The Cold Crime

“I knoweth his life lies in wondrous peril, far from any kindred’s reacheth but in some way doest thou not notice he hath potential? Does thou not see he hath much to giveth mankind?

’t is understood by thineself the measure of pain he is said to haveth bequeathed the Sinclair family, and I also mourn for them the loss of their son, Kortius. However, ""Tragedy should not beget tragedy"", as thou Judge Snouth has said on many a occasion. I plead thou findest strength in thou’s own words in this ordeal. Mine client knoweth his brethren no longer lives, but as thou wilt heareth him say, till his last breath, he did not kill him. He mistaketh, like we all haveth, the pond be solid for pleasure and in truth it be not. He swears upon his chest, he did not seek vengeance, but just the pleasure of walking on ice with his brethren. And yet 't beest true, Kortius was but eight years old, but his feet did hath't fire to standeth upon ice as well.

Gratiano is just shy of his eleventh birthday. He is no man, just a knave, three years older than Kortius, yet we standeth hither condemning him, treating them as if 't be true they wast vastly different, when they art not. They art children, and if 't be true, one wishes to point out something about Gratiano, let 't beest that he is honorable. Gratiano did what most men would not. He tryeth with all one’s might, to save the life of his brethren, although he did face death for himself. In addition, I beg thou remembrance of what did happen after his failure; he did not seek travel, to escape from speculation, nor did he deny his presence. Instead he did walk himself, in full stride, to report one’s involvement in the unfortunate events. Had the knave not done so, he would not beest hither in court.

If 't be true thee insist on blaming someone for Kortius's death, beest outraged at the pond itself. Beest outraged at Mother Nature, and if 't be true, one seeks to punish, does thee plan on destroying the pond? I would assume one would not, because that would definitely beest a senseless act of vengeance, of justice. This principle also applies to finding Gratiano guilty, 't wouldst beest a senseless act of vengeance, of justice."

The court men took view of each other’s eyes, and instead of rushing to judgement, they were hearing Lawyer Joseph Vocali’s argument, and whether or not they chose to approve his request of finding his client innocent, their choice for not deciding judgement immediately without fact, gave prudence to the ability of man to consider thought more important than action. Justice was in full view and had not been apparent in many years.

“Lawyer Vocali, thee maketh a point of superb standing. 't is for this reason, I asketh thee to wait until tomorrow, to continueth the proceedings, as I cannot determine the fate of this knave at present time." Judge Snouth announced.

“Lawyer Vocali, I wish for thou to knoweth that I greatly appreciate thee. I am blessed to have such a person of thy standing represent mine truth. No matter the outcome, my feelings wilt remain as they are. I am indebted to thee. If 't be true by the grace of the stars, that I am sent home, I asketh thee, allow me to worketh on thy behalf, in any capacity thee see fit, for I would owe thee my life.” sayeth Gratiano.

The next morn, court resumes and Judge Snouth announces he doth come to a decision and it is as follows, “'t is not without difficulty, a case such as this presents itself with peculiar circumstances. Tragedy claimed the lives of two young knaves, Kortius lost his life and Gratiano stands before us on present day, with constant reminders of witnessing death. However, 't is the decision of the court that Gratiano was aware of the dangers of the frozen pond and being the eldest of the two knaves ’t was his responsibility to act in their best interest.”

In a sudden outburst and with knitted brow Gratiano utters “But I wast not the eldest of us. There was another young knave named Theleo and he wast six years older than I. 't wast he whom first spoke about how much delight one couldst have walking on the frozen pond.” Silence did fall upon the court, and all its members due to shock.

Startled and appearing slightly confused, Judge Snouth exclaims "This information wast not disclosed prior and although there may beest truth to one's claim, there is no proof of 't. As such I wilt deliver my judgement on what is before me this present day. That being, Gratiano I hereby sentence thee to thirty-six years at the Flitsmith Penitentiary. 't is my desire that whilst there, thee learneth the tools necessary to maketh thee an upstanding man."

Gratiano did stand with head bow, for the speckle of hope he once had was gone but it was upon hearing the cries of his mother and sister did he doth collapse into the arms of his lawyer. However, his feet did find strength in knowing 't couldst beest much worse. Moments after, he was taken into custody and people did part ways.

The next day, Lawyer Vocali did payeth a visit to the residence of Judge Snouth. During which time he gave him two pounds, for 't wast his son, named Theleo.