Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3944105" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-forty-two, “Closing Arguments” , Monday, June 19th, 2:30 P.M. Jake has a long, refreshing sleep. He wakes, grateful that the denizens of this miserable little town collectively avoided disturbing his rest by shooting it to pieces, blowing it or some new and creative way to interrupt his much needed rest. His pocket watch resting on his nightstand reveals it to be 2:35 in the afternoon. After cleaning in the ceramic wash basin, he decides to clean his pistols. He performs the chore quickly, and methodically. It gave him time to think. He quickly ran through the events of last night in his mind, and what he needed to do before the tournament restarted today. His smile grows slowly, and by the time he is finished it is quite broad. He dresses in his last clean white silk shirt and black linen trousers, straps on both revolvers, pulls on his duster, and drops his black hat on his head. He takes the deed to the Palace Saloon out of his safe and stows it securely in his shirt. On the way out, he throws a sack of dirty laundry over his shoulder. He takes the round-a-bout to Wong’s chatting briefly with friends and acquaintances along the way. Again after dropping of his laundry on his way to Chumbley’s office he makes another circuitous route. Neil Cassidy, Travis Calhoune, Charlie & Mary Wong, Wang Li, Laurie Gilson, Pierre Jaquet, Judge Lacey, Eddie Palmer, Henry Weller, plus Zeb & Helen Cook all get short personalized reminder about voting. In that natural talent the he displays, each gets a uniquely tailored reassurance and encouragement to vote, support Emery Shaw and his party, and do go out and convince their friends to do the same. Each is left with a friendly smile and handshake, followed by a carefully crafted trusting look that leaves them to believe Jake is confident they will do the right thing and save the town. Once he can have a quick minute alone with the diminutive editor, he says, “Hey Shorty, business appears well for you right now. Loads of hot news certainly helps those papers sell. If you have any interest in investigative reporting, check out this address in Salt Lake City.” Jake writes it down for him. “Find out who claims to own it or live there, and look for links to Evan Adair. I suggest you use the telegraph and make it quick. It might provide an interesting story and who knows what else.” Jake gives him a ten dollar bill. “That ought to cover some of your expenses,” he says with a wink. “I will tell you more if you learn anything useful.” As Jake turns to leave he adds, “As usual Adair had some rather nasty things to say about you during the tournament. Oh, and I would not mention any of this to him. You know how he can be, he would likely kill you.” At Town Hall the clock reaches the hour of 4:00 PM as the Judge calls for closing arguments. John Behan begins by painting a picture of Wyatt Earp as a cold-blooded murderer intent upon revenge. He focuses his closing arguments upon the five men who Earp has admitted to killing, pointing out how Earp was no longer a lawman and was acting as a vigilante, appointing himself as the judge, jury and executioner of those men. He then states that there is no evidence to support Vaughn Palmer being the one who initiated the dynamite explosion and not Earp, who had every reason to want to kill Palmer for embarrassing him and tarnishing his reputation back when Earp was Town Marshall. He then states “Most of the evidence presented to you to support Earp came from two men, Marshall Berg and Deputy Martin. What you see before you are two corrupt lawmen lying to protect a colleague. They do not want one of their own convicted, Earp is their friend, and these unethical men will do whatever they can to help protect him.” Behan concludes by making a passionate appeal to the jury stating “You now have a historical opportunity to make a statement to this town, county, territory and nation! Let them know that vigilante justice will no be tolerated and that this community will be a place of law.” Kate whispers, "I think you and I have both been vigilantes in the past then," Kate sniffed quietly. "He's stretching the presented facts a little far." Before heading back to the Lucky Lady, Jake looks at his watch and it says 4:15. He decides to make a quick stop to see his partner, or perhaps former partner, Job Kane. Jake finds Job Kane at Doctor Eaton's Office on Allen Street between the Promise City Hotel and the Promise City Cooper Shop. The shop is locked when he arrives and Job's voice asks who is there. After hearing who Job unlocks the door to let him in then relocks it." Job says, "I'm still a prisoner here for the time being Jake, but we have some time to chat as the Doctor went back to his house for dinner. He'll be back afterwards. He says that he might need to bring me to his home overnight to keep an eye on my progress but I think that I may have talked him into letting me go to Boston Harker's instead where Bernice can watch after me." Jake replies, "You certainly had a close one, Mr. Kane, I am pleased you pulled through. Let me know if there is anything that I can do while you are recuperating. Tell me though, did Adair lie to me? Did you really sell your share of the saloon?" Job replies, "Yes and no Jake. Apparently I did over a week ago back but I have had no memory of that until last night, when seeing that impostor suddenly caused the memory to resurface. The same with Bernice, who still does not remember my doing so although I now remember her being present. Chumbley was there, as were Adair and Fisk, and one other man....the one who hurt Ruby, Bernice's late husband's Uncle Colin." "Mierde." Jake says but does not elaborate. "I had not believed that Adair was telling the truth, otherwise I may have done some things differently." Jake scratches his chin some. "You take care and get healed. One way or another we will figure this out. Is there anything else you learned from the two that were holding you or from the Russian who masqueraded as you that might be useful?" Job replies, "No, they all spoke to each other in a foreign language, Russian I guess." Back at the Town Hall, Elihu Upton begins his closing argument by addressing the jury and saying “Mr. Behan is correct in what he stated at the end of his closing, you do have a historical opportunity before you to make such a statement. All of you were drawn to jury duty from voter records and you can therefore make that statement at the ballot box tomorrow through your choice of candidates. Today, however, that is not your task. Your job today is to decide the fate of a single individual in regards to ten very specific crimes that he is charged with. You need to consider each charge on its own merit weighting all of what you have heard today. For the prosecutor this is nothing more than a personal vendetta. I ask that you not make the same mistake and see this as a personal thing. This trail isn’t about whether you happen to like my client or not, about any past favors or indiscretions he might have done. I ask you to ignore the personal matters that the prosecutor has attempted to muddy the waters with and look to the facts. Please consider the credibility of the people who spoke here today. Mr. Behan in his closing stated that he considers Mitchell Berg to be corrupt. That statement alone shows how little he knows about the man. Behan’s notion of lawmen protecting each other holds no merit. Behan himself is the career lawman, not Berg. Behan has been a Cochise County Sheriff for years while Berg has reluctantly worn a badge for only a few months and is planning to gladly relinquish that badge two days from now. The evidence has all been put before you. Earp was not in town when Buckley was killed. He was not inside the building when Wicks was killed. He was miles away from Ordway’s mountain when Hunter and Thayer were killed. He had no weapons of any kind on his person and a was still distance off when Palmer was killed, had he been close enough to have harmed Palmer my client would have been blown up too. So Mr. Behan was totally wrong about all five of those indictments, so what makes you think any of his other supposed evidence is correct? As for the other five who died, Mr. Earp has explained each of those. He had his horse shot out from under him by Ordway who then fired two more shots. He had no choice but to fire back. Bryson and Garvin would have murdered your Town Marshal and a Deputy if he hadn’t acted. And Mr. Earp had good reason to suspect that Deputy Martin and other lawmen would have died if he hadn’t fired upon Norris and Villars. You need to only look back to the riot in late may when the angry mob and lawmen exchanged shots and three people died to know the tension between those two groups. Had Norris, Villars and the other three or four men with them entered Fisk’s house then Chester Martin and his deputies would not have left that building alive. Wyatt Earp is no criminal, he is and always will be a lawman in his blood whether he is wearing a badge or not. I ask you to see that. Thank you.” Kate says to Emery, "I wonder if Estaban will make it to his own party, these deliberations could take a while." He says, "Indeed, but if that is canceled you are more than welcome to join me and my kin over at Drover's Hotel for one that Vera is throwing." "Thank you, but there'll still be a party for Edwin Booth, which is why I'm going to be there in the first place. Which does not preclude me stopping by to wish Vera good luck.” Shaw states, "Ah, yes, I heard that Edwin Booth was planning to depart. The rumor is that his brother Conrad will be joining him." Kate says, "And a rumor it is. Conrad has no intention of leaving Promise City, although he may go visit his brother in the near future." Kate tried not to look like she was watching Emery's face when she answered that. And yet she still manages to catch a wave of disappointment wash over his features. Judge Isby states “I want everybody to remain seated until after Mr. Tomlinson has escorted the Jury over to the Arizona Territorial Office building for their deliberations.” Tomlinson leads the Jury out. Judge Isby says, “Continue to remain seated until the Marshall and his Deputies escort Mr. Earp back to the Town Jail.” They depart as well. The Judge waits until Tomlinson and Deputy Barker both return to say that the people are secured in their appointed places. The Judge pounds the gavel and says, “We are in recess until the Jury has finished deliberating.” The clock now reads 4:30 PM. Kate tells Emery Shaw, “I need to see Kevin Tomlinson, I hope I can find him." Shaw replies, "They are there, across the room." She sees Tomlinson over by the Judge. Kate says, "I missed him come back from leaving the jury. I was afraid he might have to stay there for some reason." Shaw states, "Well, go see him. Emily and I will see you over at Drovers" "You know, someday there will be a day when I don't have to do anything at all and the earth will stop spinning. I'll be sure to stop by later." Kate smiled at Emily before heading over to Kevin Tomlinson. After his testimony, Chester had gone back on duty outside Town Hall. As he stood, his mind went back over what he said. Did he answer the questions right, or did he leave things out because he didn't like Behan. Of course the Sheriff could have asked him more questions, but didn't. Plus a couple of those cases were still open and so he couldn't tell every thing. Chester hears Judge Isby pound his gavel signaling the recess. Soon afterward, Kevin Tomlinson leads the jury back to the Territorial Offices. He says to Chester, "Deputy Martin, we're in recess until the jury has a verdict. Where will you be?" "Chester says, "That was fast. Hmm, I'll probably at the Lucky Lady. They're down to the final table, so I'll be watching that. I'll see you later, Mr. Tomlinson." Helen Barker and Marshall Berg leave with Wyatt a few minutes later, allowing the jury to reach the Offices without seeing Earp. Berg says, "Tomlinson tell you we're in recess?" "Yeah, Marshall. I told him I'll be at the Lucky Lady to watch the tournament. Taking Wyatt back to jail?" Berg replies, "Yep, Eddie's down there to keep an eye on him." Wyatt looks at Chester, "Thanks for telling the truth on the stand. You really helped me out there, Deputy." Chester says, "I told you I would. You weren't in Fisk's house and Miss Marcus gave you an alibi for Buckley's killing." Kate say to Kevin Tomlinson, "Do you have a moment for me? I saw Job today and he had a question for you." Tomlinson pulls her aside and says "I have not been able to dispel Turner's influence from him yet as I was waiting for his tournament participation to end first. I will do it once that is done." Kate says, "That's good to know, but this is about Job selling his part of the Lady to Evan Adair. I asked him about it, and he said he's hoped it was a bad dream. He remembers Adair, Fisk, Mrs. Turner, Mr. Chumbley, and Colin Turner being present when he made the sale. It was made under the influence. We were wondering if there is any way to nullify it. Considering what's involved I know it may not be possible." Tomlinson glances at the clock and says, "Hmmm, almost midnight in London, still early evening in Boston. Let me head over to the Western Union office, I'm sure it is busy there now getting stories out for the reporters. I should be able to contact some of the other members on the Watcher's Council with have solid credentials and could send back documentation attesting to the fact that Colin Turner is a renowned hypnotist and con-artist." Kate says, "That's more than I'd hoped for. At least there would be a chance Job could get it nullified. That's assuming Jake doesn't lose his part to Adair. I'm not sure Job would want to keep his part if the happens. Thank you." They were already keeping their voices down, but Kate dropped hers further to ask, "When will our young friend receive her invitation?" "That should arrive tomorrow," he replies. He then adds, "Have you reconsidered?" She says, "Reconsidered? No, if you need me, I will go, as I said yesterday. I think I could learn quite a bit myself in London, and I've certainly wanted to go overseas. I would have to make some arrangements, but they shouldn't be an impediment." Tomlinson replies, "Good, once the invitation arrives we can speak to Mrs. O'Hara together. When were you planning to have the school year end for the summer recess?" Kate says, "I'm not certain. We meet with the Committee for Racial Equality again soon and I'd want to include them in the decision. And after the elections there may be some movement on a public school. But we've only been operating for a month and I'd like to at least have the school go another month before we have a break. I believe 8 weeks is a standard term for small schools out west." Tomlinson answers, “It could wait for another month then if necessary, there is some of her training that I could continue here in the meanwhile. We could plan on traveling in late July and early August then." Kate states, "That sounds fine to me. I'm sure since I'd be escorting her daughter that Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Caudell wouldn't mind keeping on without me, but I would like to be here to finish the first term at the school." Tomlinson heads off to go send the telegrams. Kate finds herself surprisingly alone for a change. Not quite sure what to do with free time these days, Kate headed out of the town hall. The tournament would start back up at the Lady at 5:30, and then the party later... She went home and packed her small bag and made her way over to Laurie Gilson's. It had probably been more than a week since she'd had a nice, long soak. She chatted with Laurie about the trial and the election as the bath was drawn, then was left alone to sink into the steaming water. In another month the small swelling of her stomach, just noticeable to her, would be quite clear. She ran her hand along the buldge and sighed. There had been a strange comfort in knowing what would happen then. Diana had turned that on it's ear and now she wasn't sure what to expect. One thing that would happen, Emery Shaw would quickly lose interest. She had no desire to be causing him pain, but the change in her condition should nip that rather neatly in the bud. What she'd said to Janet was true, any woman would be lucky to win Mr. Shaw's admiration. If they'd become friends sooner things might have been different. She laughed to herself, remembering his obvious fascination with Ruby earlier on. There was no point in dwelling on what might have been. Not everyone understood it, but Conrad made her ridiculously happy. Kate wasn't even sure she quite understood it, but there was no rule that said love should be sensible. She leaned back to daydream about the future while the water steamed and cooled.</blockquote>

Verification