A Courtroom Massacre

by Mark Porto

  “I told this idiot principal, look, with all due respect, Wilson – That’s his real name, had been harassing me; I’ve been looking the other way and it hasn’t done any good. He lectured me about he didn’t care if I were sick and tired of being harassed, so, I told him to go take it up with my father and he did.

  Johnny is pouring some punch for everyone, when he starts talking about his middle school days mentioning an incident with Gary Grayson, “He’s related to Troy.” Doreen eyes bulge. Johnny says Gary was blowing kisses at him in English classes.

  Eli and Doreen cover their faces, grinning, trying to contain their laughter. Johnny says when he complains to the teacher. “All she would say is to ‘call it a truce.’ Finally, we were brought to vice-principal’s office. He was there; do you know what he threatened to do to the kid if he didn’t stop?”

  Eli and Doreen shrug their shoulders.

  Johnny goes on to say, “He told him it was serious, when Gary asks how serious, the response was: ‘The seriousness is, you’ll get an ‘F’ in the course. I didn’t know how I should react.” He drinks his punch trying hard not to choke.

  Everyone snickers, Elijah asks Doreen what she did for a living, she tells about her career as a paralegal. He asks her what happened with Mr. Menden, because he knew of a young man who was a close friend of his, who was arrested and convicted of a crime. “Right now, I’m doing everything I can to help.”

  Doreen advises him to contact her boss, Ms. Valentine and gives him her card.

  Johnny mentions he recently saw Jimmy Corrini at a diner. Elijah smiles saying he did not think the army would take him.

  During their discussions, more people arrive, Elijah introduces them to Johnny and Doreen, the couple stays a few hours getting acquainted with the congregation. By the time they leave around ten o’clock, they’ve made a few friends.

  Doreen says as Johnny drives her home, she really enjoyed herself, not knowing he had been surrounded by such good people. “How did you meet Eli?”

  Johnny met Elijah when they were in kindergarten. “We lived in different parts of town, but his parents always shopped at the store, because the food was fresh and they never have had to take back food for spoilage.”

  “Do you mean other stores spoiled their food?”

  “No, we had a fierce competition with a chain called Ludton’s. When the father ran the store, it was fine, not as good as my parents’ place, but that’s beside the point. Now, when the son took charge, he cut corners with suppliers, got food that was about to expire and so on.”

  Doreen winces. “How did he continue the business doing that?”

  “He had friends in city hall knowing a couple of aldermen. They despised him, but he knew how to please the city officials.”

  As the couple continues to ride through the countryside, Doreen mentions she was going to miss her hometown, because she was moving to Knickbocker to be closer to her job in New York. “I’m going to make ends meet by living with a couple of college girlfriends.”

  Until then, Doreen is looking at him when he asks why her parents disapproved of him; she, at first, wore a scowl while looking through the windshield. She finally tells him her parents didn’t approve of him since he was in jail.

  His face is flush while pounding on the steering wheel, Johnny tries hard not to blow a fuse, because they did have such a good time. He says, “I think now is the time for me to have a talk with your parents. They have to understand my position.”

  Doreen requests he not do it, she explains her parents weren’t very objective and were of a simple persuasion. “I don’t think anything you say is going to change their minds.”

  Johnny was thinking, I have a feeling her mother is behind all this acrimony. “Look, if it doesn’t do any good, I won’t return there.”

  Doreen insists he’s wasting time and they’ll just be upset.

  “Well, you let me be the judge of that!”

  The couple arrives at her home about a half hour later, Johnny persuades Doreen to get out of the car amid a gust of wind and flurries. She is reluctant, but, after careful persuasion, she comes out. He escorts her to the door and rings the doorbell as she prods him to change his mind. Johnny signals to her to be quiet allowing him to handle the situation. It is then, Mrs. Norman answers the door with a frown when her eyes lay on him.

  Doreen mumbles as she attempts to introduce her to Johnny, he extends his hand, telling her it was pleasure to meet her and they should talk. Mrs. Norman attempts to slam the door in his face, but he blocks it and tells her to hear him out. Doreen blushes covering her face with her hands.

  Mrs. Norman has a gravelly voice when she asks him what he wants.

  Johnny expresses the necessity for them to speak since he was in a serious relationship with her daughter. “I’m very fond of her and I want to get to know her family.”

  She crosses her arms telling him she didn’t understand what there was to discuss.

  He raises his chin, but speaks in a respectful tone. “Ah, but there is, you and your husband seem to think I’m a hooligan. Yes, I was in prison, are you aware how many are wrongfully jailed?” Mrs. Norman scoffs.

  Upon thinking about what he said, she fidgets injecting, “Look, why don’t you just drop Doreen off and go home, Mr. Norman and I don’t want to have anything to do with troublemakers!” She turns away from while she was still talking with him.

  Johnny persists, “How am I a troublemaker? I understand how being associated with me would jeopardize your livelihood?”

  Doreen steps forward asking her mother to be honest with him. “You might as well tell him what’s going on, because he’s going to insist.” She sits down in front of them.

  Mrs. Norman explains her husband works for the state for over twenty years and stands to receive a great pension. “My husband and I aren’t going to jeopardize those benefits, by being associated with someone who is trying to buck the system.”

  Johnny pauses for a moment, “So, that’s what this is all about. I wonder if Senator Croydon is involved. I believe he is, but I also believe your fears are unfounded. If your husband has that much time at the job, the civil service rules should protect him since civil service rules make it almost impossible to remove him.”

  Mrs. Norman’s face turns white; her blood ran cold when she rushes into the kitchen to talk to her husband.

  Mr. Norman is a medium sized man with a mild temperament; he walks into the living room when he meets Johnny, they shake hands. The two men sit down in front of a shut off television set in the living room. He explains his wife is high strung while offering Johnny a drink, but respectfully declines, because he has to drive. As for the senator, Mr. Norman says he never met him.

  Johnny asks him what type of work he did for the state, Mr. Norman works for the State Department of Transportation making road and highway signs. “How long have you worked there?”

  Mr. Norman says he’s been there for twenty-seven years, when Johnny asks why he continues to work, Doreen’s father tells him he wants to work for another three years. “I’ve been working for them since I got out of the army in Korea.” He shakes his head. “Boy, I hated the army, especially the war.”

  Johnny mentions he served in the Navy for four years, he also mentions his father was in the army fighting in Korea. “My father fought post Inchon; he was more than happy to leave the service after two years.”

  “I fought in the early part of the war near Pusan. Where did you go in the Navy?”

  Johnny laughs commenting where he didn’t go. “I was stationed in New Orleans for the most part, but I have been to Japan, the Philippines, Los Angeles and Norfolk, Virginia to name a few.” He further states he was briefly stationed in Alaska. “Luckily, it was in the summertime, it was hard to sleep, because the sun sets after midnight.”

  Mr. Norman says he was glad he stopped by and not to mind Mrs. Norman, saying she’ll get used to him in time. “I learned that the hard way.” The men laughed.
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  It was around one o’clock in the morning when Johnny arrives home. He gets leftovers from the refrigerator and starts eating. His mother comes into the kitchen asking him why he came home so late. He tells her he had a good conversation with Doreen’s father, “He was in the army at the same time as Pa. I’m going to ask him if he knew him while in Korea. Her family seems to be alright.”

  Anita tells her son to go to bed, because they have to go to church tomorrow.

  New York Governor Henry Marin spoke at the Roselle Country Club in the city of Queenstown, located along the Hudson River, on December 4.

  After his speech, he meets with two of his former law school classmates, Gilroy Parker and Emery Birnell. They had become high ranking members of the New York State Lawyers’ Association. While gathering in the lobby, they shake hands and talk about old times.

  In the conference room, Birnell has an audio tape recorder hidden in his inside coat pocket. The men each hold a glass of scotch; they sit in overstuffed chairs smoking cigars. “Henry, the three of us have known each other for a long time, do you remember the time when you were accused of cheating on an exam involving torts?” His miscreant glance at the governor was cagey.

  Parker was smiling holding his fuming cigar, blinking with insouciance looking to his comrade, Emery Birnell.

  Emery is laughing, “I like it that you cut to the chase. Well, do you remember how I got you out of it? It’s simple; you came close to getting kicked out of law school.”

  The governor nods, but tosses about in his chair demanding to know what was going on by slamming his fist on the desk.

  Emery decides to get to the point. “A friend of mine is retiring from the state’s highest court this year and was wondering if I could replace him, pending the next election.” He gets up to light another cigar.

  “I know you and Gilroy live in the same judicial district.” The governor says after finishes his drink, “I didn’t know you were going to retire.”

  “I’m considering it, Henry, ever since I heard about Justice Dennis Dewey is going to retire from the State Court of Appeals!” He grimaces at the chief executive as the governor pours him another drink. “He claims he’s getting on in years.”

  The governor’s eyes slant remarking about Senator Croydon having to be consulted since he is the chairman of the state senate judiciary committee. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Birnell stands over him with such hegemony. “Consult who you must, Henry, but remember the difference between friends and enemies.”

  The governor has to heave a heavy sigh listening to their piffle.

  When the New York governor arrives at his office in the state Capitol, Senator Croydon sits on the couch in the anteroom, reading the latest edition of the New York Law Journal.

  Upon walking in, the governor was accompanied by his staff, telling the senator he attends to Justice Dewey’s press conference confirming his plans for retirement. “I want to help make a suitable replacement.” The governor sits down behind his desk with open arms. “Who do you think would make a suitable replacement?”

  The senator says in his crisp voice, “I understand you’ve got a law school classmate who currently serves as a state Supreme Court justice in the thirteenth district.”

  The governor leans back in his chair. “How do you know about Emery Birnell?”

  Croydon smirks remarking about having an excellent staff.

  Governor Marin wants to know why Birnell’s appointment to the State Court of Appeals was so important to the senator. “Why, do you want his current job?”

  Croydon says he didn’t want it, but explains before Birnell was a state justice; he was a member of the Parole Board. He goes on to say Paul Ponzi the current chairman was to be reappointed chairman of the Parole Board.

  “Wait a minute, what about Gilroy Parker? He has made it clear he wants that seat!”

  Croydon lights a cigarette, says as smoke permeates from his mouth, “I talked with Mr. Parker earlier it’s clear he wants the seat, so along as Birnell gets the Court of Appeals seat.”

  Later that evening, Governor Marin calls Gilroy Parker about the state Supreme Court justice seat, Parker says he had been talking to Bart Grayson, Senator Croydon’s administrative assistant says the deal would be better for his legal and political career.

  The governor puts down the receiver rubbing his temples. “Does this have to do with Troy Grayson; Bart’s cousin; is he in trouble again?”

  “Oh, Henry,” he snickers. “It’s just a coincidence; it’s nothing to get upset about.” Gilroy speaks softly. “You shouldn’t worry about so many things, you’ll live longer.”

  The governor sweats saying with the utmost seriousness. “I want to know what’s going on with Troy Grayson, I’m not about to put my political career on the line for a felon!”

  Parker tells him Troy Grayson may need a pardon somewhere along the line. “After all, I’m willing to overlook some youthful indiscretions.”

  The governor explodes. “Are you serious? Have you seen this man’s rap sheet?” He awaits Parker’s response to no avail. “I’m from the New York area and have read about his crimes, they’re extremely serious, have you bothered to read about him?”

  Parker sighs reminding the governor of the favor he still owes them from law school. He says punishing him wasn’t the answer, “Frankly, Henry, he’s a lad who needs rehabilitation. Now are you on board with this deal?”

  The governor says he doesn’t have any qualms about appointing his friends to judiciary positions, but to give a convicted felon a “break”, he must think about it. “I might want to seek a third term.”

  The next day, the state senator talks with the governor about his conversation with Parker. Governor Marin says he thinks Bart Grayson has a vested interest in the appointment(s), “Why should we give a violent convicted felon a break?”

  Senator Croydon develops a miscreant voice while withholding a snicker. “All I want you to do appoint Birnell and Parker to their positions. Nothing more, Henry,”

  “What do you take me for a dolt? I know his cousin is on parole, what the hell is at stake, Ron? Why are you, Parker, and Birnell hounding me on this?”

  Senator Croydon reminds him about his first run for governor when he ran against Governor Mullen in the Democratic primary. “Do you remember who supported you?”

  Governor Marin states if it hadn’t for Senator Garvey, now a Court of Appeals justice, he would have been a retired state senator. He thinks about it for a moment, “Wait a minute; Judge Garvey was just indicted by a grand jury for jury tampering after being convicted of bribery. He recently removed from his seat by impeachment of the state Assembly, but he resigned thereafter, avoiding a trial.”

  The senator tells him it was Justice Garvey who saved him from political shame by convincing Assemblyman James from running against him in the last election. The governor concedes to his demands.

  After the state senate judiciary committee endorses all three appointments, however, the attorney general decides to indict Emery Birnell on charges he was influenced into granting parole to violent criminals in order to give Ron Croydon, who was then a freshman state senator, business for their criminal law practice. Birnell has always denied the allegations as reporters outside the Capitol were flanking him as he was escorted to his car.

  Senator Croydon is drinking coffee in his Albany office; the ashtray is filled with burnt cigarettes, when Bart Grayson suddenly storms into the office handing him a newspaper. “Sir, you have to read this!”

  The senator reads what Jacobson says in the article, and then he rests with his chin on folded fingers. While staring straightforward, Bart makes a face, which turns white asking if there was anything he could do.

  The legislator remains in his position, “No, Bart, just go back to what you were doing.” His voice is low but reserved as he drinks the rest of his coffee while ordering another cup along with a bottle of scotch, taking a deep breath.

 
; The senator contacts Tappan County Judge Ethan Courtney. “We’ve got trouble; the attorney general is up to his old tricks.” His voice trembles while beginning to oscillate the receiver between his left and right ears.

  They discuss the Jacobson investigation with the judge, he suggests withdrawing the nominations. The senator pulls out another pack of cigarettes. “And do what? Do we nominate another set of people, only to find more transgressions! Ethan, use your head, it’ll be admitting defeat. I’m not going to the governor for new appointments!”

  The judge expostulates, “Jacobson has been a problem since day one. I was reading recently in The New York Chronicle, he was mentioning as a possible successor to Governor Marin after the completion of his second term. The polls show Jacobson would trounce Marin in a primary. Can you imagine what would happen if you ran?”

  Croydon’s hand shake taking a few more puffs of his drag, lit another cigarette, and straightens up in his chair.

  The judge murmurs, wiping the sweat off his face, “What are you going to do?”

  Croydon is mute; as he places his hand on the temples when the judge doesn’t hear a response, so he mentions they have an additional problem in Stella Montcalm.

  The senator didn’t want to hear the sound of her name. “What is she doing now?”

  The judge mentions she announces a few days ago, she will challenge him in this year’s primary for his senate seat.

  He stands up holding the burning cigarette and yells, “You’re putting me on!” In addition, he uses his other hand to slap against the table and laughing hysterically, he wanted to know how she expected to win.

  The judge holds seriousness in his tone of voice, “I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you, her support is growing fast. You’d better get the hell out of Albany, get back to Tappan County to start your reelection campaign right here and now!” Courtney then guzzles his drink.