A Courtroom Massacre

by Mark Porto

  Johnny says Doreen knew about the account and it somehow got back to the senator, “It was probably Talbot who let him know along with that weasel Bart Grayson, no doubt a cousin to her former boyfriend.”

  “What about those four men who killed Doreen and the four who shot you?”

  Johnny says, “I’m going to be upfront with you, I killed those men, not for revenge, but in that evidence you’ll discover they were paid to kill Doreen and me; they were also going for my family and I’ve got proof.” He shows her the copy of the papers which say so as well as an audio cassette with the senator’s voice on it arranging the deal with Thomas Talbot and Gilroy Parker. “Parker used his position as chairman of the Parole Board to release these convicts if they agreed to kill Doreen and me; they were paid well for it.”

  Georgia rubs her temples asking for an aspirin, “Johnny, I had no idea, I’ve got difficulty absorbing this, and how have you avoided the police?”

  Johnny says it was simple, no one saw him at the back of the courthouse. With the weapon he used, the bullets can’t be traceable.

  “It doesn’t explain how the Dennison got the money for that lawsuit against you.”

  “Yes, it does.” Johnny went on to say in order to get him imprisoned and be held liable for a civil suit, Padgett enlisted the help of Schuyler and Symington. When Georgia asked how that was possible, he went on to say, “After my family and I got my educational records, my mother was very distraught and she signed herself into a sanitarium for a month, by that time, Mr. Badric, the school superintendent at the time was fired for costing the school district time and money. I also threatened to sue them, it was there Mr. Schuyler and Mr. Symington were dismissed for supposedly, ‘lack of performance.’ However, they landed other jobs. For a while, both worked in the state prison system; Schuyler signed papers saying Grayson, Lucero, Richards and Dickenson as well as the four thugs, who shot me, were fit to rejoin society, when the fact is, they were only seen by Schuyler for five minutes and only interviewed once. Symington was involved in supplying Padgett with the dirt on me.”

  “Did you do anything else?”

  Johnny explains he turned these officials into the state and federal tax authorities, “I might as well, since there was an award of $200,000, it’s taxable, though.”

  “That goes without saying; do you know what happened to the million dollars taken by Dickenson in the bank robbery?”

  He tilts his head upward shrugging his shoulder.

  “Where are you going to go when you leave Black Meadows?”

  “Any place would be fine as long as I don’t have to see this place again. You’ve got to look out for yourself, because no one else will.” She agreed wholeheartedly. “One more thing, it’s a pleasure dealing with you, it’s a shame we couldn’t have been friends under normal circumstances, I think you’re one of the few lawyers who truly does care about her clients. Unfortunately, in your profession, most lawyers don’t give a damn about whether they get justice or not, just as long as they get paid the big bucks and schmooze with the swells, no offense.”

  “None taken, it’s true; I’ve known enough lawyers to agree with you.”

  “I’ll pay your bill as soon as possible.”

  “I wish you the best of luck.” They shake hands; she walks out and drives away.

  Johnny tells his mother of the conversation saying, before he forgets he owes Georgia Valentine and Ralph, the private investigator, $50,000. She asks him about the million dollars and he changes the subject.

  In the meantime, Sal and Anita put their house and business for sale. Anita had reservations about leaving Black Meadows, since she knew a lot of people here.

  However, there were some people who didn’t like what Johnny had done; he was in a department store with his parents when there was a woman shouts at them saying he was a serial killer who should have been executed or serve life in prison. At first, Johnny ignores her, thinking she was a nut going about his way. She was persistent waiting for the family; the woman was in front of the exit as Johnny attempts to excuse himself. When she refuses, he tells her to get the hell out of the way. She then complains he didn’t say please.

  The woman says, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself ruining a good man like Senator Croydon! That’s what’s wrong with the country is people like you who know how to work the system.”

  Johnny wheels to her, “Look, jerk, the only reason why you’re spewing your hate is because either you or a member of your family works for the state or you have your nose up their butts. So, if you don’t mind, get the hell out of my way!”

  The woman reluctantly moves away uttering an expletive at him and he returns a few zingers at her before wheeling back to the car; his parents follow about a minute later.

  On September 22, Senator Croydon and his brother-in-law, Jerry Lipshutz are convicted of all the charges. Dr. Kimball is convicted of bribery, but since he agreed after the preliminary hearing to testify against the senator and Lipshutz, he would receive a year’s probation, but would be fired as a psychologist for the state and his license was suspended for more than a year.

  District Attorney Muir resigned upon being impeached by the New York State Assembly, and was convicted of the charges and sentenced to ten years in jail, however, on appeal, he makes a plea with the attorney general agreeing to serve five years.

  Judges Lexington and Courtney lose their appeals when their reach the Court of Appeals by a 4-3 and a 5-2 vote respectively. Judge Courtney also learns he was about to be indicted on charges that he intentionally fumbled a case where a child molester went free, but he decides to drive his car into a stone wall rather than face public scrutiny, he doesn’t survive the crash.

  Judge Lexington quietly establishes a law practice with Bart Grayson as a law clerk. The former eventually loses his license, but works in a bank as a loan officer, while Grayson was fired after six months, eventually obtains a job working as a school teacher.

  Judge Hartnett was convicted of bribery and jumped out the window, a day before he is to be sentenced.

  Both Rev. Dale Natwick and Father Bryan were persuaded to resign by their parishioners and the bishop, respectively. The Reverend becomes an assistant pastor at a church in Long Island, while Father Bryan becomes a “substitute” until the bishop feels he did his penance.

  Jess Jasper was convicted of bank fraud; he is compelled to resign as bank president. Since he cooperated with prosecutors, his sentence would be about two to four years at a minimum security prison near Buffalo, and he had to pay a fine of $50,000.

  Assistant district attorney Thomas Talbot was fired from the district attorney’s office and was being sued by the Norman family for contributing to their daughter’s death. Tappan County settles with them for $800,000, but the Normans said afterward, they would rather have Doreen back than the money. Talbot was stripped of his law license and found a job as a school teacher in the same district as Bart Grayson, because they were friends.

  Gilroy Parker and Thomas Ponzi were convicted of first and second-degree conspiracy and criminal solicitation to commit murder. The pair is sentenced to a total of fifteen to thirty years in prison, the lawyers requested bail, but the judge refused. Despite the refusal, an appellate judge agrees to grant them bail of $100,000 a piece.

  Cecil Padgett is convicted of criminal solicitation, first-degree conspiracy, jury tampering and bribery; he is sentenced to ten years in prison and stripped of his law license.

  The following October 15, Senator Croydon and Jerry Lipshutz are sentenced to twenty years to life a piece for their charges. Both defendants didn’t say anything at sentencing. When Lamont asks for bail, it was summarily denied, but he appeals the decision to the appellate division of the state Supreme Court in Queenstown. Bail is set at $25,000 a piece and they are released when the bail was posted.

  Senator Croydon went home after his release and his sister, Elaine escorts him to the couch where he relaxes. Jerry Lipshutz sits in a chair opposi
te his wife, “Why the hell are you still fawning over him? You were like that with Cain, no wonder he turned out the way he did, you catered to his every whim!”

  Elaine puts a blanket over her brother walking to her husband with her arms erect, a straightforward lip with descending eyes while standing to his side, “You listen to me and you damn well had better listen good! You’ve could’ve very easily been left in that hovel of a jail, if I hadn’t posted bail. Anyway, what’s your problem; we’re appealing this horrid verdict!”

  Jerry laughs hysterically, “Come on, Ron, this ridiculous game you’ve been playing is over, do you realize on the day were convicted, you automatically lost your senate seat?” Ron simply sits on the couch in a “daze” he did say this was all Elaine’s idea, if she hadn’t been so adamant about obtaining “justice” for Cain. “You see your own brother agrees we wouldn’t be in this mess if it hadn’t been for you damn whining!”

  Elaine nearly falls to the floor shrieking, “He was my son!” Jerry retorted he was his son, too, but accused her of not allowing him to discipline Cain. “You fool! Don’t you realize Johnny Bellow is the one who should be in prison, not you and Ron?”

  “Shut up, Elaine!” Jerry roars, “Now, because I’m going to lose my license and freedom over this, you’re going to have to go out and work for a living, maybe you’ll what it’s like to have to pay the bills around here!” Jerry looks at Ron’s reaction with disbelief. Ron says he had been talking to some friends about running in the special November election. Jerry stops him, “Don’t you understand, you can’t run for office anymore, besides, we’re both facing federal charges of income tax evasion.” He slaps the local section of the paper showing him an article about Stella Montcalm’s candidacy; it states she is way ahead of Mayor David Nardo in a poll.

  Ron is of an opinion that there’s no way she could possibly win, while Jerry says he doesn’t like her either, but sees the handwriting on the wall as he puts down the paper and slumps to his right side.

  During the course of time, Senator Croydon and Jerry Lipshutz normally smoke and drink on a daily basis, they, in the process, become dependent on Phenobarbital. Elaine also consumes heavy doses of alcohol with an occasional use of barbiturates.

  While the case is pending before the Court of Appeals, they were in their lawyer’s office when Elaine notices her brother and husband frequently yawning and dosing off. She and Lamont would stare at them as her flushes in having to explain what’s going on. Lamont advises her to get them to straighten up, if not, it’ll be embarrassing in court.

  A week before the case was to be heard before the state’s Highest Court; Elaine awakens suddenly around two in the morning. She got up for a glass of water, upon returning to bed, Jerry awaking with his eyes rolling around in his head uttering gibberish. She screams at the top of her lungs, before contacting the doctor; he advises her to take him to the emergency room. There, she also calls her other children.

  Ron Croydon awakens that same morning; his wife Maglinda heard his complaint about his chest tightening along with difficulty breathing. He couldn’t stand up and his speech was slurred, she immediately rushes him to the hospital.

  Amid a battery of tests, it was discovered that the former senator had cirrhosis of the liver. Maglinda remarks her husband had been complaining of weakness and fainting spells. The doctor looks at the chart inquiring how long he had been having these symptoms. When she says he’s had it for the past six months, the doctor’s face was grave telling her straight out he didn’t have very long to live.

  Maglinda falls on her knees crying as her daughter comes over to comfort her.

  On Election Day, Stella Montcalm defeats Mayor Nardo by a healthy margin. Senator Eugene Eusi of Rome replaces Senator Croydon as chairman of the Judiciary Committee causing his appointments to the judiciary to be likely rejected by the committee.

  Governor Marin declines re-election, which prompts the lieutenant governor, Mr. Messina and the attorney general, Mr. Jacobson to vie for the democratic nomination.

  Warden Tom Croydon is defeated by a little known candidate named, Rufus Lant, a retired Knickerbocker police officer.

  However, Council-at-large Jeff McKinley is defeated by Councilor David Lavanchard for the office of mayor.

  Although Chief Lester cooperated with prosecutors, he is sentenced to twenty years in prison.

  The following January, Senator Croydon died of a cirrhosis of the liver; he wasn’t buried until late March. His wife Maglinda lost their house due to taxes and legal expenses, but was retained as the Executive director for Community Development.

  Elaine had to resign from her job as Executive director of the Black Meadows Chamber of Commerce; she managed to get a job with the school district’s public relations department and lost her home, because of legal expenses and taxes.

  Both never had to worry about money, because he had hidden some money for his wife and sister.

  On July 14, of the previous year, it was the day the Bellows were leaving Black Meadows. Sal had sold the house to a young couple from New York City and his business to a supermarket chain. They were packed up by eight o’clock that morning. It was then Johnny’s friends, Billy Miller, Rev. Elijah Daniels and Jimmy Corrini came by and everyone said it was a shame for him to leave the city. Johnny says he has to go where he can get the best therapy.

  Eli says, “We’re going to miss you, especially when we used to go to the diner.”

  “You three are the very best friends anyone ever had that everyone is the best definition of a friend.” He pauses, “Billy, are you still writing songs?”

  Billy laughs, “Yes, I’m amazed you have a good memory, as it so happens, I went to New York to try to sell my song and a band wants to use it. So, you never know. Johnny, what are you going to do with the rest of your life?”

  He sits back in the wheelchair, for a moment, to look up at the sky and turns to see the disheartened looks on their faces, “I don’t know, just live life one day at a time. That’s all we’re given on this planet.”

  After Billy, Eli and Jimmy left, Johnny and his family take one last look at the house before leaving for Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Sal’s brother gave him a job as a general manager of a large supermarket.

  They, along with the family dog, “Sparky” enter the car, along with the foot locker, which was filled with the one million dollars and the crutches Johnny was given in physical therapy, since he is able to stand up for a short length of time.

  Sal was at the steering wheel thinking as they left the driveway of all the memories, both good and bad, fading into history as Anita was using a tissue box at a time to contain her sorrow.

  Finally, the family is at peace.