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Mock Trial Editorial-Friend or Murder?By:Sophie

Writer's picture: Salinas Valley GazetteSalinas Valley Gazette

Friend or Murderer?

In the trail of George Milton, I believe that Mr. Milton killed Mr. Lennie Small out of mercy. There has been overwhelming evidence to build the defense’s case from many witnesses and facts. Many of Mr. Milton’s co workers on the ranch testified to say how much Mr. Milton cared for Lennie Small, and how he would have never killed Mr. Small if it were not the best and only choice for him. Although I do not agree with the mercy kill of Lennie Small, I do believe it was not out of hatred.

Mr. Small and Mr. Milton have known each other since they were boys, they even lived together when Mr. Milton’s parents had passed. When they had no family left in their hometown, they set off together to find work. They traveled to many jobs together, bonding, before their most recent job at John Tyler’s ranch. The men who knew them best from the ranch, all noticed their close relationship, a brother-like relationship. Milton took good care of Small, made sure both of their money was used wisely and protected him many times, including helping Small escape from the town of Weed when the workers there were out for Small’s life. Another time Milton protected Small was when Milton was playing a joke on Small in the early days of their relationship, and Small jumped into a river on Milton's orders despite lacking the ability to swim, but Mr. Milton then jumped in to save him. Some may argue this shows how he was cruel to Small, but if fact, at this moment Mr. Milton realized how he had done Mr. Small wrong, and fixed his behavior towards Small from then on, never playing a joke on him again. That shows he cared about the well being of Mr. Small, not cruelty. Milton has protected Small for as long as they have traveled together.

On the notorious day of Mr. Smalls death, all the men except for Small were outside playing a game. Mr. Small was allegedly in the barn with Curley Tyler’s wife. When the men entered the barn, Mrs. Tyler was dead and Small had fled. Mr. Tyler was outraged, according to multiple witnesses. He exclaimed, “I’m going to shoot that big bastard in the guts!” referring to Mr. Small who was assumed to be the murderer of Curley Tyler’s wife. A search party set out to find Mr. Small and bring him to justice.

Mr. Milton then set out with the intent to kill Small, not out of cruelty, but out of protection. If Tyler found him, Milton knew he would undoubtedly kill Small, according to his enraged words in the barn. It was not the responsibility of Tyler to bring Small to justice, Milton had been his best friend for all his life, and he had the right to punish Small. He was protecting him from the merciless wrath of Mr. Tyler's actions.

To conclude, Mr. Milton did not kill Mr. Small for reasons of hate, he killed him for reasons of mercy and protection. It was the responsibility of Milton to bring small to justice, and the only way for that to happen was to make sure Tyler wouldn’t get in the way. He killed Small so Tyler wouldn’t. George Milton murdered Lennie Small for mercy.



Members of the jury.

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