by C.P. Murphy
Chapter Thirty-Three
The third day of the trial was the most talked about in the village. Everyone who was able was planning on attending. They had a feeling that something would break the case. It was the day that Jacob would have to testify for Thomas’ attorney. Everyone believed what he had said about Thomas and Amelia but yet there were still many people who had mixed thoughts on whether he was guilty or not.
Emma had walked to the Meeting house with Jacob and was very nervous about the day’s events. After hearing all the brickyard workers lie about how great Thomas was, she was skeptical to whether the jury believed what he admitted. “I’m scared, Jacob,” she confessed to her beau. “What if they don’t believe you now and when Maxwell gets in your face, what if they straight out think you are lying?”
“You can’t think that way,” Jacob responded to Emma. He had the same thoughts but prayed that things would work out. He had to have faith that his prayers would be answered or else he wouldn’t have the strength to go on. “I hear people whispering, Emma,” he explained. “They realize now he’s the one who done all those horrible things to Amelia. How can the jury not believe me?”
They both continued on to the Meeting house and were greeted by others who were also waiting for the trial to resume. Henry walked up to them and pulled Jacob aside. “I wanted to thank you for all of your help,” he told the young man. Jacob wasn’t so sure he helped at all. He nodded his head to acknowledge that he understood what the elder was saying before Henry turned and walked inside the building with his family. Jacob and Emma looked at each other with hope and went inside.
Before he knew it, Jacob was called back to the stand and reminded about his oath he had previously taken. As he lowered himself to sit, he couldn’t help notice the look on Thomas’ face. It was polite which scared Jacob. He knew the Van Martin man better than anyone else and knew that the only time Thomas ever acted nice is when he was up to something. Here, it was Thomas’ lawyer up to something and Jacob could feel it coming a mile away.
Maxwell reminded the jury of what Jacob had already testified as Jacob sat impatient waiting for his questions. Maxwell said, “So let me get this straight. You saw Thomas carry Miss Samuels away and all you’ve done was follow?”
“That’s right,” Jacob answered. So far, not so bad, he thought. “Like I said before, I thought he was just going to strap her for her behavior.”
“And you thought it was appropriate to watch?”
Jacob frowned; already Maxwell was making his words seem different. “I watched because Emma was concerned and because I was alarmed myself in his behavior. I wanted to be there for Amelia.”
Both Maxwell and his client laughed. The judge looked at Thomas and he stopped but the attorney didn’t. “If you wanted to be there for her so badly, then why is she dead?”
“Strike that question,” Harrison instructed. “Mr. Maxwell, the witness isn’t on trial here.”
“Sorry Sir,” Joseph Maxwell replied. He lowered his head, put his fingers on his chin, and walked back and forth for a few minutes. Then he stopped in front of the jury and continued to question Jacob. “Mr. Miller,” he quizzed. “You said that my client attacked the victim, beat her senseless, and you claim he raped her. Did you see Thomas Van Martin kill Amelia Samuels with your own eyes?”
Jacob looked to the District Attorney and couldn’t remember if this was talked about when he was questioned. “I have placed him at the murder scene, Sir.”
“It’s a simple question,” Maxwell snapped at the witness. “Did you, or did you not, see my client kill her?”
It pained him to admit it but he hadn’t. When he ran away that awful night, she was still breathing and as far as he knew; she was just beaten and raped. “No,” he answered as low as he could.
Maxwell’s enthusiasm grew. “A little louder please,” he exclaimed.
“No!” Jacob wasn’t a man who cried in public but felt a sting of tears escaping his eyes. There was no other explanation of Amelia’s death and since he knew what he saw; Jacob had spent the last year, and a half convinced that his so-called friend was the killer.
There was an unexpected hush in the room as everyone listened to the rest of the testimony. The defending attorney went on to not only clear his client’s name but also to show the court why Jacob pinned the blame on Thomas. He was calm for a few minutes as if satisfied by what Jacob had admitted. “Now,” he went on. “Let us ponder about the past few weeks. Is it true that just before you went to the local authorities on my client, Thomas had said something to you and Emma Cooper that you didn’t like?”
Jacob nodded his head but revealed no information. Again, the judge told him to speak up but Maxwell said that it was all right and answered his own question. “Mr. Miller, isn’t it true that the only reason you pinned the blame on Thomas is because he told you he would marry Emma?” The room filled up with noise because just a handful of people knew of Thomas’ plan to marry Amelia’s best friend. “Admit it, Mr. Miller,” Maxwell pressed on. “The only reason we’re here today is because you would do anything to keep Thomas away from your girlfriend!”
A bolt of anger ripped through Jacob. Without caring of the consequences, he jumped off his seat and shouted, “Nobody has the right to treat people the way you do,” he said looking straight at Thomas. He looked to Emma who looked scared to death. He wanted no one else to be with her but it was also true what he testified; yet he felt that at this point he couldn’t win.
“Gentlemen,” Joseph Maxwell said to the jury. “This witness didn’t see my client murder the victim and he would do anything to keep my client away from Emma Cooper.” He turned his direction back towards Young and gave him a smug smile. He knew that he would win yet another case and his smile was thanks for a good fight. “Your Honor; I’m finished with this witness.”
“Mr. Young,” Harrison acknowledged the District Attorney. Even the District Attorney was blown away by what was just said in court. Nobody told him about Thomas marrying Miller’s girl. He could see why Jacob would want to protect her and keep him away but if he would’ve known in advance, he would’ve been prepared to speak now. Instead, he was left standing dumbfounded. “No, Sir. I have no questions.” From behind he could feel the eyes staring at him.
The family wasn’t happy that he was finished but at that moment he wasn’t pleased with them either. Nothing bothered him more than when important pieces of a trial aren’t told. He stood and with the best of his ability tried one last time to convince the jury that Thomas Van Martin was guilty. He gave it his all though he knew that his all would not be good enough.
After him, Maxwell closed his case to the jurors too. It had been three long days but this part of the trial was over.
The jury was instructed on what to do and they left the room to discuss the case. Everyone exited the building but all the key witnesses and the family were all quiet. They didn’t know what to say to each other. Patrick joined the Samuels and tried to assure them that Thomas would be found guilty. He knew that was true. Some people left the building to return home but most stayed feeling it wouldn’t take long for the jury to come to their conclusion.
The village was filled with anxiety while the jury stayed behind closed doors. More people had left the area to return to their normal daily life but still many had remained. They whispered about jurors being out sometimes for days but yet none of them felt that would be the case. Some villagers were convinced that Thomas would be sentenced to death while others still argued that he would be set free. All of them knew that one verdict, or the other, was coming soon but nobody could prepare themselves for the moment it arrived.
It had only been two hours but word that the verdict was in spread fast. Villagers dropped what they were doing in their homes, or workplaces, and ran to the Meeting house. Catherine Van Martin wrung her hands over and over again. Although she was his mother, she was still unsure. She feared that her son would be executed and cried at the thoug
ht.
“Stop it now, Catherine,” Daniel insisted. He knew their case was wrapped up, and they would win. Still his wife was making a fool of herself. “It’s bad enough that people are talking bad of us now. We don’t need you acting like something was wrong.” Just after speaking to her, Maxwell had stepped up to them and informed them it was time to go inside the town hall to hear what the jury had to say. He smiled at Daniel as he led Thomas’ father into the room.
Several minutes later, they all sat in silence waiting for the word. It was the moment that Henry and his family had waited a long time to hear but now he wasn’t too excited to hear the news. His insides were telling him that something wasn’t right, and that things would change.
“Gentlemen of the jury,” Harrison stated. “Do you have a verdict?”
One man of the jury stood up, walked to the judge and handed him a piece of paper, then walked back to his spot in the juror’s box. He made no eye contact with anyone, not the District Attorney, not Henry, not even Thomas. Harrison gave the signal to continue and the lead juror stated the outcome. “We find the defendant, Thomas Van Martin, not guilty.”
The room was out of control; half with excitement and half with disappointment. Catherine was so relieved that she wanted to embrace her husband but Daniel was too busy shaking hands with Maxwell. Then she tried to reach out to her son but Thomas wouldn’t allow her to embrace him in public. As happy as she was, Catherine sat in her seat and said nothing to anyone. On the other side of the room, the Samuels hung their heads. They believed that they had the right man this time and weren’t convinced that Thomas didn’t commit the crime.
Anna lost control and cried. Patrick had opened his arms to her, and she fell into his chest and sobbed. He’d promised Amelia that he would find her killer and though the courts dismissed him, he knew that her killer sat in the front row with a satisfied look on his face.
Judge Harrison struck his gavel against the desk until the crowd quieted down and paid attention to him. They thought it was over but it wasn’t. He pointed to Maxwell, Young, and to the constable and asked them all to come forward. Moments later the men returned to their spots, but the constable walked down the center of the room with a grime look on his face. The judge spoke again. “This trial is over and unless there is any physical evidence, the murder of Miss Samuels will never have another trial as long as I’m a judge. This investigation has led us to two separate but uncalled for trials. It has been a waste of the state’s funds and of my time. But I have one more notice to make. The jury and I believe that we have sufficient enough evidence for a case of false swearing. Jacob Miller, you will be apprehended and tried in private for perjury.”
The constable reached out and grabbed Jacob but wished that he didn’t have to do it. He wasn’t a follower of the Van Martins but it was the judge who was making him do this. A judge, he thought to himself, who was no doubt paid off by Daniel Van Martin and Joseph Maxwell. He knew already that Jacob wouldn’t stand a chance to get out of this conviction. “Come with me, son,” he said to Jacob in a tone to assure the young lad that everything would be fine.
“No, please no,” Emma begged as the judge declared the trial over. She had thrown herself onto Jacob and held onto him as she cried out for someone to help him. “He isn’t the one who lied,” she shouted. “All those men who said Thomas was good, those were the men who should be convicted.” It hurt her any to hear Jacob pleading his innocence. Soon his parents rushed to his side, but the constable had told them they could see him down at the station.
The somber villagers left the building. The judge and District Attorney were already gone and the Van Martins were taking Joseph Maxwell back to their house for a celebration. Henry had sent his family home but remained for the sake of the Miller family. Patrick had stayed by his side and both men were overwhelmed with the outcome of the court. “She’s right,” Henry said to Patrick. “Jacob doesn’t deserve what is happening to him.”
Patrick agreed with Henry but didn’t know what to say at the moment. His head was full of terrible thoughts of what he should do next. Amelia’s murder wasn’t over and he was determined to make Thomas pay.