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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3307441" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-thirty-six “Snavely’s Trial”, Monday June 12th, 1882, 9:45 A.M. Chester sits at the desk in the Marshall's office. He glances over at the prisoner. Jason Snavely sits in the cell, staring off into space. Chester says, "So, Snavely. What was in it for you? Did you really think we wouldn't find out you were mixed up in this? You killed a couple people, so it'll be the rope for you. You want to unburden yourself?"   Snavely glares at Chester and says, "I already told Berg, I have no idea what you're talking about.   I was out of town riding yesterday morning, I didn't get back until after all the trouble was over."Neil shows up at the Marshall's Office where Eduardo has stopped in to bring Chet a snack.   Neil says, "Eddie, come with me, we have an errand.  Chet, take Mr. Snavely and bring him over to the Territorial Offices, they need him now."   Chester wipes his hands on his napkin. "Time to see the judge, Snavely. Turn around and hold your hands behind you. I need to shackle you before we head to the Offices." Snavely does as asked and then Chester unlocks the cell door. He grabs Snavely's shoulder and says,  "Come on. We don't want to keep anyone waiting."   They arrive at the Territorial Office.Judge Isby declares, “I now call the Inquest back to order.” Berg stands up and replies, “Thank you Judge.   I call Mrs. Margaret Watkins as my next witness.”    Peg Watkins takes the stand.    Berg asks, “Mrs. Watkins, could you please tell the court how you know Mr. Jason Snavely and any encounters you had with him yesterday morning?”     She states, “Mr. Snavely is a boarder at the Great Western Boarding House which my husband and I manage.    Mr. Snavely joined several of us for breakfast yesterday morning at approximately 7:45 A.M.”     Berg asks, “And afterwards?  Did he accompany you to church?”   She replies, “No, which was unusual for him.   Normally he walks with us to church where he sits with his employer’s family.”   Berg asks, “Do you know where he went and when he returned?”   She says, “No, he left before breakfast was finished and did not return back to the boarding house until mid-afternoon.”   He thanks her for her testimony. He Berg calls Mr. Geoff Tryder to the stand.    Chester and Kate both recognize the young man who comes forward as one of the men from Tombstone’s O.K. Corral who helped them get the horses and buggy out of the burning barn there.   Berg asks, “Please tell the court where you work and who you saw there yesterday morning.” Tryder says, “I work at Drover’s Livery.   Yesterday morning we had two of our regular customers come to the livery.   Mr. Duncan Frye came at around 7:30 to rent a horse for the morning and Mr. Icabod Shackelton arrived a little before 8:00 to rent a wagon and draft horse for the morning.”   Berg asks when they returned them.   Tryder says, “I don’t know sir, when the fire broke out I headed over to offer my help.   I worked in Tombstone before and was there last month during the big fire, so knew how important it was to offer assistance.   I helped to catch and bring the escaped horses from the Papago Corral back to Drover’s, then returned to help where I could.   I noticed by late morning that the animals and cart that had been rented that morning were all back, so the men must have brought them back while we were still busy fighting the fire." Berg calls Duncan Frye to the stand and asks where he was that morning.  The leather merchant describes how he had taken a horse to break in a new saddle, barding and gloves that he had custom made for Count von Zeppelin and how he rode out to the valley five miles away to show them to his customer.   He then returned to town.   Berg asks if he saw anybody else on the ride to or from town and Frye says that he did not. Berg calls Icabod Shackelton to the stand and asks where he was.   Shackelton replies, “I would normally have gone to worship services on Sunday morning but my personal pastor Father Harbrace was unavailable and I opted to not go to the church in town that morning because I was disgusted with the hypocrisy of non-believing candidates for office going there just to be seen.   So I rented a horse and wagon to go off alone for private devotions.” Berg asks, “Where did you go?”   Shackelton says, “Around a mile west of town, alongside Pine Creek.  It was quiet and peaceful and I medicated and prayed to my deities.”   Berg asks, “Did you see anybody else?”    Shackelton replies, “Yes, my time of prayer was interrupted after an hour by a trio of riders coming east heading towards town, riding across the stream.”   Berg asks, “Did you know these riders?”   Shackelton replies, “Only Mr. Snavely, who I knew from the bank.   I may have seen the face of one of the others before but did not know his name.  The third one, who Snavely referred to as John, I had never seen previously.”     Berg asks, “And what happened then?”   Shackelton replies, “Mr. Snavely asked if I could give him and his friend John a ride back to town.  He said they had been out for a ride but that their other friend needed to get the horses back to his farm.”     Berg asks, “And you gave them the ride?”   Shackelton says, “Yes.  Their other friend headed back to the west with the three horses.    They were quiet for the ride back to town and headed off on their own once I got back to Drover’s.”   Berg holds up a woodcut with the combined NP symbol used by the Phillip’s Ranch and asks, “Did any of the horses have this brand on them?”    Shackelton says, “Yes, I saw that on Mr. Snavely’s horse and one of the others.”  Berg thanks the man for his testimony.   Berg calls Katherine Kale to the stand.   He says, “Mrs. Kale.  Could you please tell this court when you last saw Mr. Jason Snavely?"   Despite her own nerves, Kate's voice was steady and carried through the room without being loud.   "I last saw Mr. Snavely yesterday morning outside my home, which is also the Hoover Memorial School Building.  He was helping one of the black hooded men onto the back of the horse he was riding.  As he did that his own hood flapped up and I saw his face."Berg reiterates to Kate, “Are you completely certain of what you saw?   She replies, "Yes, I'm certain."    Following her answer he calls Mr. Snavely to the stand and says.   “Mr. Snavely, I believe that there has been sufficient evidence presented here today to obtain a conviction with a sentence of death given that two people were killed.  I find it unlikely that you are the ringleader behind this attack on the town.   Full cooperation from you now in naming your accomplices would go along way towards a prison sentence rather than a hanging.”    Was Mr. Avery involved in this attack?”   Snavely looks down and says, “No, he had nothing to do with it.  I am sorry that he was murdered because of me.” Berg asks, “Please tell us who was responsible for the attack by the hooded riders.”  Snavely pauses.  He then stands up and points his finger at Hamilton Fisk and yells, “It was him!  Fisk hired me!  He knew about my family, that we would lose our family farm in Iowa.  He offered me $ 10,000 if I joined his group of riders, I needed the money for my folks.  He promised that nobody would be hurt, that we were just going to scare people to drop out of the election!”     Fisk stands and blurts out, “That’s absurd!  The man is lying!   I had nothing to do with yesterday morning’s attack!”      The room breaks into much commotion.    Kevin Tomlinson approaches Judge Isby and whispers something to him while the room is in disarray.   Isby then pounds the gavel and restores order. Judge Isby turns to the defendant and says, “Mr. Snavely.   Given that your work supervisor has been killed just because of his association with you I would caution you to not perjure yourself.   False testimony will therefore be seen by me as further conspiracy to commit murder given that the accused would face capital charges.    The High Priest Papandraius has already been called to come here and cast a Truthfulness spell and we can bring you back here to repeat what you said in front of him to verify its accuracy.  I will ask you once more to tell the truth and only the truth, who were your co-conspirators in this attack?”     Snavely replies, “The other riders were three other members of Fisk’s party, Charlie Villers, Porter Norris and Bronco Madson.  Fisk kept the Shermans out of it since he knew Jesse would never go along and he thought blowing up the Papago store would steer suspicion away from the Liberty Party.   Fisk wanted revenge against Adair and Driscoll for quitting his party and starting their own.”   Berg interrupts to ask, “Who were the other four riders?”   Snavely hesitates and then says, “Kansas Clem Hawkins, Carson Block and two guys from Galeyville called John and Fred.”     Jake notices that while everyone in the room is watching Snavely while he gives this testimony the Judge is actually watching his Bailiff Tomlinson who gives subtle hand gestures, holding his palm horizontally during the naming of Fisk’s fellow party members and then holds it vertically during the naming of the final four.   Judge Isby pounds his gavel and says, “Mr. Snavely, as you are probably already aware, neither Hawkins or Block survived the attack.    We can further investigate who those Galeyville men might be.    However I do not believe that you are telling the truth about the identity of the others.   I will have you held until High Priest Papandraius can join us.   I call a half-hour recess while Marshall Berg returns Mr. Snavely to jail.   Marshall, you can also bring Mr. Rixton and Mr. Skull there, they should be held until the Priest returns as well. Isby then turns towards Fisk and says, “Mr. Fisk, for your own safety I suggest that you and the three other named party members to return to your party headquarters or another place of your choosing.    The Sheriff’s Deputies are currently holding another potential conspirator whose testimony may contract Mr. Snavley’s.   At any rate, the Sheriff Deputies will now be free to provide you with security until this matter is resolved, hopefully by this afternoon.    Mr. Chumbley, I strongly suggest that you delay printing today’s newspaper until after all of the facts surrounding this have been determined.  We are now in recess.”A huge weight had been lifted from Kate's shoulders.  Once again she'd let her imagination get ahead of her, but she resolved not to forget.  She had to be more careful with her skills.   She stood up between Jake and Emery Shaw.  "Do you think I'll be needed again later?"    Shaw replies, "Probably not, but we know where to get you.    I was thinking of getting the Unity Party Candidates together for lunch to work on the party platform but that will be hard to do with Cole behind bars, so we should probably do that for dinner instead, say around 5:00 at Drover's if either of you are interested in joining us for the discussion."  Kate says, "Of course, however I can help." I will try to be there."  Jake tells Shaw.  "Katherine, I will walk you back."  He takes her by the elbow and gently guides her outside.   Once they are out of earshot of anyone else, Jake says in a low voice, "Were you aware that Kevin Tomlinson has a ring that will allow him to know if someone is telling the truth or not?  Keep that in mind in the future.  I was watching Tomlinson, and I believe he told the Judge that Snavely was lying about Fisk and his cronies being involved."Kate replies, "I wasn't aware.  I'm just grateful I didn't have to be more specific."  Kate glanced around them, making sure no one was close by.  "Jake, I used a spell to get the mask to lift.  And I used one against one of the hooded men who got away.  I fired the pistol at the same time, so maybe he didn't realize what it was... We already know Mr. Tomlinson has a much broader view of the world than the judge, but I just don't know if it would be safe to tell him about my talents.  If he knew, I wouldn't have to worry about it getting to the judge."Jake replies, "Hermes, woman, Tomlinson may be broad minded but the more folks that know a secret the less it is.  If he finds out somehow, or already knows, we will deal with it."  Jake glances around casually and continues, "There are ways of withholding the truth without lying.  I saw his hood flap up and reveal his face, for example does not say you did it.  Are they going to ask you how it happened?  Only if you call attention to it.  None of those men are going to testify against you doing..."  Jake pause, "you know.  That would be admitting they were here and masked riders." Jake stops suddenly and looks at her.  "On the other hand, you are lousy at withholding the truth.  Not enough practice.  You might be better with Tomlinson on your side.  Mierde."  He scuffs at the dirt with his boot.  "You will have to decide which way is best.  Just let me know if Tomlinson is in on it, it might make it easier for me if I ever have to cover for you.  The bishop is another matter.  You might ask your teacher if there is a way to spoil the truth spell if it ever came to that. Strange though, that Isby would claim to be so harsh on that topic.  I know for a fact he had bullets like that, and does not see a problem with the ring."  Jake shrugs.  "Convenient ideology I suppose."She replies, "I'm not going to tell Mr. Tomlinson unless it becomes necessary.  As in I have to do something and it's unavoidable.  If we learn somehow that he doesn't think it's evil, I'll reconsider that. I am no good at lying, although skirting the truth is a little easier.  I don't know what's up or down anymore.  I've had a terrible couple of days, I'm exhausted, and I can't think straight.  For today I'm just going to be glad I'm done testifying. As for the Judge, some people don't mind using an item that holds magic, but they still see holding it inside yourself as something that corrupts.""Splitting hairs, but who am I to moralize."  Jake seems to find that funny.   Kate tried to smile, but she was really too tired to find the humor.  "Thank you for the escort, Jake.  I'll see you later on today.  I need to get back to teaching."   "Good day to you," he taps a finger to his hat and smiles.  He watches her go towards the school while he stands and thinks about what to do next.Kate paused for a moment outside the door and tried to put everything else out of her mind.  She didn't quite manage a smile, but did manage to wipe most of the worry off her face before she went back inside to her students.Jake watches the crowd file back in to watch the proceedings.  Deciding that the first part was entertaining, he enters and finds his seat.  Deputy Sheriffs Leslie and Nagle drag Clifford Allman into the Territorial Office Building.   Berg says, "Thanks, I believe Fisk is looking for you two."  The Sheriffs depart.    Berg glances at Allman, noting the fresh black eye, pulled lip and cut on his chin.  "Those guys rough you up a bit?" he asks.   Allman nods yes. The crowd returns and Isby calls the Inquest back to order.   Berg calls Clifford Allman to the stand.   Berg begins "Mr. Allman, you are here because of your involvement with the masked riders.   Your associates Carson Block and Kansas Clem Hawkins are dead.  Your associate Jason Snavley has already testified and named all of the other riders.   The only thing that will save you from a noose is for you to also give up those names." Allman says, "What difference does it make?  I give those names and the Sheriff's Deputies will kill me."   Berg replies, "They won't touch you again.   Following your testimony you will be brought to the Town Jail not the County Jail."   Allman hesitates, still unsure of what to say.   Allman looks up and says, "Fisk was behind it.  The other riders were Charlie Villers, Porter Norris and Bronco Madson."   Jake notes that Tomlinson's hand gesture remains the same as the previous testimony. A very displeased Judge Isby says, "Mr. Allman, Lying to this court is a very serious offense.  You should know that Bishop Papandraius has been summoned to come and cast a Truthfulness spell at your trial this afternoon.   You have a few hours behind bars before then to reconsider your next actions, which will decide your fate."   Judge Isby turns to Marshall Berg and asks, "Do you have any further witnesses to call Marshall?"  Berg replies, "No sir."   Isby pounds the gavel and says, "I call this Inquest adjourned".Chester takes notes during the inquest. The marshals will have to check out the stories of those named. Shackleton claims to have met up with the riders accidentally, so he'll have to be questioned as well.   Berg and Chester escort Allman back to the Town Jail where Helen Barker is on guard duty.    Cole Rixton and Jason Snavely are in one cell.  They put Allman in the cell with Bob Skull.     Berg dismisses Helen, saying that he and Chet can watch these four until Neil and Eddie return with the Bishop.Jake leaves, disappointed in the show.  I wonder who they are more afraid of than Isby? He returns to the Lucky Lady and does a little jig, laughing nearly hysterically.  "What a terrific way to start the day."   Having skipped breakfast to make the inquest on time, he scrounges what leftovers he can from the kitchen and spends the rest of the morning at the saloon.Chester and Mitch have spent several hours waiting patiently, watching the prisoners and chatting with one another.  Dorita brings by lunch for the lawmen at around 12:30 PM.    They are nearly done eating there meal when Cole Rixton exclaims "MARSHALL".   Both lawmen turn and look at the cells, where they see both Clifford Allman and Jason Snavely dissolving into clouds of light blue smoke.   Chester and Berg leap out of their chairs. Berg fumbles with the keys to the cell, but manages to get it open. They grab for the smoke, but it wafts between their fingers.A shaken Cole Rixton hands a small blue bottle to Berg and says, "Snavely had this, I think he found it under his bunk."   Berg sniffs it and says, "Some kind of magical elixir I'd guess."   All that is left of Snavely are the clothes that he had been wearing, piled onto the floor.   The lawmen look over into the other cell at the pile of clothing that Allman had worn.  Berg asks, "Where's the bottle?"   Bob Skull replies, "He dropped it."   They look at the floor and Berg asks "Where?"    Skull smiles and says, "Into my hand..."  and he too begins to turn to smoke.Chester exclaims, "Damnation. The Cowboys' pet wizard got them out right from under our noses. They can't have gone far. Let's hope they're probably at the Palace. Should we go?"  Berg says, "Yeah."   They lock Rixton in the cell and lock the door to the Jail and Marshall's Office on the way out.    They spend the next hour with Helen's help looking for the outlaws to no avail.     Neil returns with the Priest.   They say that Kitty Trent managed to give them the slip in Dos Cabezas, exiting out one side of the carriage when they approached the other.   Eduardo stayed behind to look for her and will hopefully be bringing her back on the stagecoach on its way back from Wilcox.     Judge Isby holds a trial and Rixton testifies, the Bishop confirming that he is innocent of killing Derek Avery.     An angry Judge Isby declares that the Crazy-8 Ranch, Kansas Clem Hawkin's Sunset Farm, and any personal possessions left behind by both Jason Snavely and Bob Skull are to be sold with Attorney Upton assigned to make sure that the victims of the Hooded Riders attack are compensated from the proceeds.When the Marshals get back to the office, Chester kicks a chair. "All this stuff is making us look bad. How can the town trust us to get justice for them if we can't even keep outlaws in our jail? The only good thing about this whole mess is that the Liberty Party has mud on its face. I reckon we won't be seeing Allman, Snavely, or Skull round these parts for a while. We better tell the deputy sheriffs."  Berg says, "Maybe that's part of their plan, to hurt your campaign for Town Marshall."Chester replies, "It's a very good one, if that's what they're after. Would the other candidates be so desperate to blow up half the town, though? This is  murder we're talking about. I'm not going to back down. If whoever is behind this wins the election then there'll be more threats in the night."  Berg says, "Well, if we manage to catch and punish the guilty between now and the election then their plan backfires and makes you look good.   But right now we don't have many leads to go by. I'm thinking that maybe you and Eddie probably should consider making  that trip down to Mexico we were talking about before to see that wood elf who wrote the note.   Hank Hill was generous with the balloon today, he might be inclined to do so again, which would get you there and back in only half a day."Chester smiles slightly. "You heard the Marshall, Eddie. Let's go." The pair of deputies walk over to Hill's usual hangout. Once there, they find the Texan.  "Mr. Hill. We got a job for you and that wondrous flying machine you have. Me and Eddie need to visit Mexico to see an old friend. Can you take us there and back?"  Hank says, "I can take you to the boarder but not over it, this contraption was confiscated as a spoil of war and if we cross into Mexico somebody just might try to take it back."     Eddie says, "That would be good enough.  We're going to the town of Naco, around sixty miles away.   You could bring us just beyond Bisbee and we could walk the last few miles on foot if we have to."  Hank says, "I'll have to go find our pilot Hans if you want to go now, or do you want to wait until tomorrow morning?"    Eddie looks to Chester and asks, "Manny Escobar said that Mr. Shaw is having your party meet at Drover's for supper to put together a platform.  Shouldn't you be there for that?"Chester slaps his forehead. "Yeah. Thanks for reminding me, Eddie. Mr. Hill, can we leave tomorrow? I have something important to do tonight.”  He replies, "Sure thing, and call me Hank".   Chester extends his hand. "You can call me Chet. This here is Eddie. In public, you got to call us Deputy. The Marshall is a stickler for that." Chester says, “Say, aren't you running for office, too?”  Hank replies, "Yup, running for Town Marshall same as you."  Chester replies, "Well, I won't hold that against you. Good luck, Hank. What kind of experience do you have with the law?"  He replies, " Just abiding by the law whenever ah can..."</blockquote>

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