A time to kill

special, and if mine was tied to a tree and gang raped by two dopeheads I'm sure it would make me crazy. I think good and decent fathers should have a constitutional right to execute any pervert who touches their children. And I think you're a lying coward when you claim you would not want to kill the man who raped your daughter."

"Mr. Vonner, please!" Noose said.

Buckley struggled, but kept his cool. "You obviously feel very strongly about this case, don't you?"

"You're very perceptive."

"And you want to see him acquitted, don't you?"

"I would pay money, if I had any."

"And you think he stands a better chance of acquittal in another county, don't you?"

"I think he's entitled to a jury made up of people who don't know everything about the case before the trial starts."

"You would acquit him, wouldn't you?"

"That's what I said."

"And you've no doubt talked to other people who would acquit him?"

"I have talked to many."

"Are there folks in Ford County who would vote to convict him?"

"Of course. Plenty of them. He's black, isn't he?"

"In all your discussions around the county, have you detected a clear majority one way or the other?"

"Not really."

Buckley looked at his legal pad and made a note. "Mr. Vonner, is Jake Brigance a close friend of yours?"

Harry Rex smiled and rolled his eyes at Noose. "I'm a lawyer, Mr. Buckley, my friends are few and far between. But he is one of them. Yes, sir."

"And he asked you to come testify?"

"No. I just happened to stumble through the courtroom a few moments ago and landed here in this chair. I had no idea you guys were having a hearing this morning."

Buckley threw his legal pad on the table and sat down. Harry Rex was excused.

"Call your next witness," Noose ordered.

"Reverend Ollie Agee," Jake said.

The reverend was led from the witness room and seated

in the witness stand. Jake had met him at his church the day before with a list of questions. He wanted to testify. They did not discuss the NAACP lawyers.

The reverend was an excellent witness. His deep, graveled voice needed no microphone as it carried around the courtroom. Yes, he knew the details of the rape and the shooting. They were members of his church. He had known them for years, they were family almost, and he had held their hands and suffered with them after the rape. Yes, he had talked to countless people since it happened and everyone had an opinion on guilt or innocence. He and twenty-two other black ministers were members of the council and they had all talked about the Hailey case. And, no, there were no unmade minds in Ford County. A fair trial was not possible in Ford County, in his opinion.

Buckley asked one question. "Reverend Agee, have you talked to any black who would vote to convict Carl Lee Hailey?"

"No, suh, I have not."

The reverend was excused. He took a seat in the courtroom between two of his brethren on the council.

"Call your next witness," Noose said.

Jake smiled at the D.A., and announced, "Sheriff Ozzie Walls."

Buckley and Musgrove immediately locked heads and whispered. Ozzie was on their side, the side of law and order, the prosecution's side. It was not his job to help the defense. Proves you can't trust a nigger, thought Buckley. They take up for each other when they know they're guilty.

Jake led Ozzie through a discussion of the rape and the backgrounds of Cobb and Willard. It was boring and repetitious, and Buckley wanted to object. But he'd been embarrassed enough for one day. Jake sensed that Buckley would remain in his seat so he dwelt on the rape and the gory details. Finally, Noose had enough.

"Move on please, Mr. Brigance."

"Yes, Your Honor. Sheriff Walls, did you arrest Carl Lee Hailey?"

"I did."

"Do you believe he killed Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard?"

"I do."

"Have you met anybody in this county who believes he did not shoot them?"

"No, sir."

"Is it widely believed in this county that Mr. Hailey killed them?"

"Yes. Everbody believes it. At least everbody I've talked to."

"Sheriff, do you circulate in this county?"

"Yes, sir. It's my job to know what's goin' on."

"And you talk to a lot of people?"

"More than I would like."

"Have you run across anyone who hasn't heard of Carl Lee Hailey?"

Ozzie paused and answered slowly. "A person would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to know of Carl Lee Hailey."

"Have you met anyone without an opinion on his guilt or innocence?"

"There's no such person in this county."

"Can he get a fair trial here?"

"I don't know about that. I do know you can't find twelve people who don't know all about the rape and the shootin'."

"No further questions," Jake said to Noose.

"Is he your last witness?"

"Yes, sir."

"Any cross-examination, Mr. Buckley?"

Buckley remained in his seat and shook his head.

"Good," said His Honor. "Let's take a short recess. I would like to see the attorneys in chambers."