A time to kill

ous gas chambers and electric chairs around the South. They handled nothing .but capital murder cases and were very, very good at their work. The NAACP ran their interference, raising money, organizing local blacks, and generating publicity. Racism was their best, and sometimes only, defense and though they lost much more 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 coming 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 accompany 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 community 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. .