Last Words

Marcus Garvey and his three co-defendants completed their defense in their trial on the charge of using the mails to defraud. Said Mr. Garvey in his three-hour summing up:

" I've served my people, my race and my God. I've wronged not even a child of my own race or any other. If vou find me guilty, then I'll go to my God."

The prosecutor summed up:

" If this was a spiritual movement, then Jesse James belongs in the Hall of Fame as a great philanthropist. This steamship venture was a bucket- shop with a ' spiritual' veneer. Phyllis Wheatley, Frederick Douglas and the other Negro leaders after whom the ships were named must have turned in their graves."

Judge Mack in charging the jury said that he believed the unnecessary delays in the trial had been due to Garvey's ignorance of the law in conducting his own defense, and not to wilfulness, that they were not to be taken into consideration in the verdict.

After eight hours' consideration the jury found Garvey guilty on one of five counts and acquitted his associates, the other defendants. The Judge thanked the jury for their patience and ordered that they be excused from further jury duty in Federal Courts for four years.

At the verdict Garvey rose protesting violently. He took a parting shot as he was led away to jail: " The prosecutor has plotted against me. Maybe some day he will relent!"