The last sentence is typical of Ingersoll in forensic procedure. He excluded all "that throws no light on the subject." He could afford to do this. Ingersoll the lawyer believed that it was a lawyer's duty, whether prosecuting or defending, not to abuse another lawyer, but to enlighten both the court and the jury upon the testimony, just as Ingersoll the rationalistic reformer believed that it was his duty to enlighten the great jury of the public upon the testimony presented by theology and science. In this very case, he had said: --
"Now, let us be honest about this matter -- let us be fair. It is not a personal quarrel between lawyers. I never quarrel with anybody; my philosophy being that everybody does as he must, and if he is in bad luck and does wrong, why, let us pity him, and if we happen to have good luck, and take the path where roses bloom, why, let us be joyful. That is my doctrine; no need of fighting about these little things. They are all over in a little while anyway."
And they were, even with the great soul who had thus spoken; for this was on September 5, 1891. |
