MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!
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PAGE TWENTY ONE:
INNOCENT OR GUILTY???
PART 4
The Statue of Liberty atop The Old Bailey
The law of the wise is a fountain of life
Poise the cause in justice’s equal scales
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The next day, the local newspaper carried a brief piece on Page One along with a photograph showing Casanova/Puppy being transported to the police precinct. The piece included information stating that he was helping the police with enquires regarding an alleged theft and mention was made of his association with the elusive Don Guido.
That morning, outside the precinct, a group of reporters had gathered and were eager for any news. Seemingly, the story had evidently generated interest and members of The Fourth Estate from further afield were now crowding around the precinct entrance in order to follow the happenings of the day.
Media Frenzy
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Amongst those waiting outside the precinct was a certain Private Investigator from Los Angeles. He was in town visiting an aunt. Seemingly one of his operatives had telephoned him that morning about a piece of news that came across the Ticker Tape Machine. The news concerned someone that was being linked to Don Guido and who was appearing that morning at the police precinct for further questioning. The operative felt that this piece of news might be of interest to his boss. As a result, Mr. Paul Drake was waiting at the entrance with the members of the press.
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The next day Casanova/Puppy’s Counsel arrived at the precinct and asked to see her client. She conferred with him for about an hour before Lt. Tragg knocked at the door and asked if he could now continue his questioning. Counsel agreed and Lt. Tragg came into the room and asked if Casanova/Puppy was ready to answer questions. His Counsel answered for him and said that he wished to remain silent. She said that his only answers would be NO COMMENT!
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Lt. Tragg had discussed the case with an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) who said that should Casanova/Puppy continue not to answer any questions, given the seriousness of the crime, then they would be left with no alternative, but to formally arrest him and charge him with theft.
Lt. Tragg said that since Casanova/Puppy had been advised by his Counsel to offer no answers, then he was left with no choice but to have Casanova/Puppy escorted to be photographed and fingerprinted and then brought to appear before the Court of Arraignment. After having said this, Lt. Tragg left the room.
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After leaving the Interrogation Room, Lt. Tragg was called to the office of the State’s Principal Prosecutor, Mr. Hamilton Burger. Mr. Burger was a shewed and savvy Lawyer, and had prosecuted many serious villains in his career and had made the vast majority of his cases. After Lt. Tragg was asked to present his findings regarding the Casanova/Puppy case, Mr. Burger agreed that the Prosecutor had sufficient evidence to file charges of theft against Casanova/Puppy and that in view of nature of the crime, he would be prosecuting himself.
Mr. Hamilton Burger
Just as Lt. Tragg was about to leave the office, Mr. Burger called him back and asked him to sit down again. Mr. Burger said that, PERHAPS, charging Casanova/Puppy and bringing him to court might be a way to flush out Don Guido and force him to attend the proceedings! And, PERHAPS, just PERHAPS, they could finally serve him with a Subpoena and get him before Tribunal and have him answer questions regarding his past activities . The Lieutenant gave one of his rye smiles and said that it would be worth a try and, if the offer was right, PERHAPS they could get Casanova/Puppy to turn-on Don Guido and help them finally bring this notorious villain to trail.
Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)
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Meanwhile, back at the precinct, the Booking Sergeant addressed Casanova/Puppy directly and said that he was now to be formally charged with theft and that he would be photographed and fingerprinted.
Mugshots
Paw Prints were taken
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While awaiting being bought to the Court of Arraignment, Casanova/Puppy was kept along with a group of accused perpetrators awaiting trial.
A Collection of Hoodlums awaiting Trail
When Casanova/Puppy was brought to the Court of Arraignment, all seats were filled with people from the Press. It seems that Reuters and the Associated Press (AP) had picked up the news and were more than interested in reporting the progression of his case.
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Earlier, outside the Court, a huge number of press along with television and radio correspondents were waiting. Each was hoping for the possibly arrival of Don Guido. It seems that someone had leaked the fact that Casanova/Puppy was known to the infamous Don Guido. However, Don Guido was no fool and was very savvy in handling the Press.
Members of the press, radio and television immediately surrounded Don Guido’s team of lawyers when they arrived at the Court. They said that they were there to support Casanova/Puppy at this time of great sadness for him and that his friends were there merely to support the defendant. They said that they had no comment to make regarding Don Guido other than to say that he was remembering Casanova/Puppy daily in his prayers!
Meanwhile, members of the public were being allowed into the Court House through a side door in order to attend the day’s Court Proceedings. And along with these citizens, Don Guido entered the Court unbeknownst to Court officials.
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Arrangement of The Courtroom
When Casanova/Puppy was brought before the Judge, he was greeted by huge waves of cheers!
The Sound of Support that greeted Casanova/Puppy as he entered Court
The Judge immediately began to bring his gavel down with force in order to attempt to bring order to the Court. It took almost five minutes along with threats to have the Court cleared until he regained control and calm was restored. At this point, Casanova/Puppy along with his lawyer, were asked to stand. The Judge instructed an Official to read the preferred charges being lain against him and then asked how he pleaded ……. GUILTY or NOT GUILTY?
Casanova/Puppy’s lawyer spoke for him and said that he was pleading NOT GUILTY! Again pandemonium broke out in the Court much to the annoyance of the Judge. While chaos ruled in the Court, someone quietly slipped Casanova/Puppy’s lawyer a note, which she quickly pushed into a pocket for later reading. The Judge demanded that the Court be cleared, which only served to cause more cheers and heckling to fill the air.
Chaos in The Courtroom
As chaos ruled in the Court, many in the crowd began to sing and demonstrated their support for Casanova/Puppy by their song:
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Once the Court was finally cleared and calm returned once more, Casanova/Puppy and his lawyer were asked to stand while the Judge consulted his Docket in order to give them a date for Trail.
Casanova/Puppy’s Counsel brought up the question of Bail before the Judge. The Judge said that due to the seriousness of the crime and a possible risk of flight, no Bail would be considered. Counsel started to appeal, but the Judge silenced her and told the Court Baliffs to escort Casanova/Puppy out of the Court.
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Casanova/Puppy was led from Court and was quickly followed by his lawyer. When they were given time alone, she took out from her pocket, the note that had been passed to her in the Court. Although no signature appeared on the note, she knew instinctively that it was from Don Guido. Its content was brief and suggested that Casanova/Puppy remain calm and hang-in-there! She read the note to him, which brought no comment!
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Later that day, Casanova/Puppy’s lawyer was visited by one of Don Guido’s associates. He said that, although everyone had great faith in her abilities to deliver a NOT GUILTY ruling, perhaps she might be willing to step aside and allow a more seasoned person to take over. After all, he continued, she was still very young and without great experience. He continued by saying that he, and his friends, would be very grateful to her and that she would be remembered kindly in the future.
The Bringer of a Message from a Friend
Although she was furious, she hid her feelings and said that any change would be Casanova/Puppy’s decision. And with that she stood and said that he must excuse her, as she had another appointment. Don Guido’s associate stood and thanked her for her time and with a slight bow, left the room. When the lawyer was alone, she allowed herself to be furious at the audacity of Don Guido in daring to send one of his lackeys and suggest that she was not up to the job at hand!
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I can’t believe that my childhood crush, Paul Drake, was on the scene! Casanova/Puppy is moving in exalted circles.
Looking at the hamster hoodlum, it’s clear that he’s stuffed his cheeks with contraband. All my hamsters have followed the same wayward path!