jg.atimetokill-第42部分

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e　than　they　won；　their　record　was　not　bad。　The　cases　they　handled　were　supposed　to　be　lost；　all　of　them。　Their　goal　was　to　martyr　the　defendant　before　the　trial　and　hopefully　hang　the　jury。　Now　they　were　ing　to　Clanton。
　A　week　earlier　Buckley　had　filed　the　proper　motions　to　have　Carl　Lee　examined　by　the　State's　doctors。　Jake　requested　the　doctors　be　required　to　conduct　their　examinations　in　Clantqn；　preferably　in　Jake's　office。　Noose　declined；　and　ordered　the　sheriff　to　transport　Carl　Lee　to　the　Mississippi　State　Mental　Hospital　at　Whitfield。　Jake　requested　that　he　be　allowed　to　acpany　his　client　and　be　present　during　the　examinations。　Again；　Noose　declined。
　Early　Wednesday　morning；　Jake　and　Ozzie　sipped　coffee　in　the　sheriffs　office　and　waited　for　Carl　Lee　to　shower　and　change　clothes。　Whitfield　was　three　hours　away；　and　he　was　to　check　ia　at　nine。　Jake　had　final　instructions　for　his　client。
　〃How　long　will　y'all　be　there？〃　Jake　asked　Ozzie。
　〃You're　the　lawyer。　How　long　will　it　take？〃
　〃Three　or　four　days。　You've　been　there　before；　haven't　you？〃
　〃Sure；　we've　had　to　transport　plenty　of　crazy　people。　But　nothin'　like　this。　Where　do　they　keep　him？〃
　〃They've　got　all　kinds　of　cells。〃
　Deputy　Hastings　casually　entered　the　office；　sleepy…eyed　and　crunching　on　a　stale　doughnut。　〃How　many　cars　we　takin'？〃
　〃Two；〃　answered　Ozzie。　〃I'll　drive　mine　and　you　drive　yours。　I'll　take　Pirtle　and　Carl　Lee；　you　take　Riley　and　Nes…bit。〃
　〃Guns？〃
　〃Three　shotguns　in　each　car。　Plenty　of　shells。　Everbody
　wears　a　vest；　including　Carl　Lee。　Get　the　cars　ready。　I'd　like　to　leave　by　five…thirty。〃
　Hastings　mumbled　something　and　disappeared。
　〃Are　you　expecting　trouble？〃　Jake　asked。
　〃We've　had　some　phone　calls。　Two　in　particular　mentioned　the　trip　to　Whitfield。　Lot　of　highway　between　here　and　there。〃
　〃How　are　you　going？〃
　〃Most　folks　take　22　to　the　interstate；　wouldn't　。you　say？　It　might　be　safer　to　take　some　smaller　highways。　We'll　probably　run　14　south　to　89。〃
　〃That　would　be　unexpected。〃
　〃Good。　I'm　glad　you　approve。〃
　〃He's　my　client；　you　know。〃
　〃For　right　now；　anyway。〃
　Carl　Lee　quickly　devoured　the　eggs　and　biscuits　as　Jake　briefed　him　on　what　to　expect　during　the　stay　at　Whitfield。
　〃I　know；　Jake。　You　want　me　to　act　crazy；　right？〃　Carl　Lee　said　with　a　laugh。　Ozzie　thought　it　was　funny　too。
　〃This　is　serious；　Carl　Lee。　Listen　to　me。〃
　〃Why？　You　said　yourself　it　won't　matter　what　I　say　or　do　down　there。　They　won't　say　I　was　insane　when　I　shot　them。　Them　doctors　work　for　the　State；　right？　The　State's　prosecutin'　me；　right？　What　difference　does　it　make　what　I　say　or　do？　They've　already　made　up　their　minds。　Ain't　that　right；　Ozzie？〃
　〃I'm　not　gettin'　involved。　I　work　for　the　State。〃
　〃You　work　for　the　County；〃　said　Jake。
　〃Name；　rank；　and　serial　number。　That's　all　they're　get…tin'　outta　me；〃　Carl　Lee　said　as　he　emptied　a　small　paper　sack。
　〃Very　funny；〃　said　Jake。
　〃He's　crackin'　up；　Jake；〃　Ozzie　said。
　Carl　Lee　stuck　two　straws　up　his　nose　and　began　tiptoeing　around　the　office；　staring　at　the　ceiling　and　then　grabbing　at　something　above　his　head。　He　put　it　in　the　sack。　He　lunged　at　another　one　and　put　it　in　the　sack。　Hastings　returned　and　stopped　in　the　door。　Carl　Lee　grinned　at　him　with　wild　eyes；　then　grabbed　at　another　one　toward　the　ceiling。
　〃What　the　hell　he's　doin'？〃　Hastings　asked。
　〃Catchin'　butterflies；〃　Carl　Lee　said。
　Jake　grabbed　his　briefcase　and　headed　for　the　door。　〃I　think　you　should　leave　him　at　Whitfield。〃　He　slammed　the　door　and　left　the　jail。
　Noose　had　scheduled　the　venue　hearing　for　Monday；　June　24；　in　Clanton。　The　hearing　would　be　long　and　well　publicized。　Jake　had　requested　the　change　of　venue；　and　he　had　the　burden　of　proving　Carl　Lee　could　not　receive　a　fair　and　impartial　trial　in　Ford　County。　He　needed　witnesses。　Persons　with　credibility　in　the　munity　who　were　willing　to　testify　that　a　fair　trial　was　not　possible。　Atcavage　said　he　might　do　it　as　a　favor；　but　the　bank　might　not　want　him　involved。　Harry　Rex　had　eagerly　volunteered。　Reverend　Agee　said　he　would　be　glad　to　testify；　but　that　was　before　the　NAACP　announced　its　lawyers　would　be　handling　the　case。　Lucien　had　no　credibility；　and　Jake　did　not　seriously　consider　asking　him。
　Buckley；　on　the　other　hand；　would　line　up　a　dozen　credible　witnesses…elected　officials；　lawyers；　businessmen；　maybe　other　sheriffs…all　of　whom　would　testify　that　they　had　vaguely　heard　of　Carl　Lee　Hailey　and　he　could　most　certainly　receive　a　fair　trial　in　Clanton。　。
　Jake　personally　preferred　the　trial　to　be　in　Clanton；　in　his　courthouse　across　the　street　from　his　office；　in　front　of　his　people。　Trials　were　pressure…filled；　tedious；　sleepless　ordeals。　It　would　be　nice　to　have　this　one　in　a　friendly　arena；　three　minutes　from　his　driveway。　When　the　trial　recessed；　he　could　spend　the　free　moments　in　his　office　doing　research；　preparing　witnesses　or　relaxing。　He　could　eat　at　the　Coffee　Shop　or　Claude's；　or　even　run　home　for　a　quick　lunch。　His　client　could　remain　in　the　Ford　County　jail；　near　his　family。
　And；　of　course；　his　media　exposure　would　be　much　greater。　The　reporters　would　gather　in　front　of　his　office　each　morning　of　the　trial　and　follow　him　as　he　walked　slowly　toward　the　courthouse。　That　thought　was　exciting。
　Did　it　matter　where　they　tried　Carl　Lee　Hailey？　Lucien　was　correct：　the　publicity　had　reached　every　resident　of　every　county　in　Mississippi。　So　why　change　venue？　His　guilt　or
　innocence　had　already　been　prejudged　by　every　prospective　juror　in　the　state。
　Sure　it　mattered。　Some　prospective　jurors　were　white　and　some　were　black。　Percentage…wise；　there　would　be　more　white　ones　in　Ford　County　than　the　surrounding　counties。　Jake　loved　black　jurors；　especially　in　criminal　cases　and　especially　when　the　criminal　was　black。　They　were　not　as　anxious　to　convict。　They　were　open　minded。　He　preferred　them　in　civil　cases；　too。　They　felt　for　the　underdog　against　the　big　corporation　or　insurance　pany；　and　they　were　more　liberal　with　other　people's　money。　As　a　rule；　he　picked　all　the　black　jurors　he　could　find；　but　they　were　scarce　in　Ford　County。
　It　was　imperative　the　case　be　tried　in　another　county；　a　blacker　county。　One　black　could　hang　the　jury。　A　majority　could　force；　maybe；　an　acquittal。　Two　weeks　in　a　motel　and　strange　courthouse　was　not　appealing；　but　the　small　disforts　were　greatly　outweighed　by　the　need　to　have　black　faces　in　the　jury　box。
　The　venue　question　had　been　thoroughly　researched　by　Lucien。　As　instructed；　Jake　arrived　promptly；　although　reluctantly；　at　8：00　A。M。　Sallie　served　breakfast　on　the　porch。　Jake　drank　coffee　and　orange　juice；　Lucien；　bourbon　and　water。　For　three　hours　they　covered　every　aspect　of　a　change　of　venue。　Lucien　had　copies　of　every　Supreme　Court　case　for　the　past　eighty　years；　and　lectured　like　a　professor。　The　pupil　took　notes；　argued　once　or　twice；　but　mainly　listened。
　Whitfield　was　located　a　few　miles　from　Jackson　in　a　rural　part　of　Rankin　County。　Two　guards　waited　by　the　front　gate　and　argued　with　reporters。　Carl　Lee　was　scheduled　to　arrive　at　nine；　that　was　all　the　guards　knew。　At　eight…thirty　two　patrol　cars　with　Ford　County　insignia　rolled　to　a　stop　at　the　gate。　The　reporters　and　their　cameramen　ran　to　the　driver　of　the　first　car。　Ozzie's　window　was　down。
　〃Where's　Carl　Lee　Hailey？〃　a　reporter　shouted　in　a　panic。
　〃He's　in　the　other　car；〃　Ozzie　drawled；　winking　at　Carl　Lee　in　the　back　seat。
　〃He's　in　the　second　car！〃　someone　shouted；　and　they　ran　to　Hastings'　car。
　〃Where's　Hailey？〃　they　demanded。
　Pirtle；　in　the　front　seat；　pointed　to　Hastings；　the　driver。　〃That's　him。〃
　〃Are　you　Carl　Lee　Hailey？〃　a　reporter　screamed　at　Hastings。
　〃Yep。〃
　〃Why　are　you　driving？〃
　〃What's　with　the　uniform？〃
　〃They　made　me　a　deputy；〃　answered　Hastings　with　a　straight　face。　The　gate　opened；　and　the　two　cars　sped　through。
　Carl　Lee　was　processed　in　the　main　building　and　led；　along　with　Ozzie　and　the　deputies；　to　another　building　where　he　was　checked　into　his　cell；　or　room；　as　it　was　called。　The　door　was　locked　behind　him。　Ozzie　and　his　men　were　excused　and　returned　to　Clanton。
　After　lunch；　an　assistant　of　some　sort　with　a　clipboard　and　white　jacket　arrived　and　began　asking　questions。　Starting　with　birth；　he　asked　Carl　Lee　about　every　significant　event　and　person　in　his　life。　It　lasted　two　hours。　At　4：00　P。M。；　two　security　guards　handcuffed　Carl　Lee　and　rode　him　in　a　golf　cart　to　a　modern　brick　building　a　half　mile　from　his　room。　He　was　led　to　the　office　of　Dr。　Wilbert　Rodeheaver；　head　of　staff。　The　guards　waited　in　the　hall　by　the　door。
　It　had　been　five　weeks　since　the　shootings　of　Billy　Ray　Cobb　and　Pete　Willard。　The　trial　was　four　weeks　away。　The　three　motels　in　Clanton　were　booked　solid　for　the　week　of　the　trial　and；　the　week　before。　The　Best　Western　was　the　largest　and　nicest；　and　had　attracted　the　Memphis　and　Jackson　press。　The　Clanton　Court　had　the　best　bar　and　restaurant；　and　was　booked　by　reporters　from　Atlanta；　Washington；　and　New　York。　At　the　less　than　elegant　East　Side　Motel　the　rates　had　curiously　doubled　for　the　month　of　July　but　it　had　nonetheless　sold　out。
　The　town　had　been　friendly　at　first　to　these　outsiders；　most　of　whom　were　rude　and　spoke　with　different　accents。　But　some　of　the　descriptions　of　Clanton　and　its　people　had　been　less　than　flattering；　and　most　of　the　locals　now　honored　a　secret　code　of　silence。　A　noisy　cafe　would　bee　instantly　silent　when　a　stranger　walked　in　and　took　a　seat。　Merchants　around　the　square　offered　little　assistance　to　anyone　they　did　not　recognize。　The　employees　in　the　courthouse　had　bee　deaf　to　questions　asked　a　thousand　times　by　nosy　intruders。　Even　the　Memphis　and　Jackson　reporters　had　to　struggle　to　extract　anything　new　from　the　locals。　The　people　were　tired　of　being　described　as　backward；　redneck；　and　racist。　They　ignored　the　outsiders　whom　they　could　not　trust　and　went　about　their　business。
　The　bar　at　the　Clanton　Court　became　the　watering　hole　for　the　reporters。　It　was　the　one　place　in　town　they　could　go　to　find　a　friendly　face　and　good　conversation。　They　sat　in　the　booths　under　the　big…screen　TV　and　gossiped　about　the　small　town　and　the　uping　trial。　They　pared　notes　and　stories　and　leads　and　rumors；　and　drank　unti