Nobody Said Amen

by Tracy Sugarman

  “Who? Never mind who. We’ve got to get you to a hospital. You could have a punctured lung!” Eula emptied ice onto a dishtowel and hurried to his side. “Don’t talk. Stay quiet, Jimmy.” She put the compress on his closed eye and across the discolored cheek and nose. “Hold this with your left hand, darling. I’ll be right back.” Beneath the pounding pain, he heard her voice calling upstairs. “Miss Willy!” Her voice sounded tiny and at a great distance. “Miss Willy!” As he started to cough again, the kitchen ceiling light seemed to dip and swing, so he closed his eyes tight. With the darkness, the pain shooting through his arm was magically turned off as he fainted.

  They found him on the floor by the chair. Eula knelt beside him, cradling his head. “Under the sink, Miss Willy. The ammonia bottle. It will help.” Willy handed her the bottle, staring at the unconscious boy on the floor. When Eula placed the ammonia under Jimmy’s nose, he began to cough, and his good eye flew open. “Stop!” The command was hoarse. “I’m all right, baby. Help me to sit up.”

  Eula helped him to sit erect. “He’s hurting bad, Miss Willy. He can’t use his arm, and he’s having trouble breathing.”

  Jimmy blinked. “Sorry to mess up your kitchen, Mrs. Claybourne.” He was interrupted by a rough cough. “I don’t like to mess up Eula’s good work.” Unexpectedly, tears ran down his battered cheek. “You really don’t need this beat-up nigger in your kitchen.”

  “I don’t know what’s happened to you, Jimmy. Eula can tell me later. But we’ve got to get you to the Shiloh Medical Center, and right now. Your cough sounds terrible.”

  “No.” His voice was unexpectedly loud. “No.”

  Impatiently, Willy said, “Just give me your hand, Jimmy. Eula, get your arm under his and we’ll get him to my car.”

  With a groan, he finally was able to stand. “Give me a minute,” he pleaded. The two women stopped. “We’re not going to the Shiloh Medical Center.” Jimmy’s voice was firm.

  “Of course we are.” said Willy. “You need help and that’s why we’re going.”

  “They won’t let me in the door. Talk to her, Eula.”

  Eula nodded. “Not even the Emergency entrance.” Her voice was tinged with anger. “There is no colored entrance at the Shiloh Medical Center, Miss Willy.”

  “But he’s hurt. Hurt bad! Don’t be silly, Eula. If Luke were here he’d damn well get him in the hospital. I’ll take him.”

  “Don’t matter, Miss Willy. Jimmy’s black, and he won’t get in. Waste of time. Only place he can go is over to the colored clinic in Mound Bayou, about forty minutes away. I know a doctor we can wake when we get there.”

  “No time to argue,” snapped Willy. “Let me tell my sister to keep an eye on Alex till I get back.” She moved swiftly out of the kitchen, returning with her car keys “You know the way, Eula? Sit next to me and we’ll let Jimmy stretch out in the back seat.” When they made it out to the car, Jimmy hobbled into the back seat. As the two women got in the front, Willy said, “Who did this to you, Jimmy? It’s barbaric! I’m going to call the police soon as I’m back.”

  “You don’t have to call them, Mrs. Claybourne.” His voice was muffled. “They already know about this nigger.”

  “Don’t talk like that, Jimmy, “she said sharply. “How do they know that?”

  “Because they were the ones that beat me.” In the dim light, Eula saw that he was crying.

  “Dear Jesus.” Willy’s eyes glistened as she met Jimmy’s in the rear view mirror. “I’m so sorry, Jimmy,” she said, and started the engine.

  When Willy returned, Lucas met her at the door. “Christ! Do you know it’s almost three o’clock in the morning? I didn’t know if you were dead or alive. Been out of my mind worrying. All your sister knew was you’d rushed out and would be back later. I called everybody. Went to ask Eula and she was gone. Are you all right?”

  She slumped wearily into a chair and closed her eyes. “‘I’m sorry, Luke. Wasn’t time to leave you a note. And there wasn’t a phone in Mound Bayou I could get to.”

  “Mound Bayou? What in the world were you doing in Mound Bayou? Are you crazy? There’s not a white soul in that whole town!”

  “I didn’t go to find that out, Luke.” She raised her eyes. “I went with our Eula to find a doctor who’d treat a black man who’d been severely beaten.”

  “A black man who’d been severely beaten. And you took him to Mound Bayou.” Incredulous, he simply stared at his wife.

  She nodded. “It was Jimmy Mack, and he’d been terribly beaten. We didn’t know how bad. He was having an awful time breathing.”

  “So Eula’s Freedom Fighter got beat up by some nigger and Eula got Miss Fixit to go running? You put poultices on the poor man?”

  She raised her head and met his gaze. “No, Lucas. He was arrested by two policeman of the Shiloh police force as he came off the property of Senator Tildon. And when they got him to police headquarters, they beat him.”

  “He was trespassing on Tildon’s property? Stealing? Selling dope?”

  “No. He was trying to organize Tildon’s workers to vote.” She shook her head. “That was what he was doing there. He and that boy, Dale Billings. Trying to get people to vote.”

  “Should have been arrested, Willy. That’s private property. I would have had him arrested myself if he was caught on Claybourne’s.”

  “He was beaten, Luke. Cut in the face, beat on his body, kicked in the ribs. That the price for trying to organize in Shiloh?”

  “There must be more to the story, Willy. This isn’t Russia. Police don’t beat people for trespassin’ in Magnolia County.”

  She began to weep, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her hands. Alarmed, Luke knelt next to her, putting his arms around her. “Willy, it’s all right. Whatever you been through, it’s over. Come on to bed. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

  She raised her head, trying to see Luke through the tears. “There is more to the story. I heard Jimmy tell it to Eula. They beat him, Luke, and they kicked him, one after the other, until he’d say ‘I’m a nigger.’” The tears began again. “Are you a Negro or a nigger?” Stricken, she stared at her husband. “And then when they were through, they threw him out of headquarters. How he got back to our place, Lord knows. I don’t think he remembers himself.”

  Luke frowned. “Where is he now?”

  “We left him with old Mrs. Thompson over in the Quarter. She was a nurse in the war down in Gulfport with the colored troops. Said she’ll see he gets some rest. She has some morphine if the pain gets too bad.”

  “And Eula heard that whole beating story from Jimmy Mack?”

  Willy massaged the back of her neck, trying to compose herself. “We both did, Luke. I’m a witness. She’s a witness. You can talk to her in the morning. She’s back in her room, worried sick if Jimmy will be all right.” Her voice rose in anger. “And I want you to call the sheriff. Dennis Haley’s got to know what his police did in his headquarters last night!”

  “Willy,” he protested. “It’s almost four o’clock! I’ll call him later in the morning and tell him we want to see him.” He helped her to her feet. “Enough damage done for one night.”

  “Come in Willy, Lucas.” Dennis Haley held open the door and motioned to the seats beside his desk. “Sit down, folks. Tell me what’s troubling you. You sounded really upset, Luke.”

  “I’m more than upset, Dennis. My wife was told that two of your officers, Shiloh policemen, severely beat and kicked two of your prisoners last night. You know anything about two Nigras being busted last night for trespassin’ on Senator Tildon’s property?’

  “Yes. I got the report from the sergeant on duty last night. It was on my desk this morning when I came in. Sergeant Meyers booked James Mack and Dale Billings before he went home. The charge was trespassing. No mention of anyone being beaten. They were supposed to be kept overnight as a warning against any further trespassing. You know, Lucas, there’s been a lot of incursions onto the plantat
ions by these Freedom Summer kids. But the two policeman who arrested them kicked them out early this morning.”

  “Is that the usual practice, Dennis? Two Shiloh police arrest the men, then dismiss the charge and release the prisoners in the middle of the night?”

  “No. I’d say not. But Butler and Lonergan have been with the force a long time. When I questioned them, they said Shiloh taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay to house and feed two nigger agitators. Since trespassing was the only charge and the sergeant had left, they used their discretion. Not usual, Luke, but it doesn’t seem like a reason to make a fuss about it. What’s the problem? Them two boys your niggers?”

  Willy answered. “No. They don’t work at Claybournes. But your policemen are not telling you what happened last night!”

  The sheriff looked at Luke and then at Willy. “You saw what happened last night, Willy? You saw those two boys?”

  “No,” she said impatiently. “I only heard what happened last night. And it was only from Jimmy Mack. Dale Billings had disappeared by the time Mack was beaten and released. And Mack said it was your policemen who beat him, Sheriff. I was carryin’ him to Mound Bayou clinic for medical assistance when he told my maid, Eula, and me the story.”

  “You believe that story, Lucas?” Haley rose and went to the door. “Butler! Lonergan! Get in here!” A moment later the two policemen entered the room, removing their hats. Butler nodded to Lucas. “Mr. Claybourne.” Lonergan remained silent.

  Haley closed the door and resumed his seat behind the desk. “According to the sheet, you both were involved with the arrest of James Mack and Dale Billings last night for trespassing at the Tildon plantation. That right?”

  “Yes, sir,” said Butler. “Caught the niggers about eight o’clock comin’ out to the road. Lonergan and me had staked out the place, hearing that agitators were likely gonna be there.” He grinned at the sheriff. “Was easy as shootin’ fish in a barrel.”

  “There’s a story going ’round that you beat those two prisoners at this headquarters.” Haley eased back in his chair. “You got any light to shed on that, Butler?”

  “No, sir. I sure don’t.”

  “You, Lonergan?”

  “That’s bullshit, Sheriff. ’Scuse me, Mrs. Claybourne. Don’t know where a story like that would come from. Course, there’s a whole lot of riff-raff in Shiloh this summer. Cain’t know what they’d say or do to make us Christians look bad. Those two niggers sayin’ now they was beat up by me and Butler? They run a little and fell down a little when we busted them.” Smiling, he turned to look at his partner. “You beat up those nigger agitators, Butler, when I wasn’t lookin’? Shame on you if you did.”

  Haley spoke sharply. “That’s enough smart-talk. You deny beating Mack and Billings?”

  “Course I do, Sheriff. Like I said, it’s bullshit.”

  The sheriff turned to Willy. “Mrs. Claybourne, you’ve heard these two police officers deny the charges. Seems like it’s James Mack’s word and story against theirs. You know of any witness that saw this alleged beating happen?”

  Willy looked at Luke. “There is one, Dennis,” he said. “A colored officer named Bronko. Stanley Bronko.”

  The sheriff frowned and nodded toward the door. “You men are dismissed. Send Bronko in.”

  Butler and Lonergan went in to the Day Room where Bronko was watching the television. “Turn off that goddam television and get your black ass in to the sheriff’s office,” said Butler. “Haley’s orders.”

  Bronko turned his great head and looked at the two policemen. Slowly, he stood and faced them. “My friend, Sheriff Haley, wants to see me? Why he want that? You two honky mother-fuckers trying to mess with me in Haley’s headquarters? You can kiss my Polack ass.”

  “I don’t gotta answer your dumb nigger questions, Bronko. Sheriff said to send you in. But before you go in, you ought to know that me and Lonergan just explained to the sheriff that nothing happened here last night worth rememberin’ about those two prisoners we brought in.”

  Lonergan planted himself in front of Bronko. “You pretty tight with Sheriff Haley, ain’t you, boy? Well your friend could be in a peck of trouble if anything happened in his shit hole of a headquarters to any of the prisoners brought in. So Butler and me reassured him that we didn’t see nothing. You want to go on bein’ Haley’s pet coon dog and go on bein’ scratched, then you didn’t see nothin, neither.”

  “Don’t mess with me, Lonergan.” Bronko’s voice was low and guttural. “Don’t need you tellin’ me what the fuck I gonna do. I broke honkies like you in half when they messed with me. Don’t believe me? Ask the sheriff.” He picked up his cap, pushed Lonergan aside, and left the office.

  When Bronko entered Haley’s office, Luke whispered to Willy, “Isn’t that the guy who ran the door at Fatback’s?” Willy nodded, watching the large man come to attention in front of Haley’s desk. “At ease, Deputy Bronko. This is Mr. and Mrs. Claybourne. Came in this morning because they heard a story that Jimmy Mack and Dale Billings, who were picked up for trespassing, were beaten in this headquarters last night. Mr. Claybourne seems to think you might be a witness to that.” Haley paused and looked steadily at Bronko. “That’s a very serious crime. It would certainly be a terrible discredit to this office, particularly since this office is the first to hire a colored officer in the whole Delta. Did you see Mack and Billings last night?”

  Bronko nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “Did you see Deputy Butler or Deputy Lonergan strike either of those prisoners?”

  His eyes locked on Haley’s. “No, sir. Who say that they did, Sheriff?”

  “James Mack told Mrs. Claybourne that.”

  Bronko’s eyes moved lazily to Willy. “Why you believe Jimmy Mack, Miz Claybourne? He just a full-of-himself nigger, trying to get some size here this summer by agitatin’ good colored folks who’re just tryin’ to get along. You an’ Mr. Claybourne know wasn’t no trouble here ’fore those troublemakers come here. Jimmy Mack is just trouble.”

  Haley nodded. “Thank you, Deputy Bronko. You’re dismissed.”

  When Bronko left the room the sheriff escorted the Claybournes to their car. “Sorry about all this, Willy. I’m not saying you didn’t hear what you say you heard. But according to my officers, any bruises Mack and Billings got were from running and falling. And the only other officer that was present says nothing happened here at the station. My hands are pretty much tied.”

  Lucas met Haley’s gaze. “Willy doesn’t make up alibis for agitators, Dennis. She knows what she saw. She knows what she heard. And she told the truth. Willy doesn’t know how to lie.”

  Willy paused before entering the car. “You’ve got three police officers working for you that are lying to you, Dennis. Guess you’ll have to figure out why.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  When Willy Claybourne walked into the kitchen, she sifted through the fragrant pile of laundry that was stacked on the kitchen counter. Head down, Eula was concentrating on the ironing, the dark hand skillfully moving the iron across the damp laundry.

  “Eula, honey, did you see my white blouse with the scalloped ruffle around the neck?”

  The iron kept moving, edging carefully around the last of the dinner napkins. In the silence, Eula’s eyes remained locked on her work.

  “I asked you a question.” Willy’s voice was annoyed. “Did you see my white blouse? The one Luke says makes me look like a schoolgirl?”

  “No, ma’am.” The iron kept moving. It was so quiet they could hear the slight hiss as the heated iron moved across the moist fabric.

  “What’s this no ma’am and not looking at me when I’m talking to you?”

  Eula very deliberately set the iron on its stand and raised angry eyes to Willy’s.

  “What is all this, Eula? Are you all right?”

  “No, ma’am.

  “You’re not? What’s the matter with you?”

  “It’s not me. It’s Jimmy.”

  “Oh, sweet
Jesus. Jimmy!” Willy sounded relieved but clearly embarrassed. “Forgive me. Is Jimmy okay? He’s been all right since he was treated at Mound Bayou, isn’t he?”

  “His body is healing.” There was a huskiness in her voice. “But his heart and mind are something else.” Tears glistened in Eula’s eyes. “And so are mine.”

  “You?”

  “Yes, me. I’m aching for him. Jimmy’s always been such a proud man.” Her voice was almost a whisper. “You ever seen your man humiliated?”

  “My Luke? Humiliated? You must be kidding. You know him better than that.”

  “Yes, I do. But you and Mr. Luke don’t know my man. And that’s probably why you don’t understand.”

  “Understand what?” Her voice had risen. “I did everything I could. I got him to the hospital in Mound Bayou that night. What else could I have done?”

  “You did.” Eula nodded and unplugged the iron. “And we’re both grateful for that. He was hurt so bad, and he needed help so bad. But it doesn’t end there.”

  “End? What in hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Not one thing done about it. Not one word! Not one reprimand! Not one arrest! I think that you and Mr. Claybourne ought to speak out, force the sheriff to arrest the cops who beat Jimmy up! Claybournes own the second biggest plantation in all of Magnolia County, know all the most important people in Shiloh! You play bridge with the sheriff’s wife! Can’t you get some justice for my man who was beaten almost to death?”

  “Well there must have been—”

  Furious, Eula interrupted. “Must have been what? A reason? There’s no reason, Miss Willy. The only reason is that Jimmy’s skin is black.”

  Willy protested. “He must have done something to make them.”

  Eula stared at the woman. “Yes, something.” The words were angry. “Something real criminal, like trying to register people to vote.”