As soon as Arthur's words came out, the scene of the trial that had just been noisy immediately fell silent.

The probationary judge next to him asked the magistrate, "Sir, is this in order?" ”

The magistrate had a black face, he was obviously angry with Arthur, but at this time he didn't have the heart to care about this.

"It's adjournment, and Officer Arthur wants to do what he has in his power. I can't keep his mouth shut. ”

Although the magistrate did not object, the members of the jury were still biased against Arthur's previous behavior, and they had a preconceived belief that Arthur must have coerced a confession from Adam Jr.

If not, why did Adam cry incoherently?

While the men of the jury were preparing to go outside to breathe, and the ladies were busy comforting Little Adam, who was at the center of the whirlpool, held back tears to stay at the scene.

He whispered, "Officer Arthur is a good man. ”

One of the ladies was angry and said, "Adam, don't be afraid, with us here, he won't dare do anything to you." You don't need to say these things against your will. ”

Mrs. Peel also felt distressed and held his little hand: "With me here, none of them will want to touch you." If you want to cry, cry, tell all your grievances, and we will give you a fair referee. ”

But little Adam shook his head with tears in his eyes and said, "No, what I said is the truth. Officer Arthur is the second best person in my mind, after Officer Tom's wife. Officer Tom's wife patched up a lot of bad clothes for me and told me good stories. And Officer Arthur was the only person on the street who was willing to listen to me, and he gave me some money, and he was a good friend of mine. ”

When the ladies heard this, they felt their minds flutter.

"Oh my God!"

"What the hell is going on?"

"But he obviously wanted to send you to the gallows just now, are you sure he really is your friend?"

The men were also puzzled when they heard this, and they asked Arthur.

"Officer, can you explain to us why you're behaving inconsistently?"

Arthur saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, and the stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground.

"It is my duty as a prosecutor and a police officer to prosecute the defendants," he said frankly. From the first day of the Greater London Metropolitan Police, I have been told that it is my duty to bring all criminals to justice.

Little Adam did steal the umbrella, and he never hid it from me, he was a very honest child. From the first day I met him, I always knew that he was an honest and trustworthy child.

We can chat without any fears, exchange opinions with each other, talk about our worries, and give advice on our worries.

Since he was indeed guilty of stealing, when I appeared in court as a prosecutor, I could not deny his mistake with a clear conscience and let him escape the punishment of the law.

Because that will not help him to correct his behavior, it will only increase his evil behavior and breed deeper evil thoughts.

But on the other hand, Little Adam is also a good friend of mine.

Therefore, when I leave the prosecutor's seat, I have to take into account his situation at this time.

Although he broke the law, I think that stealing a parasol is punishable by hanging, is such a sentencing standard too heavy?

I need to save my friend, even if he commits a crime, but I want him to have a chance to make amends. Instead of ending his life hastily at the age of nine.

I must apologize to all of you for what I have just done, because for my personal reasons, I have created a wrong impression on the jury and the judge, and thus affected your correct judgment.

I am very ashamed and very sorry for this. ”

Arthur bowed slightly: "I'm sorry everyone." ”

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, the tense atmosphere that had just permeated the courtroom suddenly disappeared.

The gentlemen and ladies of the jury were calm, and even the magistrate was in no hurry to go to the back hall for tea.

One by one, the gentlemen laughed and waved their hands, "It is we who should apologize to you." I'm sorry, Mr. Officer, we misunderstood you before. ”

The ladies also blushed and apologized embarrassedly.

"I almost took you for a villain. Oh, my God! You are simply a gentleman. ”

"You must have seemed to be well-educated, well-mannered, and have a clear heart. We should give you a chance to speak. ”

"Officer, it's not your fault, it's that we didn't figure it out. I'm an acute, you know, that's what motherhood is. ”

The magistrate scratched his wig in embarrassment.

"Arthur, you know I do have some opinions about Scotland Yard. But that's not for you, but for some other legal concerns. I don't hate you as a person, and I even appreciate you a little. ”

Arthur saw that the atmosphere at the scene had improved significantly, so he smiled and said, "Then can I start talking?" ”

"Of course, there is no doubt about it."

"It's your right, no one can stop you."

Arthur asked as he picked up his uniform from his chair and pointed to the badge on it.

"As you can see, I'm a Scottish Yard policeman.

I was fortunate enough to start working in this job as soon as I graduated from college.

I was also unfortunate enough to start working in this job as soon as I graduated from college.

I, like all my colleagues, was paid twelve shillings a week, and worked fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, and patrolled more than fifteen miles.

I don't want to deceive you, it's a tiring and undignified job, but it's not the hardest thing I have ever had in my job.

I fully understand why the gentlemen and ladies present were so hostile to me at the beginning of the trial.

Because even in our daily work, we are faced with such malice, even more blatantly, more directly.

In the six months I have been working at Scotland Yard, there have been 60 attacks on police in Greenwich.

But the irony is that there are less than thirty police officers in our area.

I have many colleagues who joined the company at the same time, but less than a third of them are still with me.

Some of them left because the pay was too small and the work was too intense.

But for the most part, it is because we don't feel any respect at all in our work, and we even feel that we are more guilty than criminals.

People all over the world are hostile to us and want to give us trouble whenever and wherever they want.

But I don't blame those people, just as I don't blame the gentlemen and ladies who are here today.

Because if a man could send me to the gallows at any moment, I would probably not give him any good looks.

But is it true that all the police want to send criminals to the gallows?

The example of little Adam is already here today, and I don't want to send him to the gallows, but my duty doesn't allow it.

Take a look at our legal texts.

Destruction of roads, death penalty.

Cutting down trees, the death penalty.

Stealing envelopes, death penalty.

Salvage of shipwrecked relics, death penalty.

Go out with a black face at night, the death penalty.

Theft of items of value above five shillings shall be punished by death.

Unmarried mothers concealing miscarriages are still subject to death.

If I were to expand on our death penalty regulations, I would probably not be able to finish them until dark.

This strange phenomenon was not discovered by me alone, as Lord Samuel Romilly had raised in Parliament as early as 1808 the need to reform our penal code, but unfortunately his efforts did not work.

In 1808, we prescribed more than 160 death sentences, and after more than 20 years of hard work, we now have more than 70.

But has the rapid increase in the number of death sentences effectively improved the law and order environment?

Unfortunately, I have to report another set of data to you.

In 1805, there were 4,605 cases of criminal arrests in England and Wales alone.

And last year, just last year!

Gentlemen,

Ladies,

Do you guess that number has decreased?

No!

Of course not!

Last year, we had a staggering 30,000 criminal cases in England and Wales, a full sixfold increase!

In other words, the increase in capital charges has not helped us improve the environment, but has also caused the crime rate to skyrocket.

Of course, I don't say this to mean that I am in favor of abolishing the death penalty, but I would like to see a more appropriate measure for petty crimes.

I don't understand our society, I don't understand why the theft of five shillings is punishable by death.

And in 1825 we had more than seventy banks that had failed, and countless depositors suffered heavy losses in their deposits.

The bank partners had stolen far more than five shillings, yet I did not see any of them hanging from 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 enforcing the law and obeying my duties, but I always feel like I'm committing a crime!

I don't fucking understand, and no one tells me why!

Why did my friend die for five shillings, while someone had lost five million pounds and was still alive and well!

When I joined the company, I often recited the "Police Instruction", which told me.

The police should always maintain good contact with the public and respect the historical tradition that 'the police are the public and the public is the police'.

But now, the public tells me I'm not one of them.

I'm a police officer, but I always want to make statements that don't fit my duties.

I was confused about this until I read a proclamation some time ago.

And because of it!

I just decided to be in this position today!

I keep this proclamation for myself and want to share it with you.

No one is self-contained,

An isolated island,

Everyone is part of a vast continent.

If the waves wash away a rock,

Europe is less so.

Like a headland that has lost a corner,

Like your friends or your own territory losing a piece.

Everyone's death is my sorrow,

Because I'm a member of the human race.

So

Don't ask for whom the bell is tolling,

It will sound for you!

Thank you

Thank you for your willingness to listen to this innocuous nonsense from a departing patrol officer.

Because this will probably be the last time I will appear in the magistrate's court.

Thank you

Thank you so much. ”

Arthur's chest heaved and panted, sweat soaking his white shirt, reflecting his broad chest.

Although he knew that his emotions would be excited by the speech, even he was surprised to do so.

There was silence in the courtroom, and everyone's eyes fell on his face.

But after a brief period of silence, sparse applause began to erupt in the courtroom.

Immediately after, everyone rose from their seats.

Soon, the applause gathered and exploded in the magistrate's court like lightning and thunder.

With cheers and cheers, Officer Tom fell to his knees in front of Arthur's thigh, crying bitterly.

"Arthur, I'm sad, I'm very sad. Why did we lose such an outstanding colleague as you? I don't understand, I really don't understand......"

"Well done! Officer Arthur! ”

"That's great! Why not punish five million pounds, but hold on to five shillings! I don't understand it either! ”

"This law should have been changed a long time ago, and I don't approve of Adam being hanged! This is irresponsible for the lives of the public! ”

Even the magistrate couldn't help but give Arthur an appreciative look, and he said to everyone while clapping.

"Allow me to reintroduce you to the best police officer in Great Britain, a role model for the public, and the strongest voice from Scotland Yard, Officer Arthur Hastings!"

But when Arthur heard this, he was slightly stunned at first, and then slowly lowered his head.

"Officer Arthur Hastings?"

He stroked the badge on the uniform in front of him and smiled a little bitterly.

"I'm sorry, not anymore."

At the moment when everyone was jubilant, a gentleman wearing a black top hat sitting in the auditorium suddenly hooked his hand at the servant next to him.

He lowered his voice and ordered, "You go to Scotland Yard right now, I need to get the personal information of this Officer Arthur Hastings immediately." ”

The servant bowed slightly: "Obey your orders, Sir Peel. ”