(Jared's POV)
18th February, 10:00 a.m.
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"So this is the highest court in Great Britain... The Old Bailey... The centuries of history in this place is…" Ryunosuke said, looking around the courtroom. "…palpable, isn't it? It's so different to the Supreme Court in Japan."
"And it's different from the District Court in Los Angeles." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "To me, it doesn't feel like the early 21st century. It doesn't feel like home. This feels like the Middle Ages."
"...It feels both imposing and serene at the same time. The atmosphere almost makes words redundant. Whatever the country, determining a person's guilt or innocence is always a solemn affair. May I say something, Mr Naruhodo?" Susato asked.
"Oh! Yes, what?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Your eyes look ready to pop out of your head again."
"I know, but I just can't help it…"
"In the name of Her Majesty the Queen, I hereby declare this court to be in session. We are here today to determine the guilt or innocence of Mr Magnus McGilded. I now call upon the counsels for the prosecution and defence to declare their willingness to proceed." The Judge said.
"The prosecution...is fully prepared." Van Zieks said.
"The Grim Reaper." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That must be the Reaper of the Bailey... He...really does look fully prepared to dispatch his next poor victim to the underworld…'
"Counsel for the Defence, you appear to be...Eastern. Do you speak English?" The Judge asked.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, of course! Sorry." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'But he asked if the defence was ready. And I couldn't be further from ready if I tried…'
"Those eyes please me. ...Nipponese." Van Zieks said.
"...!"
"They shroud your fear, your doubt, your trepidation... They run wild, clinging to some phantom notion of courage. The quintessential look...of a sacrificial lamb."
"That's…wow." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh... A cold shiver just ran down my spine all the way to the tips of my toes…'
"... Now, Mr McGilded…" The Judge said.
"Yes, My Lord?" McGilded asked.
"You stand accused of murder. A capital offence. You could be sent to the gallows if found guilty. Are you quite sure you wish to entrust your defence to this...foreigner?"
"... As I've always said, My Lord, 'tis a grand ting to give opportunities to the young. Even if the fella is a student from some little island off in the Far East. Is it not the British way to ignore the dangers to yeself and give those less fortunate a fair chance? I'd like to tink that acts of chivalry do the great British Empire proud."
"Listen to Mr McGilded!"
"What a fine gentleman London has in him!"
"Did you hear that he donated five thousand pounds to the government the other day?"
"Mother, please may we go and play in McGilded Park?"
"It seems as though everyone in the public gallery is firmly behind Mr McGilded." Susato said, sadly.
"That's definitely welcome news. And he certainly has a way with words. I'm surprised he couldn't convince anyone to defend him." Ryunosuke said.
"Well, he's definitely different from Captain Jack." I said, frowning. "And way different from Tony Stark."
"Eloquently put, Mr McGilded. And most laudable sentiments. Now... ...ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm sure I need hardly remind you... ...that you six members of the public have been selected for your impartiality. Are you ready to proceed?" The Judge asked.
"Yes, My Lord! If the task is to send rotters to the gallows where they belong, I'm more than ready!" Juror No. 1 chirped.
"At the manor, His Lordship always says we should dispose of rubbish promptly. Naturally, I agree." Juror No. 2 said.
"Hah! Any criminals here will soon be wishing they never set eyes on me!" Juror No. 3 yelled.
"...I feel a chill." Juror No. 5 said.
"Oh, don't mind me, my dears! I'll just be getting on with my knitting. Must finish these mitts for my grandson." Juror No. 6 said.
"Ah, Mr Naruhodo, Jared, those people are…" Susato said, looking at Ryunosuke and I.
"The jury. Yes... That's something we don't have in Japan yet." Ryunosuke said.
"That's right. I've only ever read about it. But here in Great Britain, the court's final verdict depends on the opinions of these six jurors. The judge passes sentence according to the law, but the jurors determine guilt based on common sense. So the defendant is ultimately judged from two completely different points of view."
"But how exactly do the jurors give their verdict?"
"That I don't know. But... ...I'm sure it will become clear as the trial progresses."
"Yes…"
"The jury in America and Britain are similar. They're randomly chosen members of the public." I said, happily. "That's what I've noticed at least."
"Prosecutor van Zieks…" The Judge said.
"My Lord?" Van Zieks asked.
"It's been a number of years since we've seen you here in the courtroom. I thought you'd renounced your fame."
"I'm known as the Reaper of the Bailey, My Lord. ...Infamy rather than fame, I would say. But yes, five years have passed since I last...spread my wings in this capacity."
"So, what brings you back? Is there some change of circumstance of which the court should be aware?"
"... I leave that to your imagination...My Lord."
"Ryunosuke." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So the 'Reaper' has been out of action for five years... Why did he have to choose today of all days to make a comeback?!'
"Don't lose heart! Mr Naruhodo!" Susato cried.
"Susato's right." I said, smiling. "He obviously has one. I can't say why, because it's spoilers."
"...As you wish, sir. The court nevertheless welcomes your return. Now then, opening statements, I think. A summary of the case, if you please." The Judge said.
"Certainly, My Lord. As Your Lordship is aware, this is a case of overwhelming simplicity." Van Zieks said.
"Um…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'We must be the only ones in here who aren't aware.'
"The incident took place in the late evening, three days past. The hour was some minutes after ten. The victim was a maker of building bricks known in the community as 'Thrice-Fired' Mason." Van Zieks said, looking down at a scroll.
"Sorry? 'Thrice...'?" Ryunosuke asked.
"He was a very accomplished craftsman. The bricks he fired were said to be almost indestructible." The Judge said.
"The victim's corpse was discovered in an omnibus in service on the streets of London at the time. A dagger that had been thrust into the victim's abdomen is believed to be the ultimate cause of death. Here is the autopsy report from the investigating medical officer at Scotland Yard." Van Zieks said.
"Thank you, Counsel. I shall accept that and the photograph as evidence."
The autopsy report has been entered into the Court Record.
The photograph of the crime scene has been entered into the Court Record.
"And one further item of evidence... The prosecution wishes to submit these as well." Van Zieks said, taking out some leather gloves.
"And these are...? Good Lord! Is that blood, Counsel?!" The Judge exclaimed.
"Yes, My Lord. Seized by a policeman who arrived at the scene... ...these gore-soaked gloves...were taken from the hands of the accused when he was arrested."
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed, and he thought this to himself. 'Mr McGilded's gloves...had blood on them?!'
"Yes, I will accept these as evidence as well." The Judge said.
The defendant's leather gloves have been entered into the Court Record.
"Sorry." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'How did I get into this? I'm backed into a corner before I've even started…'
"I think we should look at the evidence," I said, looking down at the defendant's leather gloves, then at the photo of the bloodstain on the seat. "Right. This is bad."
"This is definitely...blood, isn't it? Not the most pleasant sight to be confronted with on our first day in London." Ryunosuke said, annoyed.
"Well, nothing will come of grumbling now." Susato said, frowning.
"No. ...By the way, is Mr McGilded right-handed?"
"Yeah." I said, smiling.
"Yes, I believe so. He was toying with a coin in his right hand a little earlier." Susato said.
"Haah...pity. If only he'd been left-handed." Ryunosuke said.
"I think blood on either glove would be fairly incriminating, really."
"Continuing... According to the driver of the omnibus... ...there were only two passengers travelling inside his vehicle at the time." Van Zieks said, looking down at the scroll.
"Only two?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Obviously, one of those passengers was the deceased brickmaker, Mr Mason. The other... ...was the accused, Magnus McGilded!"
"...!" Juror No. 1 said.
"...!" Juror No. 2 said.
"...!" Juror No 3. Said.
"Hm, well... Rather damning circumstances, to say the least. Defendant, what say you?" The Judge asked.
"... Well of course, I have no recollection of such a ting." McGilded said, smirking.
"Mr McGilded!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"To be sure, I rode the omnibus that evenin'. But whenever I'm in a carriage, I'm taken with a fierce tiredness, and I always succumb to it."
"Are you claiming to have been asleep?" The Judge asked.
"'Tis the motion of the carriage, My Lord. Liltin', so it is. And when I opened my eyes again... ...'twas a desperate sight before me. The body of a man I'd never laid eyes on before in me life."
"Hm…"
"Now I ask youse, what good-hearted soul wouldn't rush to help a fella bleedin' from his stomach? I wasn't about to start worryin' about me gloves now, was I? I reached out to give the man a hand." McGilded said.
"That does make a lot of sense." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So the blood got onto the gloves then, after the man had been killed…'
"Unfortunately... ...that statement of the driver's is only the beginning." Van Zieks said.
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed, as he thought this to himself. 'That's not all of it?'
"There were multiple witnesses... ...to the precise moment at which the brickmaker was fatally stabbed!"
"...!" Juror No. 4 said.
"...!" Juror No. 5 said.
"...!" Juror No. 6 said.
"Ordaaar! Ordaaar! Orrrdaaar!" The Judge yelled.
"When the killing took place, the victim and the accused were inside the carriage. And there were witnesses to the crime. This is not just a case of compelling evidence... ...it's the nail in the coffin for the accused." Van Zieks said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"Hm... Thank you, Counsel. The circumstances of the crime have been made quite clear. I think we will hear testimony from these witnesses first of all." The Judge said.
"...Your wish is my command. Bailiff! Bring the witnesses in at once!" Van Zieks said, angrily.
Beppo, Fairplay, and Furst walked into the courtroom.
"Witnesses. Your names and occupations." Van Zieks said.
"My name is... Well, everyone calls me Beppo. I, I drive an omnibus in the East End." Beppo said.
"Bruce Fairplay. I'm a banker in the city." Fairplay said.
"My name's Furst. Lay D. Furst. I, um...make hats for gents." Furst said.
"Let's begin by confirming the facts: Three days ago, at a short time after ten o'clock in the evening... ...all of you present in the stand were in an omnibus and witness to the aforementioned incident. Is that correct?" Van Zieks asked.
"Yes, sir!" Beppo said, excitedly.
"Quite right." Fairplay said.
"Yes, sir, that's right, sir." First said.
"Very well then, let's proceed to your formal testimonies, please. Each of you will tell the court precisely what you saw!" The Judge said.
Witness Testimony
- What the Witnesses Saw -
"It, it was the last bus of the evening, so I had few customers. I remember it well." Beppo said.
"The victim and the man accused of killing him were sat next to each other inside the bus.
Then out of the blue, the accused just reached over and plunged a knife right into his guts!" Fairplay yelled.
"That's right. He stabbed him! I screamed, I did! Couldn't help it." Furst said.
"As soon as I heard the scream, I stopped my bus. And, and then I saw it, too!" Beppo said, excitedly.
"Hm... Unambiguous testimony, I must say." The Judge said.
"Exactly, My Lord. These men witnessed the incident in the omnibus with their own eyes." Van Zieks said.
"... Um...I'd like to ask a question, if I may?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, Counsel?"
"Well, this testimony... ...makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever."
"...Why not?" Van Zieks asked.
"Well...the incident took place inside a moving carriage, didn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"As has been clearly stated from the outset, yes."
"Well in that case... ...how could those two witnesses possibly have seen what happened?! There's no way they could have seen the inside of the moving carriage!"
"..." Van Zieks said.
"..." The Judge said.
"Um…" I said, looking down at the floor. "Ryunosuke…"
"How...quaint. I'd read that civilisation in the Eastern island nations was a good century behind our own. But you're here in London yourself. Are you really so ignorant about our omnibuses?" Van Zieks asked.
"Huh?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Tell me, my Nipponese friend... Have you even travelled in an omnibus?"
"... Well...no... We, um...only arrived in London this morning."
"I have. In my time and this one." I said, happily. "Buses are nice."
"No matter. I've arranged for us all to see for ourselves. The actual scene of the crime, that is." Van Zieks said.
"What...do you mean...?" Ryunosuke asked, while he thought this to himself. 'The actual scene? How?'
"A carriage is designed to be moved, after all. ...Presumably you understand that much?"
"Um, yes…"
"The omnibus in which this bloody crime took place is here today, in this very building."
"Here...? WHAT?! The, the entire carriage?!"
"Bailiff! Bring forth the stricken omnibus!" Van Zieks yelled.
"So that's an omnibus... THE omnibus…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'I can't believe they could bring something so enormous in here. Great Britain's courtrooms are amazing.'
Several minutes have passed and the omnibus was pulled by two horses into the courtroom.
"As you can see, the omnibus is pulled by two horses, and can carry up to eight passengers. Four passengers seated inside in the enclosed cabin, and another four on the rooftop deck above. Every Londoner knows... ...that the best views of the city's architecture and sights are to be had from the top of an omnibus. And I should point out to our foreign guests... ...that there is a skylight in the roof, allowing a view of the interior from the seats above." Van Zieks said.
"Ah, a skylight... ...Oh!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"The penny drops at last, I see. These two gentlemen were occupying the rooftop seats on this omnibus when the murder took place. That is how they came to witness the grim incident. Through the skylight."
"Makes sense." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh... That makes perfect sense…'
"Well, Counsel, this is a first. In all my years behind the bench, I've never experienced the crime scene itself being brought into the courtroom!" The Judge said, in awe.
"There are a number of important clues remaining inside the carriage, My Lord. I would like to submit the omnibus itself as evidence. ...That is the prosecution's wish." Van Zieks said.
"Very well, I see no reason why not. This omnibus is hereby formally accepted as evidence."
The omnibus has been entered into the Court Record.
"I can't believe it! The entire crime scene entered as evidence?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Let's check out the bus!" I said, walking towards the omnibus. "Ooo."
"...Well, let's open the door and go inside, shall we?" Susato asked, while she, Ryunosuke, and I opened the door and entered the omnibus.
Omnibus…
"Ugh... The scene of a murder... It's horrible…" Ryunosuke said, disgusted.
"There's a bloodstain." I said, walking over to the bloodstain.
"That's blood that's soaked into the seat. The victim's obviously." Ryunosuke said.
"Yes. And that seat would be clearly visible from the roof deck." Susato said.
"Would you really stab somebody in full view of the other passengers like that, I wonder…"
"Well, it was after dark. And there was a lamp on in here, so perhaps the culprit couldn't see anything outside through the skylight."
'Whichever way you look at it, it doesn't seem like it was a planned attack.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud and looking at a poster. "Ah, that's a poster for the Great Exhibition that's due to start six months from now. There's a lot of focus being drawn to the Crystal Tower, the centrepiece of the whole exposition."
"Ooh, the Crystal Tower... It's under construction already, I believe. People all over London must be fizzing with excitement at the prospect of such a grand event!" Susato chirped.
"Too bad it got destroyed by a fire in 1936." I said, letting out a sigh. "It became a park later on."
"It's quite a large skylight, isn't it?" Ryunosuke asked, looking up at the skylight.
"Yeah. It is a bit big for a bus." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Yes, quite large enough to afford a good view into the cabin from the roof deck." Susato said.
"And there doesn't appear to be a handle or catch of any description... So I suppose it can't be opened from inside the cabin at least." Ryunosuke said, looking at the empty seats. "This seat looks reasonably soft, but it's actually rather hard when you sit on it. And only just wide enough for two gentlemen to sit side by side, really."
"Of course, an English gentlewoman would be dressed in such finery... ...it would be quite impossible for her to climb up to the roof deck, so she would have to be seated in here." Susato said.
"A woman in a kimono would have the same problem. ...Women's clothes are very impractical, aren't they?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh, there's a handle under the seat." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This seat has a handle, it seems…'
"Time to lift it up." I said, lifting the handle up to reveal some storage space. "Storage."
"This looks like all sorts of equipment that might be needed to keep the omnibus running." Ryunosuke said.
"Feeding tubs, tools to repair wheels, blankets, horse-shoeing tools... So it's a storage compartment for the coachman to keep his things, it seems." Susato said.
"There doesn't seem to be any space for passengers to stow their luggage, that's for sure."
"Well...I don't imagine it would be very convenient for that purpose anyway."
"Let's get out of here." I said, walking out through the door.
"Have you two seen enough? Let's step back outside then." Susato said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
I then walked up the stairs to the bench on the roof, with Ryunosuke and Susato behind me.
"So this is the roof deck of the omnibus. Oh, you must have a wonderful view of London's streets from up here." Susato said.
"So people sit all the way up here on bitter winter nights with the cold air rushing past them? And they have to pay money to do so?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Brrr...I can't imagine how cold it must feel!"
"That...just made me think of something horrible. Can you imagine being dragged around the city in the freezing cold as a punishment?"
"...Perhaps that is the real price you pay to stay out late."
"Too bad carriages don't come with heaters." I said, walking to the skylight to look down at it. "It's still awful looking at that."
"Yes." Ryunosuke said, looking through the skylight. "You can certainly see inside the carriage through this opening, that's for sure."
"Yes, and there's a lamp in the enclosed cabin. So I'm sure the witnesses would have been able to see quite clearly." Susato said.
"Yup." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That's not good for me…'
"Yes! Great Britain is simply extraordinary!" Susato said, excitedly.
"British engineering is nice." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I could help myself a lot by giving that omnibus a thorough examination, seeing as it's here.'
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Let us continue with proceedings, then. Your cross-examination, Counsel." The Judge said.
"Hmph. Pray don't expect this Nipponese stray to understand the intricacies of a British court's cross-examination rites." Van Zieks said.
"Good luck, Ryunosuke." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Alright... My first cross-examination in a British court... Focus, Ryunosuke... Focus!'
Cross-Examination
- What the Witnesses Saw -
"It, it was the last bus of the evening, so I had few customers. I remember it well." Beppo said.
"Remember what?" I asked, looking down at the floor.
"Hold it." Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "Yes...I think it was some time after ten, wasn't it?"
"Oh, yes, sir, that's, that's right, sir. Yes. Ever so cold, it was, sir. F-Freezing in fact." Beppo siad.
"And you had four passengers on board at the time. Is that correct?"
"Yes, yes, that's right, sir. Not all travelling in the same parts of the b-b-bus, of course, though. No."
"And there were no other passengers when the incident took place? No one alighted, for example?" The Judge asked.
"You're quite right with that, sir. No other passengers like that, no. None." Beppo said.
"So, no one fled the crime scene then." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So nobody fled the scene of the crime, then.'
"I have to say, the boss insists on it running, he does. Every evening. That last b-b-bus of the day. But I, I do wonder sometimes if it's altogether worthwhile. Yes, s-s-sorry to say…"
"What do you mean by that?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Well, what with it being so cold and everything, and only m-making twenty pence on the run, you see... Yes, I, I spend that much at the p-p-pub on the way home just, just trying to warm up again."
"Then out of the blue, the accused just reached over and plunged a knife right into his guts!" Fairplay yelled.
"Wait. He saw what happened? The exact moment." I said, frowning.
"Hold it." Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "You actually saw the exact moment it happened?"
"Didn't I already testify to that? ...Or are fair dinkum, hard-working city bankers not considered trustworthy these days?" Fairplay asked.
"Oh, no no! I, I didn't mean that!" Ryunosuke cried, as he thought this to himself. 'This is no good. I've really got his back up.'
"No one in the jury has casted their vote." I said, looking up at the jury.
"...Perhaps you could just tell us what you saw in a little more detail, if that's-" Ryunosuke said.
"My Lord!" Juror No. 3 said, worried.
"Hm? Juror number three? What's the meaning of this?" The Judge asked.
"My mind is made up, My Lord. Completely and utterly made up!"
"Made up about what...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I don't like the stinking rich. Never have. They're always up to something or other that they shouldn't be. Every one of them. And that little leprechaun of a man is no exception. Well...he can't fool me! There's no point in wasting time listening to any more of this. That's my opinion on the matter, anyway." Juror No. 3 said.
"Hold it." Juror No. 1 said, doing the Hold it pose. "That is precisely what I was about to say! As the foreman of the jury, it's my duty to set a good example to my fellow jurors."
Juror No. 1 and Juror No. 3 made their vote of guilty.
"What the...?" Ryunosuke asked, and he thought this to himself. 'What is happening here?!'
"Let me see... Ah yes, it seems that's how the members of the jury give their verdicts." Susato said.
"...With fire?"
"Apparently, yes. White for innocent, and black for guilty. As the six members of the jury make up their minds about the case... ...one by one, they each cast a ball of fire into the great Scales of Justice...as we saw a moment ago."
"So if those enormous scales fall completely to the black side, does that mean...?"
"Yeah. That would be the guilty verdict." I said, letting out a sigh.
"... Let's do our very best to make sure that doesn't happen!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Yup." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh... Now I'm even more worried than I was before…'
"Very well. The court acknowledges the change in the jury's stance. Counsel for the Defence, please continue with your cross-examination." The Judge said.
"Haah…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'This is a nightmare…'
"That's right. He stabbed him! I screamed, I did! Couldn't help it." Furst said.
"Ryunosuke, he said that McGilded stabbed him." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Hold it." Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "'He stabbed him,' you say. And you were sitting up on the roof deck, were you?"
"Yes, that's right, sir. I was up on the roof seats. I remember seeing the little gent sitting next to the fellow that was stabbed. I'd been thinking about a new hat design, you see. So I was just gazing absent-mindedly around. But then! ...Then I happened to look down through the skylight! It, it, it was sticking right out from his belly! That, that huge, great knife!" Furst said, terrified.
"Hmph. A grim sight indeed." The Judge said.
"Ah!" Ryunosuke siad, and he thought this to himself. 'That didn't help me at all! The jury look like they're even more convinced my client did it than they were before…'
"That appears to have made everyone even more dubious that Mr McGilded is telling the truth. If only we had some evidence to counter their suspicions…" Susato said.
"Mr Furst!" Van Zieks said, angrily.
"Oh! Yes, yes, sir?" Furst asked.
"Is this the knife you saw?" Van Zieks asked, holding up the knife.
"Oh, good grief! Yes! That's it! The very one, sir!"
"Is, is that...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, Counsel. This is the blade that was driven into the victim's belly like a stake through the heart."
"That is a blade of considerable size, Counsel." The Judge said.
"It is. And furthermore, the scabbard is emblazoned prominently with a certain initial. The letter 'M'. ...Which seems oddly familiar." Van Zieks said.
"Ugh…" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Please, no…'
"'M' for 'Magnus' perhaps? Or 'McGilded' possibly? ...Take your pick. It seems this particular big name in London made a... magnificent mistake."
"Objection." Ryunosuke said, doing the Objection pose. "But! But there are 'M's everywhere! Like...like... Yes! Like in 'Mason'!"
"Objection." Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "This blade is far too extravagant for a poor brickmaker to have owned. No! This weapon of murder almost certainly belongs to the accused!"
"Ugh…"
"Hm, not conclusive, but certainly compelling, Counsel." The Judge said.
The murder weapon has been entered into the Court Record.
"My Lord, if you'll forgive the interruption…" Juror No. 2 said.
"Ah, juror number two. Go on…" The Judge said.
"Mr McGilded is a pillar of society and a gentleman. And a gentleman's word should be sacrosanct. However... ...those of us in service know we must accept hard truths."
"Wait, what are you about to do?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Dispose of the rubbish!" Juror No. 2 cried.
"No!"
"I don't wish to cause offence, but I do like to eradicate all traces of filth and grime."
"Hold it." Juror No. 4 said, doing the Hold it pose. "...I have painstakingly typed every word uttered here today, and cross-referenced all the facts. As such, I am now in a position to draw the only logical conclusion."
Juror No. 2 and Juror No. 4 made their vote for guilty.
"Not again…" Ryunosuke said, annoyed.
"That's...four out of six jury members who've proposed a guilty verdict! There are only two left!" Susato said, terrified.
"Crap." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'We've had it... Every time I press these witnesses for more information, I just make the situation worse…'
"Nevertheless... ...what we need more than anything at the moment is more information. We're still very much in the dark."
"I suppose I'll just have to keep pressing the witnesses, knowing that more sparks may well fly…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"We mustn't give up hope that we'll uncover something that will give us a way to fight back!" Susato cheered.
"But... ... Alright, I'll keep trying."
"Ryunosuke, you can't give up." I said, happily. "Stay calm and listen to the witnesses' testimonies again."
"As soon as I heard the scream, I stopped my bus. And, and then I saw it, too!" Beppo yelled.
"Hold it." Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "Erm...what exactly did you see?"
"Oh, well sir, that would be the p-p-passenger, sir. Yes, c-c-collapsed on the floor, he was."
"And by the passenger, obviously you are referring to the victim, Mr Mason, the brickmaker." Van Zieks said.
"And, and then the other p-p-passenger had that kn-knife in his hand, l-like this…" Beppo said.
"By the other passenger, obviously you are referring to the accused, Mr Magnus McGilded."
"And then he p-p-p-plunged it down like this, s-stabbing the other passenger in the b-b-belly."
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"I, I just can't believe it, sir. C-Can't believe it... A m-m-murder on my own b-bus. It's t-t-too awful to think about. I h-haven't been able to sh-shake this c-c-cold ever since it happened." Beppo said, sadly.
"My Lord, I wish to speak!" Juror No. 5 said, angrily.
"Yes, juror number five? Do I take it that you, too...?" The Judge asked.
"As the master of the London Guild of Coachmen... ...the idea of a murder being committed in one of the city's carriages is utterly abhorrent to me. It wouldn't be right to make a decision before hearing all the facts, though, I said to myself. But I've heard enough now. The horse has bolted, as they say."
"No, no! Please, just keep an open mind a little long…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Gee-up now, Silver Blaze! The finish is in sight! Beppo is a long-standing member of the guild, and I trust what the man says." Juror No. 5 said, smiling.
"Oh, thank you, sir. You're t-t-too kind, sir." Beppo said, happily.
"Ugh, this is t-t-too unkind, sir…" Ryunosuke said.
"Which now means that five jurors agree to condemn this man. Madam juror number six…" Van Zieks said.
"Yes, dear? What can I do for you?" Juror No. 6 asked.
"You have heard the testimonies of the witnesses in the stand."
"Oh yes. I certainly have. Still got my hearing, you know!"
"Then, pray tell, why are you yet to pronounce your leaning?"
"... Well, dear, the thing is, I'm a creature of habit, me. I always go to the park at around this time of day, and sit on a nice bench and get on with my knitting."
"..."
"There's a lovely little park just near where I live. McGilded Park, it's called."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"The gentleman donated it to the city, you know. To put a smile on Londoners' faces, he said. I can't imagine such a fine, young gentleman would have it in him to take another man's life." Juror No. 6 said.
"He is always doing wonderful things for the city."
"That's right! A man like that wouldn't stab someone, surely?"
"Mother, may we go to the McGilded Public Library later and borrow some more books?"
"How many Londoners live with their heads in the clouds?! Do you people not know... ...what kind of a man Magnus McGilded really is?" Van Zieks asked.
"What kind of a man is he?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"The philanthropist, Magnus McGilded... ...has enough wealth to purchase the entire city he claims to value so highly. But where did all that wealth come from? Your client is a shylock, sir! And one with the very darkest of souls."
"What?!"
"Stone the crows!" Juror No. 6 cried.
"McGilded lends money at extortionate rates of interest so his victims have no hope of repaying him. When they default, he takes possession of everything they own. He is a vulture that preys on the weak." Van Zieks said.
"I've, I've never heard any mention of that before…"
"Your faculties haven't deserted you, I'm sure, madam. So has this thought not crossed your mind? Would a man wealthy enough to buy London in its entirety not have a carriage of his own?"
"...!" Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"What possible reason could this man have had to make use of a public omnibus service?" Van Zieks asked.
"Um…" Juror No. 6 said, sadly.
"You're not saying that...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"The victim - a poor brickmaker - had next to nothing to his name, save considerable financial liability. It will come as no surprise that his creditor was the accused, Magnus McGilded. But let it also be known, that the very day Mr Mason was killed, was the final repayment date for his debts." Van Zieks said.
"Good gracious!" The Judge said, terrified.
"The brickmaker was destitute. He had lost his house. He had not a shilling with which to repay his debts. And in the end, this pitiful soul had the very last thing he owned taken from him...his life. By the merciless philanthropist pretender... Magnus McGilded!"
"Crap." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't believe it!'
"Hold it." Susato said, doing the Hold it pose. "If I might add something briefly...?"
"Miss Susato?" Ryunosuke asked.
"You claim that the victim had been lent money by Mr McGilded... ...but where is the evidence to support your claim?"
"... ...Pray forgive the discourtesy of filling my hallowed chalice in a court of law…" Van Zieks said.
"Ah-ha, there it is! Lord van Zieks's hallowed chalice!" The Judge cheered.
"Shit." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'How can this be considered acceptable?!'
"...But I find myself in unexpectedly good humour. I had heard ladies from the Far East could show great courage...but I didn't expect to experience it myself." Van Zieks said.
"Ah! As, as judicial assistant to the defence, I am simply doing my job!" Susato said, worried.
"What a pity that your display of courage...is in vain. This is the debtors' ledger, which details all monies loaned by the accused. You will find the victim's name clearly recorded inside."
"Oh…"
"Allow me to present this ledger as evidence... ...and pray forgive the discourtesy of raising my chalice in a toast to the enigmatic East at the same time!"
"A marvellous toast, Counsel! I will gladly accept this new evidence." The Judge said.
The debtors' ledger has been entered into the Court Record.
"Ah yes, twenty guineas... The victim owed a considerable sum." The Judge said.
"Time to open the ledger." I said, flipping the clasp open to the Debtor's ledger. "Let's see what's in there."
"...This portfolio must contain all sorts of secrets of London's gentry." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh dear... Do you really think we ought to look inside?" Susato asked.
"Well, it's not as though we know any of London's gentry personally, is it? Apart from our great detective friend, perhaps. ..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Actually, I wonder…'
"I assure you we will not find Mr Holmes's name inside!" Susato said, angrily.
"Well, let's see what we find…"
"Hmm." I said, looking down at the writing inside. "That's a lot of names."
"You're right, Jared. Gosh, it's crammed full of gentlemen's names, isn't it?" Susato asked.
"Well, I suppose they're probably not all gentlemen at all, are they?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'After all, not everyone in this country is well off…'
"Ah! Goodness!" Susato said, looking down at a name in the book.
"What is it?"
"What's up?" I asked, looking down at the page.
"Look at this! Do you both see the name here?" Susato asked.
"'Bruce Fairplay'... ...Should that mean something to me? It, it does sound strangely familiar, actually…" Ryunosuke said.
"Bruce Fairplay! The witness testifying at this very moment!"
"Oh yes, of course! The banker! Why is his name in here?"
"He borrowed twenty guineas." I said, looking at how much Bruce Fairplay borrowed. "And the repayment date for the debt is quickly approaching."
"It's possible that this is just a coincidence, of course. But this could be very useful information." Susato said.
The details of the debtors' ledger have been updated in the Court Record.
"And the accused made quite certain he had ample recompense." Van Zieks said.
"... Well, it would seem I've... ...I've had the wool pulled over my eyes." Juror No. 6 said.
"Regrettably, madam, that is the modus operandi of the accused."
"And it's such a pretty little park, too. ...What a scoundrel! ...Still... ...maybe it's all for the best."
"Ah! W-Wait a minute! Let's think about this a little more before…" Ryunosuke said, and I closed the Debtor's Ledger.
"I don't stand for nonsense!" Juror No. 6 yelled, casting her vote.
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'That was it... The last juror's decision…'
"..." Susato said, taking out a book and opening it. "...Ah, according to this Encyclopaedia of British Law... 'When all members of the jury have concluded that the defendant is guilty... ...court proceedings are suspended, and the presiding judge will deliver the final verdict and sentence.' That's what it says here."
"Crap. Please tell me it's similar to my time, without a jury." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Haah... The final verdict... It's over then.'
"Oh! There's a footnote, though." Susato said, her eyes widening.
"A footnote?" Ryunosuke asked.
"'However, the defence-'"
"All six members of the jury are now in agreement in this case." The Judge said.
"Allow me to convey my respect for your swift and righteous decision." Van Zieks said.
"According to the laws of this country, I will now conclude the trial... ...by delivering my final verdict. ...I trust there are no objections?"
"... ... Miss Susato, just tell me one thing…" Ryunosuke said, looking at Susato.
"Oh! Yes?" Susato asked, looking up from her book.
"You were in the middle of saying something before. The footnote in your Encyclopaedia of British Law. 'However, the defence...' What did it say next?"
"O-Oh yes, of course. One moment…" Susato said, looking down at her book again. "'When all members of the jury have concluded that the defendant is guilty... ...court proceedings are suspended, and the presiding judge will deliver the final verdict and sentence.' Then the footnote says... 'However, the defence... ...has the right to demand a summation examination of the jurors at this point.'"
"Say yes to it, Ryunosuke. The summation examination." I said, happily. "Japan will get a jury in 1943 and that will last until 2009. America has had a jury since 1791 when the Six Amendment in the Bill of Rights was enacted. You need to use it, here and now."
"A...summation...examination...?" Ryunosuke asked, looking between Susato and I.
"Objection." Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "...A summation examination? From which century has that tome you have there been resurrected?"
"Ah!" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Judging from the binding, I would say that book is at least fifty years old. Any modern text on British Law wouldn't even give such an antiquated procedure a mention. It's a relic. Long forgotten, and certainly no longer practised. So you're out of luck."
"Oh…"
"What even is it, Miss Susato, Jared? This so-called 'summation examination'?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh, um... One moment, and I'll read about it." Susato said, sadly.
"...You would demand the right to a procedure before you even understand what it entails? Hmph, typical Nipponese." Van Zieks said, scoffing.
"Alright, Mr Naruhodo, I think I understand... It seems that under this procedure, we would be able to appeal to the members of the jury." Susato said, looking down at her book again.
"To do what...exactly?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Appeal to them to change their leaning and reverse their decisions. And it says here that... ...'If successful, the proceedings of the trial must be resumed.'"
"Yup. That's why it's helpful." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Make them reverse their decisions…'
"Yes, in times gone by, barristers would use a summation examination to attempt to influence the jury's decision. But that procedure became something of a formality with no practical benefit, really. So it rather fell out of use." The Judge said.
"I wonder why…" Susato said, frowning.
"Because it was devoid of purpose." Van Zieks said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"Changing just one member of the jury's mind would be hard enough, let alone several. No self-respecting defence barrister would even assert his right to try in this day and age."
"... Still... ...I don't see any mention of the procedure actually being formally revoked." Susato said, looking down at her book.
"What are you suggesting?" Van Zieks asked.
"I'm suggesting that although it may be antiquated and largely forgotten...it isn't yet extinct."
"...!"
"What do you think, Mr Naruhodo?"
"Ryunosuke, you have to assert your right to it." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'A summation examination... Our last possible option. Do we assert our right to carry it out, or admit defeat?'
"Please do it." I said, smiling.
"The defence wishes to assert its right to a summation examination, My Lord!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Objection." Van Zieks said, while he did the Objection pose. "London is the capital city of the most powerful nation on earth. We have a duty to the world to exemplify the very highest standards of judicial procedure. Summation examinations are an embarrassment that should remain buried!"
"Objection." Ryunosuke said, doing the Objection pose. "But if it's our right, it's our right! I believe it could prove vital in this trial!"
"The defence's petition is perfectly valid. The court will proceed with the summation examination!" The Judge said, angrily.
"This is madness…" Van Zieks said, annoyed.
"Foreman, are you and the remainder of the jury ready?"
"Eh?! Well, erm, I'm not, erm... There was no mention of this in the letter I received, you see, so…" Juror No. 1 said.
"All members of the jury will be asked to explain on what grounds they have reached their decision." The Judge said.
"On what grounds...?"
"You must all justify your decisions and explain why you believed the defendant to be guilty."
"Well, My Lord, you're rather putting us on the spot…"
"This is most irregular. No mention was made of this before." Juror No. 2 said.
"I don't really hold with all this 'justifying' lark." Juror No. 3 said.
"..." Juror No. 4 said.
"Yes." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That seems to have thrown the jurors off…'
"It seems none of them have experienced this before." Susato said, looking up from her book.
"Nope." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Alright then, the summation examination... A defence procedure no practising lawyer has attempted for years, is it? Well, just maybe... ...it might be the opportunity we've been looking for... to turn this trial around!'
"So be it, then. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the court hereby calls upon you... ...to state the grounds on which you find the defendant, Magnus McGilded, guilty of this most serious crime." The Judge said.