TRIAL OF AN OLD GREEK CORN-RING 379 



sometimes gets in where direct statements fail to enter. The speech, 

 a master-piece for a conservative, public-spirited business man, is a fine 

 example of Lysias's character-study. The defendants admit their guilt 

 and apparently try to avoid the consequences by pleas in confession 

 and avoidance. The pleas in excuse were (1) that the corn-inspectors 

 suggested that the dealers buy up the corn; and (2) that their action 

 had benefited the public by obtaining for it a supply of grain. Our 

 senator replies (1) by showing, on evidence, that the corn- inspectors 

 never made any such suggestions and that if they did it would not 

 excuse such an open violation of a plain law; and (2) by showing that 

 the role of public benefactor could not be very seriously assumed by 

 men who "dodged taxes" and the other patriotic contributions and 

 raised the price of corn in one day many fold higher than the law 

 allowed. 



Liberal extracts of the speech itself in the words of the old Greek 

 senator follow: 



Many have come to me, gentlemen of the jury, wondering at my accusing 

 the grain dealers in the Senate and saying that no matter how guilty you 

 thought they were, you would nevertheless consider those who made speeches 

 against them, blackmailers. Now I want, first of all, to tell you why I was 

 compelled to accuse them. When the presidents brought the charge before the 

 Senate they were so indignant with the dealers that some of the speakers said 

 they ought to be turned over to the " Eleven " " and put to death without a 

 trial. But I, thinking it was a terrible thing for the Senate to get in the habit 

 of doing such things, got up and said that it seemed to me that the grain- 

 dealers should be tried according to law, considering that, if they had done 

 things which deserved death, you would give them their just desserts just as 

 well as we; but if they had done no wrong there wasn't any need of our putting 

 them to death without a legal trial. And although the Senate was persuaded 

 of this, some tried to accuse me, saying I made my speech to save the grain- 

 dealers. Now before the Senate, when the " Hearing " was held, I made a 

 practical defense against these charges; for when the others kept quiet I got 

 up and accused the dealers and made it clear to everybody that I had not 

 spoken in their behalf but for " due process of law." Now I started in this 

 affair for the reasons I have described (from fear of the charges against me), 

 but I consider it disgraceful to stop till you have voted what you wish to do 

 with them. 



The plug is put in the water-clock and the flow of water, which 

 regulates the time for speaking, is stopped, while one of the defendants 

 is put on the stand. 



First you come up and take the stand. Tell me, are you a metic [resident 

 alien] ? Yes. Do you enjoy the privileges accorded to the resident alien on 

 condition that you obey the laws of the city or with the understanding that 

 you do whatever you please? On condition that I obey. Don't you expect to 

 die if you have done anything in violation of the laws for which the penalty 

 is death? Certainly. Now tell me if you admit that you bought up more than 

 the seventy-five bushels which the law provides as the limit permissible ? I 

 bought at the bidding of the officials. 



8 Board of prison and police commissioners in charge of executions, etc. 



