by C. Fennessy
Joshua rubbed his chin in thought and said, “Just after the battle at Lexington…in May.”
“Thank you, Joshua. You may step down,” said Mr. Willis, over the buzz of angry spectators.
“Thank you, Mr. Willis,” Washington said, “Are there any more witnesses?”
“Not at this time, sir.”
Washington turned to Dr. Church, “Then I would like to ask you one more time. Did you or did you not write those letters?”
Dr. Church’s face was contorted with fury. His nostrils flared and his chest heaved with every breath.
“Yes, I wrote them! But they were not to General Gage! They were to my brother Fleming, in Boston!”
“Then you deny that you ever went to the General’s house in Boston and spoke to him personally, as the Corporal has just testified?”
Dr. Church jabbed a finger towards Joshua and cried, “Him? You would take his word over mine? I tell you, that young man is lying! They all are!”
“And why would all these people be lying, Dr. Church? Do they have some reason to fabricate these lies about you?”
Dr. Church looked around as if pleading for help, but everyone stared at him in silence awaiting his reply. Finally, he turned and pointed at Jamie.
“They are protecting him! He’s the one who gave General Gage the letters and told him information! It wasn’t me! That boy was in Boston and was at the General’s house every day! He has gotten all his friends to lie for him!”
Washington replied, “I don’t think that Mrs. Mowry would agree to lie for him, but let’s ask her, shall we? Mrs. Mowry, please step up here. Dr. Church, please sit down.”
Despite his anger, Dr. Church sank into his chair, perching on the edge of it, ready to spring up at any moment.
“Mrs. Mowry,” Washington began, “Did you lie to this court about Dr. Church writing the letters that he gave to you?”
“No, sir! I swear I didn’t!” she cried.
“Then can you explain why Dr. Church would give information to the British that would endanger the lives of our own army, including people who trusted him and counted him as their friend?”
“Yes, sir. I certainly can. It was for the money. General Gage gave him lots of money. And the Doctor told me if I ever told anyone about it, he’d throw me and my son out of his house. We didn’t have nowhere to go, sir! We had no home of our own!”
“And he made you deliver those letters to Gage for him?”
She nodded, looking frightened, “Yes, sir! Dr. Church is a very bad man! He told me he wanted to kill them two young people, Sarah and Jamie!”
Washington pounded his gavel again at the court’s outburst.
“Thank you, Mrs. Mowry, you may go back to your seat. And now, this court martial is concluded. Dr. Church will remain in custody until his case is brought before the Massachusetts House of Representatives, who will decide his fate. At the very least, he will be expelled from Congress, of that I am certain,” he said, turning to Dr. Church, “As to whether you will face prison or hanging, I cannot say. Dr. Church, I believe that I am speaking for everyone here when I say that we are all deeply shocked and horrified by your actions. Many of us here have lost good friends and family members in the fight for freedom. And you helped to murder those people…people who have given up their lives for our cause. There are no words to describe the evil you have done! May God have mercy on your soul! Dismissed!”
The uniformed guards at the door took Dr. Church into custody and marched him out of the court room as everyone jumped from their seats and rushed to the doors. Sarah and Jamie sighed with relief, and then hugged.
“We did it!” she cried, hugging Joshua as well.
Jonathan and Revere appeared at their side, smiling at the three of them.
“You did, indeed!” cried Paul Revere, grinning broadly, “If it hadn’t been for you three, Dr. Church would still be selling us out! You’ve done us all a worthy deed today!
Jonathan stepped forward, looking sheepishly at Sarah. “Will you ever forgive me for not believing you?”
She grinned and gave him a hug, “Of course I do!”
The crowd parted as General Washington walked towards them. He stopped and faced the three teens.
“I would like to thank each of you personally for what you have done. I know that this was done at a great risk to your own safety. Many others, much older and more experienced, would have given up…but you three persisted, and now Dr. Church will remain in prison until his sentencing.”
He shook their hands and left, surrounded by a crowd of uniformed men.
The three of them left the court room together, passing the astonished faces of people who congratulated them, including school mates who regarded them with admiration.
Outside, Jonathan stood with Mr. Revere and Mr. Roberts, discussing whether Dr. Church would be imprisoned or hanged.
Joshua turned to Jamie and Sarah and held out his hand. Jamie and Sarah both shook it as he said, “I’ll have to go back to camp now. We’re fixin’ to march south tomorrow.”
“I wish I could go with you,” Jamie said wistfully as they walked Joshua to his horse.
“My father’s going too,” Sarah said to Jamie, “and you promised him that you’d stick by me.”
Jamie nodded, “Yes, I did. So it looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“Well, someone’s got to take care of you, I suppose,” she said.
“Take care of me!” he cried in astonishment.
“Hey!” Joshua interceded, hoping to avoid another argument, “I think you two better watch out for each other!”
Sarah pleaded, “Joshua, promise that you’ll write to us, and let us know what you’re doing,”
“I will. And you better write back,” Joshua insisted.
“We will! Promise!” Sarah cried as Joshua got on his horse and rode away.
Jamie turned to her with a look of admiration and said, “We never could have stopped Dr. Church if you hadn’t cracked those coded letters.”
She smiled humbly. “Thanks. But you did a lot, too.”
“I think we make a good team,” Jamie concluded.
She put her arm through his and grinned.
“I think we do, too.”
Table of Contents
Epilogue
Dr. Benjamin Church was expelled from his positions in the House of Representatives and as Director General of Hospitals. In November, 1775 he was sent to prison in Connecticut. Two years later, because Dr. Church was declared to be in poor health, he was given permission by Congress to leave the country and go to the West Indies. He boarded a ship which was later believed to be lost at sea. Dr. Church and his ship had disappeared; they were never seen again.