t understand either!”
“This law should be changed, I don’t agree with sentencing Adam to death! It’s irresponsible to the public’s life!”
Even the magistrate couldn’t help but give Arthur a look of appreciation, clapping his hands and saying to everyone, “Allow me to reintroduce to you, Britain’s best policeman, an example for the public, the strongest voice from Scotland Yard, Officer Arthur Hastings!”
But when Arthur heard these words, he was stunned for a moment, then slowly lowered his head.
“Officer Arthur Hastings?”
He stroked the badge on his uniform, a slightly bitter smile appearing on his face.
“Sorry, no longer.”
As everyone was celebrating, a gentleman in a black top hat sitting in the audience suddenly beckoned to his servant.
He lowered his voice and instructed, “Go to Scotland Yard immediately. I need to get Officer Arthur Hastings’ personal information right away.”
The servant bowed slightly, “As you command, Sir Peel.”
(End of Chapter)
The chapter felt short. I only reason I decided to translate this novel because I saw mystery solving tag and a devil friend floating around the main character. I am not sure where this novel is heading. Let’s try for another 10 chapters and see if the story get better.