Chapter 2: Cross-Examination
"But I heard that you purchased a significant amount of land the year before last, and last year your income was nearly three thousand pounds..."
One should know that even a top barrister in Backlund earns only about a thousand pounds a year.
Raul Hendler's lawyer, Burton Chester, sensing something was wrong, stood up and said, "Your Honor, I object! Mr. Rolls's questioning is irrelevant to this case!"
Harvey Brooke nodded and gestured for Burton Chester to sit down, saying, "Mr. Adrian, please ensure your statements remain relevant to the case."
Rolls placed his hand over his heart and bowed slightly toward Judge Brooke. "My apologies, Your Honor. I will be mindful."
As if failing to notice Hendler's face turning ashen, Rolls turned his attention to Wood Johnson: "Mr. Johnson, I heard that for jobs like stewards, servants, and carriage drivers—unlike dockworkers—the salary is not calculated weekly, but rather as an annual salary?"
"Yes, sir," Wood said, his hands restlessly rubbing against his loose lantern breeches. "People like us... one accident could ruin the whole family. Being a carriage driver means I can live and eat with my master, and the pay is a bit better. Even though it's an annual salary, most masters still pay weekly, or at most, delay it for a short time."
"In—normal—circumstances. Then, did Mr. Hendler pay you according to those circumstances?"
"No, no, no. He said he would pay the salary after a full year of work," Johnson waved his hands hurriedly.
"Good Heavens!"
"My Goddess, how could he dare do that!"
"Unbelievable!"
His words caused a stir among the jury. Although the requirements to join a jury were low, members were often from well-to-do families who chose to serve simply to pass the time due to a lack of entertainment. However, because of this, they were intimately familiar with how servants were paid; they knew exactly what a servant's life would become if payment was delayed.
Everyone present turned their gaze toward Raul Hendler. Hendler's ashen face immediately flushed red with agitation. "I gave him an annual salary of 27 pounds! That's two pounds more than a normal driver's wage!"
"But my client did not agree to that arrangement, did he?" Rolls pressed forward step by step.
Hendler waved his arms forcefully. "But he agreed after I promised to give him other things as compensation!"
The gaze of the room shifted back to Wood Johnson.
"Is that so, Mr. Johnson?"
"Yes. I wanted to save up enough money so my son, little Johnson, could attend a grammar school. That way, he wouldn't have to live a life like ours. My wife's wages, combined with little Johnson working as a temporary laborer, were barely enough to sustain us. After a year, there would be 27 pounds—enough to send little Johnson to grammar school. Who knew that a year of work would make little Johnson fall seriously ill... I had to quit and return to Whitecliff Town." As he spoke, Mr. Johnson began to sob, and some of the more emotional ladies on the jury shed sympathetic tears.
Rolls did not continue questioning Wood Johnson; he simply handed him a handkerchief and turned back to Hendler.
"Mr. Hendler, when exactly did my client, Wood Johnson, begin working as a driver at your home?"
Sensing danger, Raul Hendler frowned and said, "I told you just now—November of the year before last."
"Please tell me the specific date. It is very important."
"November 7th. I remember it very clearly," Johnson wiped his tears with the handkerchief, his eyes rimmed with red. "The day before, little Johnson told me his teacher had made him a 'monitor' in his class."
Free schools were night schools established by the three major Churches or certain charitable organizations. They held classes from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and charged no fees, even providing writing tools and paper for free. They were intended for basic literacy.
Because there were very few volunteers to teach at these schools, a unique teaching model had formed: the "Monitorial System." The teacher would arrive early and gather a few students with the best progress, instilling the day's content into them. These students would then be responsible for teaching different classes while the teacher patrolled to correct mistakes.
Corresponding to free schools were organizations like the Mechanics' Institutes, which were among the few channels for the genuinely poor to escape their social class. Unfortunately, such organizations were few and far between, far from enough to make a substantial impact.
Rolls continued his questioning of Hendler: "And when did he leave?"
"November 13th of last year. My friends from town came to find me, saying little Johnson was gravely ill," Johnson interjected, tears streaming down his face again.
Rolls saw Hendler nod reluctantly and said, "In other words, my client Wood Johnson worked in Mr. Hendler's home for one year and should be paid 27 gold pounds."
Rolls paused, then raised his voice: "And other things!"
Rolls walked up to Hendler, staring into his eyes. "I would like to ask Mr. Hendler: do these 'other things' include a set of gilded horse tack worth nearly one gold pound?"
Lawyer Burton had already closed his eyes. He realized he had lost the moment Rolls mentioned Hendler's massive land purchases. Although he had interrupted in time, this young lawyer Rolls was far too skilled at inciting emotion. He could forgive the jury, but his own employer was acting like a curly-haired baboon—utterly brainless. Despite Burton's warnings before the trial, Hendler had easily been baited into the truth by Rolls.
"I would never give my horse tack to anyone! That was my—"
"Mr. Hendler!" Rolls interrupted. "Then what was it? What could serve as payment and satisfy a carriage driver like Mr. Hendler?"
"Mr. Hendler, use your head! See if there is anything else that fits the criteria!" Rolls slowly circled his index finger near his temple.
"There's... there's..." Hendler racked his brain.
"But I suspect there is nothing left! After all, what else in your house hasn't been sold off to pay your debts?"
Thanks to the establishment of the "Corn Laws," land prices had soared in recent years. Hendler had tasted success from the land he bought the year before last; consequently, he had invested all of last year's income into more land and taken out massive loans. However, half a month ago, rumors spread that the Corn Laws were to be repealed. A week ago, the House of Commons formally introduced the relevant bill. Hendler's creditors came knocking one after another, and by the time Hendler had sold all his land and valuables, he had barely managed to clear his debts.
Having finished, Rolls turned back to his seat and bowed slightly to Judge Harvey Brooke. "Your Honor, I have no further questions."
"Mr. Burton Chester, it is your turn."
Hearing the clerk's words, Chester opened his eyes and stood up. He was out of options; he could hear it in the clerk's voice and see it in the attitude of the jury and the judge. Chester looked at Rolls Adrian again and saw that the young man had already lowered his head to organize his case files. He sighed inwardly once more:
He is just too young!