far easier for
guilty man to stand trial
than innocent one
As a man who has had both experiences, I can tell you that it’s far, far easier for a guilty man to stand trial than an innocent one.
When you are guilty you are depending entirely upon your legal rights; the maze of protections, legal maneuvers, and loopholes that can help you beat the rap.
You have no qualms whatsoever about using them; the law says you have that right.
When you are innocent you are always in a rage of indignation.
You feel helpless and put upon.
You are totally on the defensive.
Constantly you have to fight back the desire to leap up and scream out your innocence.
You can’t believe that this massive grinding machinery can be doing this to you.
From the book Where the Money Was by Willie Sutton, (Viking, New York, 1976).
Willie Sutton was a famous bank robber who may have been more famous by responding, “That’s where the money is.” when he was asked why he robbed banks.
It was his description of the difference between a guilty person and an innocent person on trial; that caught my eye.
Especially when I applied to politics today.
There is this feller that many agree is guilty as sin and yet he evades any and all punishment.
He is depending entirely upon his legal rights; the maze of protections, legal maneuvers, and loopholes that can help him beat the rap and he has no qualms about using them.
I feel a rage of indignation.
I feel helpless.
I feel totally on the defensive.
I constantly you have to fight back the desire to leap up and scream out that there is a difference between innocence and this guy.
And finally, I can’t believe that this massive grinding machinery can be doing this to you.
Deep down I feel those who support this feller know they are wrong.
Someday … the race is not always to the swift or to the strong.
No Haiku For You 