The Winston Affair Read Online Free PDF

the hospital. Or am I wrong, sir?”
    â€œOh?” Thompson remained neutral and noncommittal.
    â€œI spent five weeks in a general hospital,” Adams explained.
    â€œYou happen to be right, Captain. I believe that is a recognized procedure.”
    â€œI can’t find either the report or a copy of it in this file.”
    â€œFor obvious reasons, Captain. The Judge Advocate never requested the report.”
    â€œWhat?” In spite of himself, it came out—burst out.
    â€œYou seem surprised. I don’t find that so strange, Captain. The defendant was discharged from the hospital—in good health.”
    â€œBut who discharged him, sir?”
    â€œColonel Burton. The commanding officer at the hospital,” Thompson answered, smiling helpfully as if he appreciated and understood Adams’ interest but desired to underline the fact that such interest was no less academic than the case itself. “I’m sure that his report is in your file.”
    â€œYes. But if I may say so, sir, it is not a medical report. It is simply a statement that Winston, having been pronounced sane and responsible by the lunacy board—of which he himself was chief member—was then discharged under armed guard to the Provost Marshal. By the way, sir, where is Lieutenant Winston now?”
    â€œIn the Central Guardhouse, Captain. I’ve given orders that you may see him whenever you desire. And if I may make a suggestion, I would see him today, if I were you. There is your best source of working material—the man you must defend.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œNot that I don’t approve of a thorough knowledge of the facts as a basis for a case, but we are simply attempting to set up a sturdy display of due process. Even Winston himself presses for a conviction.”
    â€œSir?”
    â€œYes, indeed, Captain. I am not coloring my words. He has confessed freely, and now he desires only to have the sentence passed and to get it over with.”
    â€œNevertheless,” Adams said, slowly, quietly, but with a persistence that Colonel Thompson was beginning to find tiresome, “I have been ordered to undertake his defense, and I think that I must do so.”
    â€œCheck! Right to the point, sir! And what else have we been trying to do, but to help you in every way possible, to expedite matters. Remember, Barney—we have lived with this case for weeks. We have wept and bled over it. And now there is nothing we want more than to finish with it and wipe the slate dean. That is why I say to you—go to the jail. See Winston. Talk to him. Get his point of view. And then relax for a week end before the trial. Our British colleagues have a very passable club here, nothing like the grass at home, of course, but very decent. You do play golf?”
    â€œA little,” Adams nodded.
    â€œThere you are. Now, would you like me to call the Provost and have them roll out the red carpet for you?”
    â€œI don’t think so, sir.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œI would like to talk to Colonel Burton. If you have no objections, sir?”
    Suddenly the fat little pink-cheeked man showed an edge, not much of an edge, but nevertheless an edge, sharp and keen. “You know that I have no objections, Captain,” he answered. “You have the right to speak with or call any witness you please. Certainly you learned that at West Point, Captain.”
    â€œYes, sir, I did.”
    â€œThen you have every right to talk to Colonel Burton. It may be that my own knowledge of military law is cursory, but I would suppose that your first duty would be to your client.”
    â€œI agree with you, sir—after the fact.”
    â€œWhat fact?”
    â€œThe fact of myself, sir, the uniform I wear, the …” Adams paused. The Judge Advocate was annoyed now, and that was not what he had ever intended. He finished lamely, saying, “I am sorry, sir. I don’t think