Delacroix's Arrival and Beating

Eduard Delacroix, a small, balding Cajun man convicted of rape, murder, and arson that killed six people, is brought onto E Block. Percy Wetmore drags him in roughly, beating him with his baton and claiming Delacroix tried to grab his crotch. Brutus Howell and Paul Edgecombe intervene, stopping the beating. Delacroix is terrified and cowering. Edgecombe gives his standard speech, but Delacroix is too frightened to listen. Later, Brutus reveals that Delacroix simply stumbled and accidentally brushed Percy's pants; the beating was unprovoked. This incident deepens the guards' distrust of Percy and sets the stage for future conflict.