by Gary C. King
Farris: Uh . . .
March: . . . deputy prosecutor?
Farris: The, the—what, what’s his name? Uh, I, I, I, you know, I know, I know . . .
March: I don’t know what his name . . .
Farris: Yeah, I don’t, either.
March: So, anyway. You know why they haven’t had Perry, uh, before this? They tried to get him and they couldn’t, and they, they could—’cause they couldn’t get anybody in the, in the, uh, prosecutor’s office that would take the case.
Farris: Really?
March: Because they know there’s no case.
Farris: Yeah.
March: So what they did, what the Levines did . . .
Farris: Um-hm.
March: . . . this guy was guaranteed, win, lose, draw, whatever.
Farris: Yeah.
March: He, he resigns when it’s over and he’s got a job on one of the big law firms in Nashville.
Farris: Well, hopefully—hopefully, he’s not gonna win this case. If, if—look here, Colonel. If, if, if I’ve got anything to do with this, and, and right now, look here. I’ll, I’ll tell you what I’ve done so far. If, uh, you know, I, I, I know about what time, uh, Lawrence comes out of his house. You know, I know where he takes Zippy [sic] and Sammy to school at. And you know I, I’ve . . .
March: Did he tell you that—I think they’re goin’ to the school—well, you know, okay.
Farris: Yeah, I, I know exactly where . . .
March: I think it’s the University . . .
Farris: Yeah, it’s, it’s out by Vanderbilt is where it’s at.
March: Yeah, that’s—it’s part of it, it’s called the University School.
Farris: Yeah. You know, and, uh, well, it’s just like, uh, Monday mornin’, uh, I don’t know the wife’s name, but that’s who took ’em Monday mornin’. But, but, uh, Thursday—let’s see, okay. No, let’s see? It was Monday and Tuesday Lawrence took ’em to school, and then Wednesday, uh, this mornin’ was, uh, the wife took ’em to school. So, you know, just, just . . .
March: Okay, they probably won’t be goin’ tomorrow, so you can lay back.
Farris: Yeah. Well, you know, I’m, I’m . . .
March: ’Cause tomorrow’s a high holiday and they’ll . . .
Farris: Yeah.
March: . . . that’s one of the things they’re gonna make sure that they’re at the synagogue, because that’s one of the things they, they said that we weren’t doing here, giving them a good Jewish education, you know.
Farris: Yeah. Well, the—I, I think they’re just, they’re just full of shit and, you know, uh . . .
March: Well, they’re—hey, hey, listen. Uh, this whole thing . . .
Farris: Uh-huh.
March: . . . is set up. They know they ain’t got nothin’ on Perry.
Farris: I know.
March: But this was sent to get the kids into their clutches.
Farris: Yeah. And that, you know, me and Perry . . .
March: Now are you on a, on a, on a phone, or you want me to call you? Are you having to pay for this?
Farris: Well, well, no. I’m on a—actually, my—I got a buddy who’s on probation and, and like he’s workin’ at the five-star, uh, telecommunications thing out here on Forty-fourth and North Avenue. And, like, this phone that I’m on . . .
March: Oh. Okay, so . . .
Farris: You know, it’s callin’ all over the world.
March: So, so, you’re all . . .
Farris: You know, but, but, like . . .
March: So, you’re all right.
Farris: Yeah. And, like, I, I . . .
March: And Perry’s been helping you. ’Cause he’s good, let me tell you.
Farris: Yeah.
March: When he, when he’s not—I don’t know how, how steady he is right now because he’s a little shook up.
Farris: Yeah, I know he is, and I’m . . .
March: He . . .
Farris: . . . I’m tryin’ to help him out, but, uh, you know, it’s just—I, I, I just, uh, I just need a couple of things to, to have . . .
March: (inaudible)
Farris: . . . this all wrapped up and that’s . . .
March: Well, tell me what you need and I’ll take care of it if I can, possibly.
Farris: Okay, well, uh, I, I—basically what, what I need from you and, and it, it might be kind of hard, but, it’d, it’d be the best way, I think, because, uh, I, I need a instrument, if you know what I’m—you know, if you know what I’m talkin’ about, because . . .
March: I, I—there’s no way I can get an instrument up north.
Farris: Yeah.
March: I’m in the barter . . .
Farris: Yeah.
March: And I . . .
Farris: Well, see, I, I can get one myself. But what that does is that the people I go to get it, you know, that, that, that’s gonna leave a trail for me, if you, you know what I mean.
March: Yeah.
Farris: And, and, and . . .
March: The problem is that I’m down here . . . Farris: Yeah.
March: . . . and I’ve got instruments . . .
Farris: Uh-huh.
March: But I can’t—there’s no way I can get ’em up, up, up to you, now I’m, I’m (inaudible). . . .
Farris: Well, like I’ve, I’ve got family that lives in Texas. I got a uncle that lives in Freeport, Texas. And like, uh, you know, me and Perry discussed it, you know, if, if everything went as planned that, that, that you know I, I . . .
March: Probably better off to purchase it in Freeport and then get it up there.
Farris: Yeah.
March: That would be the easiest and least traceable.
Farris: Yeah, well, see, like I, you know, I, I’ve got an uncle there, but you know, I—you know he don’t know nothin’ about, you know, anything like that. I’m just—you—basically what . . .
March: Well, I mean all he’s gotta do—see Texas got pretty good laws there.
Farris: Yeah.
March: And he can walk in and if he’s clean . . .
Farris: Um-hm.
March: . . . uh, whether it’s, you know, you want the small size or the large economy size.
Farris: Yeah.
March: A large economy size is, uh, probably, uh, because hunting season coming up is probably your best bet.
Farris: Yeah.
March: I would use, uh, say a twelve.
Farris: A twelve?
March: Size twelve.
Farris: Well, well, well, see, I’ll tell you where, uh, they’re—they’re not at home now. They, they’re, they’re, they’re at this, like, condominium place. And, and, and, and it, you know, if, if, if, uh . . .
March: Uh, you mean they’re not living on, uh . . .
Farris: They, they’re not livin’ on Vaughn’s (Gap) Road.
March: It’s just . . .
Farris: I, I went to Vaughn’s (Gap) Road to that house. I went there myself. They’re, uh . . .
March: Well, where are they livin’?
Farris: They’re, they’re livin’ in, in . . .
March: See, I don’t know. See, I don’t know what’s goin’ on up there. You understand that?
Farris: Yeah. Well, well, see here, here’s like—they’re, they’re doin’ some kind of work at, at the house on Vaughn’s (Gap) Road. Okay, I don’t know what kinda work they’re doin’. I think they’re, like, redecoratin’ the inside. And you know, I see drywall and shit.
March: Probably making room for the kids, because, see, they . . .
Farris: Probably so.
March: Then their kid, who’s gay, in case you didn’t know.
Farris: Nuh-uh. Oh yeah . . .
March: Yeah, one of these kids . . .
Farris: . . . I thought you were talkin’ about their son in Washington or somethin’?
March: Well, he’s there with ’em most of the time.
Farris: Okay, well, I, I haven’t seen him yet. I haven’t . . .
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March: Okay. His name is Mark.
Farris: Okay.
March: He works for the only congressman that is gay.
Farris: (laughs)
March: And he’s gay.
Farris: Yeah.
March: Now he’s also on the side, his lover.
Farris: Really?
March: He’s on the—he’s on this guy’s payroll—or the last my people told me, well, he—that’s what he was doin’. I’m . . .
Farris: Okay.
March: Uh, that would be about a month, month and a half ago.
Farris: Okay. Well, uh . . .
March: So, that’s—and he’s usually with them whenever they make court opin . . . ’pinions and everything else.
Farris: Yeah.
March: ’Cause it’s not a real job that he’s got.
Farris: Okay.
March: So, watch your back and watch for him, ’cause he’s the third party.
Farris: Okay.
March: He’s, he’s not dangerous.
Farris: Yeah.
March: But he’s, he’s with ’em.
Farris: Okay.
March: He’ll be the guy that’s walking to Larry’s left, usually carrying some books or a folder.
Farris: Okay. Okay, that’s, uh, yeah, that’s, that’s useful. Okay, uh, Colonel, look here, you, uh, you have that line checked again and I will get in touch with you Friday. And, and . . .
March: Okay. And do you want to give me a number or not?
Farris: Well . . .
March: In case I can get—well, I don’t need you, you need me.
Farris: Yeah, yeah exactly.
March: So, okay . . .
Farris: Exactly.
March: . . . let’s leave it at that.
Farris: Oh, okay. But I do want you to do one thing. Uh, you know Perry told me that uh, that, sometimes you e-mail your daughter and that she just downloads it and mails him a letter. Just tell Perry . . .
March: Yeah.
Farris: . . . that, uh, Bobby Givings contacted you about, about the BMW.
March: G-I-B-B-O-N-S?
Farris: Huh? Bobby.
March: G-I-B-B . . .
Farris: No, Givings, Givings. G-I-V-I-N-G-S.
March: Wait a minute. G—spell it.
Farris: Okay. G-I-V-I-N-G-S. First name . . .
March: N—Givings.
Farris: Yeah, Givings.
March: G-I- V-I-N-G-S.
Farris: Yes, sir.
March: Bobby.
Farris: Yeah, Bobby Givings.
March: I got it.
Farris: Okay, and just, just—that’s just to let him know that, you know, things is goin’ like they’re supposed to go. And, um . . .
March: Well, I hope she’ll have it tomorrow morning.
Farris: Okay.
March: I don’t know how long it takes her to get things to . . .
Farris: Okay. And, uh . . .
March: . . . Perry, but it’ll—this will be outta here tonight.
Farris: Okay, I’ll be in touch with you Friday, Colonel. All right?
March: And I’ll, and I’ll, uh, take care of what I can at this end.
Farris: Okay, okay. Thank you.
March: Okay.
Farris: All right.
March: Thanks for calling.
Farris: Oh, no problem.
March: Bye-bye.
Farris: Bye.
[End of phone call]
Chapter 26
Two days later, on Friday, October 14, 2005, the second planned telephone call between Nate Farris and Arthur March occurred from the same jail facility. Obviously, the previously agreed upon jailhouse schedule had been accelerated. As with the first call, Pridemore and Postiglione were present. Postiglione provided a brief recorded statement prior to Farris placing the call. Following is an amended transcript of the lengthy call:
POSTIGLIONE: . . . thousand and five. The following is gonna be a telephone conversation between Russell Nathaniel Farris, also known as Bobby Givings. Uh, the time now is approximately four fifty-three P.M. The phone number dialed from the Criminal Justice Center is gonna be dialed to Mexico. Uh, this is be—uh, being done with the knowledge and cooperation of Russell Nathaniel Farris, he’s a male, white. I’m Sergeant Pat Postiglione. Also present during this recorded conversation is going to be Detective Bill Pridemore, Assistant District Attorney, uh, Tom Thurman [sic], and Assistant District Attorney Katie Miller. Also being contacted at the number given is gonna be Arthur March. This is a follow-up to the conversation that occurred on October twelfth, at approximately seventeen forty-five hours. This is gonna be second phone call made to the number that I’ve just given.
March: Bueno.
Farris: Hey. Hey, Colonel?
March: Hi.
Farris: Hey, this is Bobby, how you doin’?
March: Oh, fine. Everything’s clear at this end.
Farris: It, it is? Great.
March: Yep.
Farris: Okay, uh, let me, let me go over . . .
March: Always be careful, though.
Farris: Yeah, exactly. Well I’m . . .
March: My guy said that, that he does not know of anybody that’s got something here good. You understand?
Farris: Yeah.
March: He checked and he said that nothing.
Farris: Yeah. I checked about my uncle, too, and he, he was arrested for marijuana charges down there in Texas, so, you know, he can’t do nothin’ for me, either. But, uh . . .
March: Yeah, well, you know it’s, it’s got all of us that do things have problems.
Farris: Yeah. Well, uh, I’ve got a guy here that I can, you know, that I can get an instrument from, but, you know, it’s just that, uh, you know, I want as less people involved as possible.
March: Your best bet, from my experience, is the black area of anywhere that you would look would be any for the—the cost is lower and the ability is cheaper.
Farris: Yeah.
March: But I would go to the black areas. And I’m sure you have some friends . . .
Farris: Yeah, I, I you know.
March: . . . or some, it, it’s . . .
Farris: I’ve, you know, I can . . .
March: That’s where I would go.
Farris: Yeah. Well, I mean, I could leave right now and go do that. It’s just—it, it’s a matter of people knowin’. You understand what I’m sayin’?
March: Yeah, but I mean there—the problem there is they don’t know and you can, uh, with them it’s an everyday sale.
Farris: Yeah, well, well, well, see . . .
March: Okay?
Farris: . . . here, here’s what I kind of, you know, I was thinkin’ that maybe if I did have to go that route, what I was gonna do is, uh, whenever I bought the gun, I was gonna try to get me a silencer, too. Because the way I’m gonna do this, you know, it’s gonna have to be quick and quiet.
March: Well, I don’t know how you plan to do it.
Farris: Yeah. But, uh . . .
March: But, uh, that, that’ll be—that’ll be more ex—that’ll increase the cost . . .
Farris: Um-hm.
March: . . . and the, uh, the total operation by at least fifty percent.
Farris: Yeah. What, uh . . .
March: But I’m being honest with you.
Farris: Here’s somethin’ I wanted to tell you. Like, uh, if, uh, you know I was thinkin’, you know, that you know, I, I probably will have to just locate one up here myself. But what I was gonna do, and, uh, I was gonna let a couple of people handle it. You know what I mean? And that way . . .
March: Yep.
Farris: And that way, you know . . .
March: If you go through se-several hands before it gets to you.
Farris: Yeah.
March: . . . that’s a good way.
Farris: Yeah. And, you know, then, you know, of course I’m gonna have gloves on, and, you know, my fingerprints won’t be on nothin�
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March: Yeah.
Farris: And, uh, you know . . .
March: Make sure that you, when you clean it . . .
Farris: Yeah, well, well, well, see this . . .
March: . . . you got your gloves.
Farris: . . . this is some of the stuff that I wanted to speak to you about. Because, I mean, Perry told me, you know, that you know, about your military background and, and, you know.
March: Okay, I, you know, I did Special Force time and . . .
Farris: Yeah.
March: . . . uh . . .
Farris: He’s, he’s told me . . .
March: . . . so . . .
Farris: . . . you know, a little, little bit about you, but, uh . . .
March: My suggestion is from the minute the product is got . . .
Farris: Um-hm.
March: . . . you wear thin surgeon’s gloves.
Farris: Yeah. Okay, uh . . .
March: You do not take them off at all.
Farris: Okay, well, look, I want to run somethin’ else by you. And, and . . .
March: Okay.
Farris: . . . and, I mean, I, I know that my end’s clear, you said that yours is, too, so I’m pretty—I feel pretty good about this. Okay, uh, the, uh—Lawrence’s wife, what I found out she does sometimes, it’s not every time, but I mean the weather’s been pretty good up here. When she comes back from, from takin’ the kids to school, like this apartment—these condos that she’s stayin’ at, she, uh, she kinda walks around some. You know, like gettin’ some exercise.
March: Uh-huh.
Farris: And, uh, like there’s a lot of people joggin’ out in this area. And, like, what I thought about doin’ is, uh, I can get a car from a buddy of mine. And, you know, of course he don’t know, you know, what I would do with it. And, uh, I found another car that’s kind of similar to it and I was gonna switch the tags on the car.
March: That’s—I was gonna say that’s the first thing you do.
Farris: Yeah, okay. Then I was gonna . . .
March: And you have at least—my suggestion is three sets.
Farris: Yeah.
March: What it came with . . .
Farris: Uh-huh.
March: . . . one you use, and one you return it to.
Farris: Yeah, yeah, okay, and here’s, you know, I’ve got a couple of joggin’ suits with the hoods on ’em. And what I, you know, there’s another apartment complex about six blocks away from where they’re stayin’. And I was gonna maybe park the car there and just, you know, kinda jog around the neighborhood, you know, to, you know, and, uh . . .