On a Monday:
Pretrial conference in the chambers of Judge Chester
Gould, Department Nine of Superior Court, in and for the City, County and State
of Gotham:
Defense attorney Dickie
Welles spoke, “This is an absurd travesty of justice your Honor. My client has
a Fourth Amendment right to confront all witnesses against him. You can’t offer
up a statement from a self appointed masked vigilante—this Catman. Even if you
can produce him in Court we have no assurance that he is the witness he
purports to be, anybody could be under that mask—he looks like a Mexican
wrestler! We have no method to effectively cross-examine an anonymous witness.
Therefor I insist that all charges be dropped forthwith.”
The Judge gazed over the
top of his glasses at the prosecutor, “I’m surprised this challenge hasn’t come
up before—I’ve expected it for years, haven’t you, Bonny?”
“Your Honor, the Jester
has a lengthy criminal history, he is a hardened social deviant and extremely
dangerous. It is unthinkable for you to order his release—the Catman’s
statement is fully supported by all the forensic evidence.”
“His statement initiated
what amounts to unlawful search and seizure, none of that evidence is
admissible. I’m sorry Bonny. Case dismissed.”
Meanwhile, in the large
estate atop Gotham Heights the telephone rang:
“Wayne Manor, this is
the butler, Albert, speaking. How may I be of assistance?”
“This is Aretha Strehli,
of Gotham Child Protective Services. Is Mr. Bradley Wayne available please?”
“I’m sorry, Master Wayne
is indisposed at the moment. May I take a message?”
