Central YMCA High School - Centralite Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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-: fzlflf' 7f i - Q . i V i 4 3 i 2 i'?.2n5wlg-1u!M'!'M':'g-Q-QEJL.: Q H lr Debates Evening V l STATE OF ILLINOIS VS. STEPHEN VARGO F . Oyez, Oyez, The Honorable Criminal Court of the Lincoln Club is now ' open. These were the words, spoken by Sheriff Howard T. Mason, which li . opened the Lincoln Club Criminal Court on December 4th, l924. First case IE was the People of Illinois vs. Stephen Vargo, criminally indicting Stephen I Vargo for assault and battery with intent to kill his opponent, john Stih, in E a debate held in the Auditorium of the Central Preparatory School. l Interest in the courtroom was keen as the prosecuting attorneys, Herbert li Boettcher and Leo Bartolini, proceeded to address the judge on having the prisoner hear his arraignment. The attorneys for the defendant, Wm. if , Paterik and Earl Santelman, questioned the validity of the indictment but were 1- overruled by the Honorable W. Milne, Judge of the Court. Ii li The prisoner pleaded not guilty, the attorneys were asked if they were 1 ready, and the trial began. 1: Thirteen jurymen were called, one dismissed and the remaining twelve were It , sworn in. fi The prosecution made its formal statement to the jury endeavoring to indict If I the prisoner of assault and battery with intent to kill John Stih. The defense lg r followed that the defendant, Stephen Vargo, did not strike the first blow lj 1 and so fought and assaulted john Stih in self defense. The courtroom fans 1' gasped as heated arguments were propounded in trying to make the jury Q see the defendant in the light of saint or sinner. il . The witnesses were students who were present at the debate. These stu- L- dents were questioned, questioned some more, and cross questioned by the - .... . I ,, attorneys of both sides. Time and time again the defense jumped up shout- ig ' ing, Your Honor, we object. Truly formal questions and cross questions IQ were put to the witnesses but some were so frightened or mixed up that their gi gi answers at times were somewhat hazy, making it necessary to ask the same ii questions in a different manner. 1, Attorney Boettcher of the prosecution then made his final speech to the L judge and jury, reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution and 5' showing loop holes that were not covered by the defense. His arguments If , were so logical and his philosophy so masterly, that it seemed as though If there could not be a chance for the prisoner to escape the full penalty pro- I? vided by the law. The jurymen swayed in their seats and followed the 'Z , course of his arguments so closely that when he told them of their respon- T, sibilities in meting out justice for the People of Illinois the jury became very ,Q grave and worried. He concluded his argument with pointing an accusing lg .i finger at the prisoner, which made him shrink and cringe under the accusation. fi Attorney Earl Santelman then came forward for the defense. He spoke ' in a slow, distinct voice explaining the different situations of the night attack. f He told them that all three of the men on the defendant's side were weary gg gf from overwork and had been nervous during the debate so that, even though -, the decision were rendered by vote of the assembly, they felt that, because It if they had done their share, they were victors. Consequently when the usual ' handshaking of the teams was taking place John Stih ran up to the defendant, ii ' Stephen Vargo, and hit him. Attorney Santelman went on to explain that il it was not a case of assault and battery but merely a case of self-defense. ii Now it seemed as if the decision would be in favor of the defense and after his final statement Attorney Paterik took the floor and refuted the IQ usage B41 .. J.,-,.n-... i t p..numm.. .. . . ., ... . ,. -, - .U ....... . . nr.,.u.....,....,..-.-.mr-r.... .1 W... 4.... .. ......,.H......... . -... .. ..,...r....,..6K.,..,...,r-..,..k..r .-.-.- - .. -.-.-.-.-V-V - , .,,, 1 A

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x f i The QD Q11-'J 11 ly GL H 5 de ,RL ' , 1 Th arguments of the prosecution so well that it seemed that there was not a chance of convicting the man. He told the jury that the prosecution had endeavored to try a man who was not guilty and that the prisoner, instead of being the type of man who would attack any one, was one that would refrain from doing any physical harm. On the other hand he painted John Stih as a criminal and told of his associations in business and home life. Then Prosecuting Attorney Bartolini, with a look of determination on his face, rose and made his stand before the jury box. Never before in the history of this community has there been a crime of such a serious nature as this one, thus Bartolini began his final plea to the jury. He argued, he plead, he quoted cases and authorities, he persuaded, he talked logic, he stamped his feet, and he wrung his hands, holding the jury spellbound. Things looked much better for the prosecution as Bartolini concluded his appeal by saying. So, gentlemen of the jury, in the name of justice, I ask that you give this man the full penalty of the law. The jury retired, returning after the lapse of thirty minutes with the decision that Stephen Vargo was guilty of assault and battery but not with the intent to kill, sentencing him to thirty days in jail. LEO BARTOLINI. FEBRUARY SENIOR THEATRE PARTY A Kings famous dining room-a banquet table laid for thirty Seniors- Mountain looming above the party with his excess avoirdupois-Erickson and Falasz presenting a bizarre rendition of the latest, yes, the very latest musical selections-Estus pounding a puissant piano in shivering crescendo-then, none other than that distinguished member of the faculty, Frederick William lVlcClusky, giving voice and tune to street songs of the Bowery as he heard them on the sidewalks of New York-encores for Mr. lVlcClusky-applause from the rest of the dining room patrons who can see not but hear much. Pass the olives, Bimbo -roast chicken, scalloped potatoes and savory sundries-Estus is off again-everybody's singing now- Oh, Mister Gal- lagher, Last Night on the Back Porch, Oh, the Bowery, the Bowery, I Want a Girl, just Like the Girl -The Four Horsemen cutting up-Rounds making love to his brother berserker, Klein-Duel and Kelleher engaging in an ice cream consuming contest-balloons, red balloons, blue balloons, process of inflating balloons, process of deflating balloons by application of salad forks-speech by Boettcher-standing vote of thanks-Falasz and flashlight, Erickson and a camera-Boom! Party retires to the Adelphi Theatre to see Lowell Sherman in High Stakes -loop natives startled by tribe of savages snake dancing-savages storm Adelphi and seize first two rows center, balcony-savages engage in lowering barrage of party caps and balloons upon innocent bald pates and bare backs below. Play starts-'savages sit entranced as one of the finest dramatic offerings of the theatrical year unfolds-hero saves day-party piles out on Clark Street-some leave while others proceed to Berghoff's for a liver sausage sandwich and a stein of root beer-party again going strong-party winds up with vociferation and leavetaking. What a memorable night! Such was the February Senior Theatre Party. ROBERT F. KELLEHER. lPage B51 : .- H .'.'1 'T' ' 'f ' - 'f '. Z ' ' ' .m.,i,I..,.,,,..I-i....m,A....m.wmu.Riu ' DTMF., . ,',I.,,.. . ,N f7..,,T.' H ' 'J ., , , ' , ,,,, ,,,,,,,H eatre Party Evening