Part 2. (Модуль 2)
The Case for the Defence
After Graham Green
It was a very strange murder trial. I have never attended such a strange trial. They named it the Northwood murder in the headlines, because the house, where the old woman was found battered to death at two o’clock in the morning, was in Northwood Street. The murderer was found immediately: and now no one present at the trial believed that the man in the dock had any chance of being acquitted.
He was a stout man with bulging eyes. Yes, an ugly customer, one you wouldn’t forget. The Crown counsel proposed to call four witnesses who had seen him hurrying away from the little house in Northwood Street soon after two that morning.
Mrs Salmon, a neighbour and one of the witnesses, was unable to sleep that night: she heard the gate shut and thought it was her own gate. So she went to the window and saw Adams (that was his name) on the steps of Mrs Parker’s house. He had just come out and he was wearing gloves. He had a hammer in his hand and she saw him drop it into the bushes by the front gate. But before he moved away, he had instinctively looked up at her window. Mrs Salmon could see him clearly in the light of a street lamp.
Mr MacDougall, another witness, had been driving home late and nearly ran Adams down at the corner of Northwood Street. Adams was walking in the middle of the road looking dazed.
And old Mr Weeler, who lived next door to Mrs Parker, was wakened by a noise – like a chair falling – through the wall, thin as paper. He got up and looked out of the window, just as Mrs Salmon did, saw Adam’s back and, as he turned, those bulging eyes.
In Laurel Avenue Adams had been seen by another witness – his luck was badly out.
— I understand, counsel said, – that the defence proposes to plead mistaken identity. Adam’s wife will tell you that he was with her at two in the morning on February 14, but after you have heard the witnesses for the Crown and examined carefully the features of the prisoner, I do not think you will be prepared to admit the possibility of a mistake.
After the formal evidence had been given by the policeman who had found the body and the surgeon who examined it, Mrs Salmon was called. She was the ideal witness, with her expression of honesty, care and kindness.
She spoke very firmly. There was no fear in her, and no sense of importance. She was standing calmly there in the Central Criminal Court. She was not afraid of the judge in scarlet who interrogated her. She was not afraid of the numerous reporters who impatiently wrote down every word of her evidence. Yes, she said, and then she had gone downstairs and rung up the police station.
— And do you see the man here in court?
She looked straight at the big man in the dock, who stared at her with his bulging eyes without emotion.
— Yes, she said. There he is.
— Are you quite certain?
— I couldn’t be mistaken, sir.
— Thank you, Mrs Salmon.
Counsel for the defence rose to cross examine.
— Now, Mrs Salmon, you must remember that a man’s life may depend on you evidence.
— I do remember it, sir.
— Is your eyesight good?
— I do not have to wear spectacles, sir.
— You are a women of fifty-five?
— Fifty-six, sir.
— And the man you saw was on the other side of the road?
— Yes, sir.
— And it was two o’clock in the morning. You must have remarkable eyes, Mrs Salmon?
— No, sir. There was moonlight, and when the man looked up, he had the lamplight on his face.
— And you have no doubt that the man you saw is the prisoner?
I couldn’t make out what he was at.
— No doubt whatever, sir. It isn’t a face one forgets.
Counsel took a look round the court for a moment. Then he said,
— Do you mind, Mrs Salmon, examining again the people in court? No, not the prisoner. Stand up, please, Mr Adams.
And there at the back of the court stood up the exact image of the man in the dock, with stout body, muscular legs and bulging eyes. He was dressed the same tight blue suit and striped tie.
— Now think very carefully, Mrs Salmon. Can you still swear that the man you saw drop the hammer in Mrs Parker’s garden is the prisoner – and not this man, who is his twin brother?
Of course, she coudn’t. She looked from one to the other and didn’t say a word.
There the big man sat in the dock with his legs crossed, and there stood too at the back of the court and they both stared at Mrs Salmon. She shook her head.
What we saw then was the end of the case. There wasn’t a witness prepared to swear that it was the prisoner he had seen. And the brother? He had his alibi, too; he was with his wife.
And so the man was acquitted for lack of evidence. And nobody knew who did the murder.
That extraordinary day had an extraordinary end. I followed Mrs Salmon out of court and we got in the crowd who were waiting, of course, for the twins. The police tried to drive the crowd away. But all they could do was keep the road clear for traffic. I learned later that they tried to get the twins to leave by a back way, but the twins did not want to. One of them – no one knew which – said, “I’ve been acquitted, haven’t I?” and they walked out of the front entrance. Then it happened. I don’t know how. Though I was only six feet away. The crowd moved and somehow one of the twins got pushed on to the road in front of a bus.
He gave a squeal like a rabbit and that was all; he was dead, his scull smashed just as Mrs Parker’s had been. Divine vengeance? I wish I knew. There was the other Adams getting on his feet from beside the body and looking straight over at Mrs Salmon. He was crying, but whether he was the murderer or the innocent man nobody will ever be able to tell. But if you were Mrs Salmon, could you sleep that night?
Task I. Write these word combinations into your vocabulary book, translate them and learn.
to be acquitted – быть оправданным
Crown counsel – государственный адвокат
to run smb. down – переехать, задавить
to shock completely – шокировать
to plead mistaken identity – заявить об ошибочном опознании
to plead no guilty – не признавать себя виновным
Central Criminal Court – Центральный уголовный суд
to interrogate – допрашивать
Counsel for the defence – защитник
to cross examine – перекрестный допрос
to depend on smb’s evidence – зависеть от чьих-либо показаний
to have the lamplight on one’s face – свет лампы на лице
to make out – понимать, выяснять
I couldn’t make out what he was at – я не мог понять, куда он клонит
there was no fear in (her) – она не испытывала страха
there was no sense of importance in (her) – она не важничала
to speak firmly – говорить уверенно
to take a look round the court – обвести взглядом зал суда
Examine the people in court – внимательно посмотреть на людей в зале суда
the exact image of the man in the dock – точная копия человека на скамье подсудимых
to have one’s alibi – иметь алиби
for (the) lack of evidence – за недостатком улик
to drive the crowd away – разогнать толпу
to keep the road clear for traffic – расчистить дорогу для движения
to leave by a back way – уходить через заднюю дверь
to walk out of the front entrance – выходить через главный вход
to give a squeal like a rabbit – взвизгнуть как кролик
divine vengeance – божья кара
to look straight at – посмотреть на (кого-либо, что-либо)
ugly customer – неприятный тип
to call witnesses – вызывать свидетеля
looking dazed – быть в оцепенении
to stun (s. o.) – ошеломлять
his luck was badly out – ему действительно не везло
to plead guilty – признавать себя виновным
witness for the Crown – свидетель обвинения
the judge in scarlet – судья в пурпурной мантии
Task II. Be sure you know the right pronunciation and translation of the following words.
Write them down in your vocabulary book in the alphabetic order.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
a. Murder |
e. counsel |
i. divine |
m. court |
q. alibi |
u. honesty |
b. trial |
f. defence |
j. ideal |
n. spectacles |
r. extraordinary |
v. surgeon |
c. witness |
g. identity |
k. scull |
o. muscular |
s. vengeance |
w. crowd |
d. bulging |
h. feature |
l. judge |
p. striped |
t. squeal |
x. innocent |
Task III. Match the following word combinations from column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’ choosing the correct Russian equivalent.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. Tо be acquitted |
a. выглядеть потрясённым |
2. Ugly customer |
b. вызывать свидетелей. |
3. Crown counsel |
c. центральный уголовный суд |
4. Tо call witnesses |
d. задавить, переехать |
5. Tо run smb. down |
e. свидетель обвинения |
6. His luck was badly out |
f. быть оправданным |
7. Tо plead mistaken identity |
g. ему действительно не везло |
8. To plead no guilty |
h. объявить об ошибочном опознании |
9. Tо plead guilty |
i. государственный адвокат, обвинитель |
10. Witness for the Crown |
j. признать невиновным |
11. Central Criminal Court |
k. неприятный тип |
12. Counsel for the defence |
l. признать виновным |
13. Tо depend on smb’s evidence |
m. защитник |
14. Tо make out |
n. зависеть от свидетельких показаний |
15. Tо take a look round |
o. понять |
16. Tо have one’s alibi |
p. обвести взглядом |
17. Tо keep the road clear for traffic |
q. иметь алиби |
18. Tо cross examine |
r. рассеять толпу |
19. Tо drive the crowd away |
s. позволять транспорту двигаться |
20. Looking dazed |
t. проводить перекрёстный допрос |
Task IV. Match the adjectives from column ‘A’ with the nouns in column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. Strange 2. Stout 3. Ugly 4. Bulging 5. Formal 6. Ideal 7. Criminal 8. Remarkable 9. Exact 10. Muscular 11. Extraordinary 12. Innocent |
a. court b. trial c. image d. day e. legs f. man g. event h. body i. customer j. eyes k. witness l. evidence |
Task V. Match the verbs from column ‘A’ with the adverbs in column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. stood 2. wrote down 3. think 4. spoke 5. examined 6. was found 7. had looked up 8. could see |
a. impatiently b. firmly c. instinctively d. firm e. immediately f. carefully g. clearly h. calmly
|
Task VI. Say if you agree or disagree giving ‘yes’ – (a) or ‘no’ – (b) answer.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
Many people present at the trial believed that Adams had a chance of being acquitted.
- yes b. - no
Mrs. Salmon was sleeping when she heard the gate shut.
- yes b. - no
Adams had a hammer in his hand and Mrs Salmon saw him drop it into the bushes.
a. - yes b. - no
Adams was quite a pleasant person.
- yes b. - no
Mrs Salmon was afraid of the judge who interrogated her.
- yes b. - no
Mrs Salmon’s eyesight was bad and she had to wear spectacles.
- yes b. - no
Nobody knew which of the twin brothers was the murderer.
- yes b. - no
Task VII. Fill in the numbered blank spaces with one of the following words given in the box.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
a. chance |
b. headlines |
c. acquitted |
d. found |
e. dock |
f. murder |
g. dead |
h. trial |
i. attended |
j. murderer |
It was a very strange murder (1)…. I have never (2)… such a strange trial. They named it the Northwood (3)… in the (4)…, because the house, where the old woman was found (5)… at two o’clock in the morning, was in Northwood Street. The (6)… was (7)… immediately: and no one present at the trial believed that the man in the (8)… had any (9)… of being (10)….
Task VIII. Paraphrase the following in English matching the sentences from column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. She was battered to death. 2. His luck was badly out. 3. There was no sense of importance in her. 4. Is your eyesight good? Can you see clearly? 5. I couldn’t make out what he was at. |
a. I couldn’t understand what he was at. b. Do you see well. c. She was killed. d. He had bad luck. e. She wasn’t conscious of her own importance. |
Task IX. Match ‘A’ with ‘B’ in order to translate the sentences from ‘A’ column into English.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. Мистер Уилер жил по соседству от миссис Паркер. 2. Ему действительно не везло. 3. Вы вполне уверены? 4. Он был точной копией человека на скамье подсудимых. 5. Они могли выйти через чёрный ход. |
a. He was the exact image of the man in the dock. b. Are you quite certain? c. His luck was badly out. d. They could leave by a back way. e. Mr Weeler lived next door to Mrs Parker. |
Task X. Translate the following sentences into Russian paying attention to the verb ‘to get’. You may check yourself choosing the best variant of translation from the sentences in column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
A |
B |
1. Mr Weeler got up and looked out of the window.
2. I followed Mrs Salmon out of court and we got in the crowd who were waiting for the twins.
3. The Police tried to get the twins tо leave by a back way, but the twins did not want tо.
4. The crowd moved and somehow one of the twins got pushed onto the road right in front of a bus.
5. There was the other Adams getting on his feet from beside the body and looking straight over at Mrs Salmon. |
a. Там был другой Адамс, поднимающийся на ноги из-за лежащего на земле тела и смотрящий прямо в глаза миссис Сэлмон. b. Полиция пыталась заставить близнецов выйти через чёрный ход, но они не захотели этого делать. c. Толпа двинулась, и, каким-то образом, один из близнецов был вытолкнут на дорогу под колёса автобуса. d. Я вышел следом за миссис Сэлмон из здания суда, и мы попали в толпу, которая ожидала близнецов. e. Мистер Уилер встал и посмотрел в окно. |
Task XI. Choose the correct answer.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
1. In what way was Mrs Parker murdered?
she was killed with a knife.
she was killed with a hammer.
she was shot down.
Who saw Adams soon after the murder?
Only Mrs Salmon did.
Mrs Salmon, Mr Weeler and one more witness did.
Mrs Salmon, Mr MacDougall, Mr Weeler and one more witness did.
3. What did Adams drop in Mrs Parker’s garden?
he dropped a knife.
he dropped a gun.
he dropped a hammer.
4. What alibi did Adams have?
His twin brother said that he was talking with him when Mrs Parker was murdered.
His wife said that he was with her at that moment.
His neighbour said that he saw Adams near his house at that moment.
5. What was the end of trial?
Adams was found guilty.
Adams was acquitted for the lack of evidence.
The trial was postponed.
6. What happened after the trial?
One of the twin brothers died of a heart attack.
One of the twin brothers was killed in an accident.
One of the brothers committed a suicide.
Task XII. Complete the following plan of the story arranging sentences in accordance with the narration of the story.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
Mrs Parker is killed in her house.
The two of the brothers have alibi.
There are a few witnesses who have seen the murderer.
Mr Adams is acquitted for the lack of evidence.
The Crown Counsel calls four witnesses.
The murderer has been found immediately.
Counsel for the defence cross examines the witness.
Mr Adams has a very sound alibi.
At the back of the court there is the exact image of the man in the dock.
One of the twin brothers is killed in an accident.
Nobody knows which of the twin brothers died – the murderer or the innocent man.
Task XIII. Write all the words related to law and courts in the alphabetic order from the list of words and expressions (task I). In your answer give only the numbers of the words.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
Task XIV. Think and answer. It’s your own choice to choose in between the two suggested answers.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c etc.
Why, do you think, Mrs Parker was murdered?
She was a very rich woman.
She was Mr Adams’s enemy.
Which of the twin brothers was the murder?
Mr Adams.
‘the exact image’ in the court.
Which of the twin brothers was killed in the accident?
Mr Adams, the murderer.
Mr Adams, the twin of the murderer.
Did the accident happen by chance?
Yes.
No.
Who could push the twin brother on the road?
the crowd.
One of the witnesses of the crime.
Would the twin brother have a revenge on Mrs Salmon, in your opinion?
Yes.
No.
If you were Mrs Salmon, could you sleep at night?
Yes.
No.
Task XV. Mark the statements as ‘true’ or ‘false’.“True” – (a), “False” –(b).
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
The old woman was found battered to death at two o’clock in the morning.
The Crown Counsel proposed to call five witnesses.
Mr Weeler got up, looked out of the window and saw Mrs Parker.
Mrs Salmon was afraid of the judge in scarlet who interrogated her.
There wasn’t a witness prepared to swear that it was the prisoner he had seen.
The crowd moved and somehow one of the twins got pushed on to the road in front of a bus.
The police did not try to get the twins to leave by a back way.
The twin brother had his alibi, too; he was with his friend.
Mrs Salmon, a neighbour and one of the witnesses was unable to sleep that night.
The man in the dock had no chance of being acquitted.
Task XVI. Summarize the story. Arrange the following sentences in the chronological order.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
There were four witnesses of the crime: Mrs Salmon, Mr Weeler, Mr MacDougall and the one in Laurel Avenue.
Mr Adams’s brother was his exact image.
It was a very strange murder trial.
The twin brothers left the court through the front entrance and were met by the crowd.
He was crying, but whether he was the murderer or the innocent man nobody will ever be able to tell.
When he stood up at the back of the court no one was certain any more of the real murderer.
But if you were Mrs Salmon, could you sleep that night?
One of the brothers was dead.
And Mr Adams was acquitted.
She wasn’t afraid of anything or anybody while she was interrogated by the judge.
Coulsel for the defence brought Mr Adams’s twin brother tо the court.
‘The Nortwood murder’, they called it because it all had happened in Northwood Street.
No one present at the trial believed that the man in the dock had any chance of being acquitted.
The most important witness for the Crown was Mrs Salmon.
The murderer of Mrs Parker was found immediately.
Counsel for the defence wanted the court admit the possibility of a mistake.
So, Mr Adams was acquitted for the lack of evidence.
The crowd moved and somehow one of the twins got pushed on to the road in front of a bus.
The other Adams got on his feet from beside the body and looked over at Mrs Salmon.
Task XVII. Insert prepositions into the numbered blank spaces in the sentences below.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
a.- with, b.- at, c.- by, d.- in, e.- up, f.- of, g.- out of, h.- on, i.- for.
He got (1)___ and looked (2)___ the window.
In Laurel Avenue Adams had been seen (3)___ another witness.
You have heard the witness (4)___ the Crown.
He had a hammer (5) ___ his hand.
Mrs Salmon could see him clearly (6)___ the light (7)___ a street lamp.
A man’s life may depend (8)___ your evidence.
And there (9)___ the back (10)___ the court stood (11)___ the exact image (12)___ the man (13)___ the dock, (14)___ stout body, muscular legs and bulging eyes.
Task XVIII. Insert the correct past form of the verb into the blank spaces of the given below sentences.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
1. He ___ a squeal like a rabbit and that was all.
a.to give |
c.had given |
b.gave |
d.would give |
He ___ dead, his scull ___ just as Mrs Parker’s ___.
a.to be
f.had been smashed
b.was
g.was
c.had been
h.were
d.smash
i.had been
e.smashed
What we ___ then was the end of the case.
a. tо see
b. will see
c. saw
d. had seen
The Crown Counsel ___ tо call four witnesses who ___ him hurrying away from the little house.
a. tо propose
e. saw
b. proposed
f. will see
c. was proposing
g. would see
d. had proposed
h. had seen
After the formal evidence ___ by the policeman who ___ the body and the surgeon who ___ it, Mrs Salmon ___.
a. had given |
f. examined |
b. had been given |
g.was called |
c. was given |
h. called |
d. was examining |
i. had been called |
e. had examined |
j. had found |
Task XIX. Insert one of the verbs given below, in the correct tense-form, into the blank place of each sentence.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
to make out: a. make out b. made out c. have made out
to depend: d. depend on e. depended on f. be depended on
to dress: g. dresses h. was dressed i. has been dressing
to wear: j. was wearing k. had worn l. wear
He ___ the same way.
He ___ gloves.
I couldn’t ___ what he was at.
A man’s life may ___ on your evidence.
Task XX. Put the words in the right order to make up a sentence.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, b, c, d, etc. or you may write the whole sentence itself.
a.- very; b.- spoke; c.- firmly; d.- she.
a.- old; b.- Mr.; c.- an; d.- Weeler; e.- by; f.- was; g.- a; h.- noise; i.- wakened.
a.-was; b.- it; c.- o’clock; d.- at; e.- two; f.- morning; g.- the; h.- in.
a.- day; b.- extraordinary; c.- had; d.- that; e.- extraordinary; f.- end; g.- an.
a.-carefully; b.- Mrs; c.- now; d.- Salmon; e.- think; f.- very.
Task XXI. The following interrogative sentences are different types of questions:
– Special
– General
– Alternative
– Disjunctive.
State the correct type of each question.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, 2-b or 3-c, etc.
Was the murderer found immediately?
He was a stout man with bulging eyes, wasn’t he?
Do you see the man here in the court?
He wasn’t wearing gloves, was he?
Did the counsel take a look round the court for a moment?
Did he have a hammer or a knife in his hand?
Who spoke very firmly?
Had Mr MacDougal been driving home late?
Task XXII. Write down questions for these sentences. Begin with the words in brackets.
He saw Adams’s back. (What …?)
Adams’s wife will tell you that he was with her at two in the morning on February 14. (Whose wife …?)
The big man stared at her with his bulging eyes without emotion. (How …?)
She went to the window. (Where …?)
She rang up the police station. (Who …?)
He was with his wife. (Whom …?)
English – Russian Vocabulary
A |
attend |
– посещать |
|
acquit |
– оправдывать |
|
admit |
– принимать |
|
avenue |
– проспект, аллея |
|
alibi |
– алиби |
|
|
|
B |
believe |
– верить |
|
building |
– строение, здание |
|
batter (v) |
– колотить |
|
|
|
C |
crown |
– корона |
|
counsel |
– совещание, адвокат |
|
care |
– забота |
|
court |
– суд |
|
cross |
– пересекать, крест |
|
carefully |
– осторожно |
|
case |
– случай, дело |
|
crowd |
– толпа |
|
|
|
D |
death |
– смерть |
|
dazed |
– изумленный |
|
doubt (v) |
– сомневаться |
|
dock |
– зд. скамья подсудимых |
|
drop (v) |
– ронять |
|
|
|
D |
defence |
– защита |
|
depend |
– зависить |
|
divide |
– разделять |
|
|
|
E |
eyesight |
– зрение |
|
evidence |
– доказательство, показание, улика |
|
expression |
– выражение |
|
examine |
– допрашивать |
|
emotion |
– эмоции |
|
exact |
– точный |
|
entrance |
– вход |
|
extraordinary |
– необыкновенный |
|
|
|
F |
fear |
– страх |
|
folow (v) |
– следовать |
|
|
|
G |
gate |
– вход, ворота, калитка |
|
glove |
– перчатка |
|
|
|
H |
headline |
– заголовок |
|
hurry (v) |
– торопиться |
|
hammer |
– молоток |
|
honesty |
– честно |
|
|
|
I |
instinctively |
– инстинктивно |
|
identity |
– идентичность |
|
ideal |
– идеал |
|
importance |
– важность |
|
impatiently |
– нетерпеливо |
|
innocent |
– невиновный |
|
image |
– образ |
|
|
|
K |
kindness |
– доброта |
|
|
|
L |
luck |
– удача |
|
lack |
– отсутствие |
|
|
|
M |
murder |
– убивать, убийство |
|
moonlight |
– лунный свет |
|
mind (v) |
– напоминать, возражать, остерегаться |
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muscular |
– мускулистый, мышечный |
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N |
neighbour |
– сосед |
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P |
plead (v) |
– ходатайствовать, защищать |
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prisoner |
– заключенный |
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R |
remember (v) |
– вспоминать, помнить |
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rabbit |
– кролик, трусливый человек, плохой игрок |
S |
strange |
– странный |
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stout |
– толстый, тучный |
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stare |
– уставиться, пристально смотреть |
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spectacles |
– очки |
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striped |
– полосатый |
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squael |
– пронзительный крик |
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scull |
– череп |
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smash (v) |
– размазать |
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surgeon |
– хирург |
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T |
trial |
– судебное заседание |
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traffic |
– движение |
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tight |
– сжатый |
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twin |
– парный, двойной |
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U |
ugly |
– отвратительный, урод |
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V |
vengeance |
– месть |