◆ SpookStack

Nos. 77-1698, 77-1210 & 77-1870 79 During the next two days plaintiffs’ counsel repeated their requests on several occasions to review the court’s transcript because they had none of their own. Finally, on November 10, the judge permitted the inspection. The next day plaintiffs’ counsel presented 2 motion to “Correct Prejudicial Remarks Made by the Court to the Jury and For Mistrial,” supported by the transcript showing Haas’ statement was not a misrepresentation. The judge summarily said he was taking the motion un- der advisement, and gave defense counsel ten days to respond. Haas argued that the prejudice should be cured _as soon as possible. The judge refused to reconsider. At that point counsel for plaintiffs returned to their table flinging down their papers. Taylor’s hand struck a pitcher of water on the table. The pitcher slid along the table top and fell to the floor near the jury box. The glass lining broke and water spilled on the rug. All of this took place while the court was in recess and the jury out of the courtroom. The transcript reads as ollows: The Court: I have entered my order. Now, there is one juror who has not arrived yet. We will now recess until— All right. Let the record show the conduct of both counsel in throwing papers around and one of them—what is it that is broken over there? Mr. Coghlan: Sir, there is broken a glass water pitcher. The Court: All right. Mr. Taylor, you did that, and you are now held in contempt of court, and the Court now orders you committed to the custody of the Attorney General of the United States for a period of 24 hours, and orders the Marshal to take you into custody forthwith. Mr. Taylor: May I be heard, your Honor? The Court: No, sir. Mr. Taylor: I have the right to speak before I am summarily sentenced, and I want to say— The Marshal: This court will stand in recess. After a brief recess, the trial resumed. The judge ordered that the pitcher and debris be left before the G