An American Tragedy

Mason successfully lobbies for a special Supreme Court term to try the case, shortening the time that Clyde has to prepare his defense. Belknap and Jephson lose their request for a change of venue. The judge in the case rejects the motion because he is “inclined to favor conservative procedure in all things” and intends to go for the “remainder of the summer to his cottage on Blue Mountain Lake” (270). Meanwhile, the Lycurgus Griffiths decide that they won’t come to the trial because of the negative publicity. Their absence will make Clyde less sympathetic to a jury. Elvira, now in Denver raising Esta’s son while Esta lives life as a married woman, learns about the trial from a newspaper article that Esta gives her. Elvira consults the Bible to figure out her next steps and finds in the scriptures support for what she was inclined to do in any event: send a telegram to Clyde.

Elvira telegrams that she will do whatever it takes to get to Bridgeburg and raise funds for Clyde’s defense. The telegram is laden with religious language. The telegram office leaks the telegrams, and the press descends on Elvira. Elvira shares details about Clyde’s poverty as a child, the hope that they placed in Samuel, and her mission work.