Potter School - Shield Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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THE POTTER SHIELD . W1 ch Want to see her? Q11991' C3597 Gemqgei Wonit talk Just Sits fly, if - f r ' i . 'J in , rl 7 ed--H . theuuiilffciiffe foltiliutoslijfq for a few moments if I may. The thing looks fishy to me. Has the chief given her the 'double O' Yetifu- , t shook his head It's a stralght C359 WV flghtf GGOTSG- We The sergean - , , . found her with the gat still smok1n'. It sure looks cinched to me. Come along if you want to see her. Much good it'll do YOU, lim Sayinkn I ac :rc :If 'K at George Brady waited till the sergeant had withdrawn before he spoke. Miss Carrolyn? n Q With a shock he noticed how white she was. Her great dark eyes stared s1ght- lessly before her. Her slim, fine hands were clutched tightly to her throat. She scarcely seemed to breathe. 0 , Miss Carrolyn, he repeated softly, Hwonlt you talk w1th me? I ve been looking through your case, and I don't think it's as bad as it looks. I'd like to- that is, if I can-I mean-I-oh, damn it, I want to help you, Miss Carrolyn, I believe in you. Don't you think you could tell me everything-in your own words? She looked up at him suddenly, her lips quivering, her eyes moist. 'fThank you, she whispered, thank you-so. You can't know how- Her voice broke, she caught her breath, and great hot tears streamed, down her face, as she sobbed out the whole story. . , wk is :ue :nc ac For over a week Brady had worked hard on the case. Body and mind were about exhausted. He sighed happily as he crawled into bed, and stretched himself out. Then he grunted slightly. After all-what had he really done? Worked?Q+ yes. Strained night and day to solve his problem?-yes. But what was accomplished? The girl was innocent, certainly. No one with eyes like Barbara's-Miss Qarrolyn's, he meant-could be guilty of such a crime. His evidence was clear, it was true-and yet, something was lacking. And the trial was set for tomorrow. He must try-he had to do something. What was needed-what had he forgotten -what was- Suddenly his face cleared. A satisfied, happy smile stole over his mouth, as, burrowing under the covers, he fell asleep. I , if PF Dk Pk Pk Th Jlldge SU1.1ivan's court. was crowded and close on the morning of the trial. e air was fairly brown with conflicting odors and hot beyond expression. The usual crowd of court vermin, those unclean souls who perpetually crave EEG lgfidi WELS swelled by HEHY times its number. ,Everyone knew of the Carrolyn ur ,er Case, and a morbid curiosity had packed the room to capacity, Th tt f - - . . , Conversgt? OTHGY d01' the P1'0S9CU'010I1 VIIELS Just finishing his speech, and a hum of on sprea over the court as his vo - floated up to the prisoner, sitting pale and rebcEii3fdLi1ic1heFri3gmenfUgS of Whlspermgs L k - W1 ness ox. evidencz? tliciiiighiggieillcasiu toofbad' too' Sheis S0 young and all-Pretty h9ffWY but-,, ' y can t ar1W2WS tell, How-Guess it's guilty, all right, Twenty-six .Wd We if .W AW: W' T will MW' Wt WWI mg! ldv-dl mimi ,3,,,10w.1 ami 'uri' Bgmasi Bla Irunherh asthellul lt is demi siddm WM lllllmld. ulthedec shothm ihmam .Minky Bud Timo mFStat5

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THE POTTER SHIELD A Matter of Angles ' Barbara awoke with a start. Surely she must have dreamt it, yet she could have sworn she heard a revolver shot. The sharp crack seemed still echoing in her ears 5 but the street was silent, and the pale moonlight filtered undisturbed through her window. Queer, she thought, it hadn't seemed like a nightmare-still- With a splintering crash something hurtled through the window and fell heavily on her bed. For a moment she lay motionless, then she sat up and stared stupidly at the cause of the disturbance. A gruff voice murmured outside-a few seconds of silence and then heavy footsteps stumbled up the stairs. ' V Barbara reached out her hand and touched the thing on her bed. The moon- light fell directly on it and it gleamed a bit ominously. She started violently as her fingers came in contact with the cold metal. Suddenly the door burst open, and a blinding flash-light played over the girl. A man's voice muttered something. Four blue-coats entered the room. A faint click in the darkness-and the place became flooded with light. T Barbara gazed wide-eyed at the intruders. She was fearfully hot now g even the night air seemed oppressive. Her cheeks were flushed and the blood pounded violently in her throat. ' One of the officers stepped forward. His eyes darted to her face-to the shat- tered window pane-to the glittering thing in her hand. Only her breathing broke the stillness of the room. The policeman's eyes narrowed toslits. To the terrified girl his face seemed but a luminous blur. Faintly she heard his voice- You are under arrest-murder- She fainted away. PIC Pk Pk Pk wk George Brady, lawyer, newspaper reporter, and amateur detective, buttoned his coaticollar higher as he strode ,down the street. Winter was in the offing, and his breath clouded as it came in contact with the crisp, cold air. Suddenly he paused, listening. Borne on the breeze came the shrill cry of the newsie: 'fEXtry! Extryl Prom'nent San Franciscan murdered! Extryl Terrible murder- Brady broke into a light run. Here, boy-Examiner-all right, keep the change. He stepped into a corner drug-store to read his paper. Rapidly he ran his eyes over the details. Man shot on Divisadero street-about midnight-police End body-broken window-suspicion-Miss Barbara Oarrolyn found with weapon-arrest- Brady dropped the paper, and leaned against the cornice. Queer, he thought, shooting through a window like that. What reason could she-why the whole thing was idiotic-it didn't seem- Brady stepped out into the street and hailed a taxi. Sunset Police Station, he told the driver. ac wk :kg wk wk Sergeant Goff looked up as a shadow fell across his desk. Oh, hello George 5 how's tha boy? In here about last night's little job, eh? Well, you know- i , Brady interrupted him. Is she in there now? He nodded towards the KK ff Coop' Twenty-five

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'-Me' ti I laik I Jlbfsiw tiring junk X G Sfhhv .le ki. ',' x t rzL11t.t,,.,,m W .u uh, QR' I - 9 h . ' Hee 1-flip' hp lark 'Tvs Q ' ' 'mfiltlsj .ghj ff IH il!i'I with me? -. I iuulii. ON ull. farmlynzl in your mm w'0rdg?lY jfvs Illlligln ll! lfilluw how. te-:ers streamed down Healy and mind were :mul stretched himself 2 5' 1 le vue? Worked?- ws. But what was ilu- Bxirbarzfs-llis - e-vielcm-c was clear, ms sm for tomorrow. 'hat had he forgottell - im-r his mouth, 351 uvniing of the trial. gil 4-xpresion. ' rave .lu p0l'pf?Il1i1lll C lm .nf-w of the Carrol Q Vllpilflty' f uH10 wcvli, and 3h , S nvnts of whispenng ,-45 l f X- .i iiilPfffff' wif tl ,flllilfyf all ng 2 THE POTTER SHIELD The voices died away as George Brady rose to be sworn in. For the first time Barbara began to take notice of her surroundings. Your Honor, 'Gentlemen of the J ury- Brady's voice was low, but possessed remarkable carrying qualities, I will take the liberty of acting as the defendant's attorney, insomuch as my testimony contradicts that of the prosecuting attorney. According to statements made by recent witnesses on the stand, the known facts of the case are about as follows: About midnight of Saturday last, the officer on the Divisadero street beat heard a shot fired, one shot. It came, apparently, from just around the corner. As the officer hurried in the direction of the sound, he heard a distinct crash, as of breaking glass. A moment later he stumbled over the body of a man, still twitching. Death had been instantaneous, the bullet entering the brain. The officer, after calling for help, noticed broken glass on the pavement, and traced it to a window above the scene of the crime. When three men from the adjoining beats had arrived, the four went upstairs to the room with the broken window. The defendant was found in bed with a smoking revolver in her hand. Am I correct in my statements so far? The judge nodded silently. The jury were whispering among themselves. Barbara shifted a bit in her chair as Brady continued: A The assumption is, then, that the defendant shot at and killed the deceased from her bed-room window. The revolver found in the defendant's hand, as well as the broken window, seem to point to this conclusion-but-where is the motive? It is absolutely certain that the defendant was unacquainted with the deceased. Why, then, Your Honor and Gentlemen of the Jury, should a young girl of unquestionable character, shoot an absolute stranger, for no apparent reason? The thing is absurd. , But here is the point that absolutely proves the defendant's innocence. The bullet, on the coroner's own testimony, passed through the throat of the deceased, and entered the brain. Now, I ask you: is it possible for a bullet shot froman elevation of approximately twenty-five or thirty feet, to enter the throat and pass up through the brain? Your Honor and Gentlemen of the Jury, I think you cannot help but agree with me when I say such a thing is impossible. Brady stopped for a moment and swept hiseyes over the hushed courtroom. Then, taking a deep breath, he continued: Your Honor, may I suggest that you detail proper authorities to investigate my statements? Thank you. And in the meantime, would it not be possible to- PIC Pk Pk Pk :lf . Twenty minutes later the jury filed back into the box, silent and reserved. Benches creaked as people bent forward to get the verdict. I j George Brady sat with a peculiar smile twisting his mouth, but Barbara remained expressionless, as in a trance. The foreman of the jury rose awkwardly and cleared his throat. Your Honorf' the man fumbled for his words, the court-er-returns a verdict of 'not gwlltyf and recommends- His voice faded away as a sigh of relief burst from a hundred throats. wk Pk Pk PIC ik As Brady slipped her cloak over her shoulders, Barbara turned and touched his arm. Twenty-seven