by Sioux Dallas
“Find those Englisch boys and their parents and have a good talking to them.”
Grossmudder (grandmother) spoke which was unusual for her. Do not repay evil for evil. Do not take revenge. It is mine to avenge; I will repay says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19)
Charity sat by her mother and looked tight-lipped, but said nothing more.
They talked awhile longer and prayed more. Jacob and Adam said that they would go to court when the young men were brought before a judge.
It is true, they did not believe in taking anyone to court or being involved in a trial. In rare cases the Bishop might give someone permission to appear in court as a witness. However, if arrested, there is no getting around appearing in court as charged.
Jacob led his family in prayer again. Jenna Mae offered to feed everyone, but Adam wanted to get home. He was proud of Charity, but was a little uneasy that she spoke out, and to men, as Amish women do not do.
Chapter Five
Micah Fleming’s wife, Anita, offered to drive her car and take them to court on the day assigned. Jacob, Amos Snader, Isaac Slabough and Moses Yoder gratefully accepted her offer and dressed in their best to be in town.
Each wore the traditional black trousers, white shirt and black hat. They didn’t know what to do about money until the judge would tell them if there was to be a fine.
The men sat stoically on a bench behind the Amish young men. Lawrence was ashamed to look at his father and knew what he would have to face at home when, and if, he got out of here. Kyle was so battered that Jacob thought it would be impossible to charge him with an assault. The others sat with heads down and showing fear of the unknown. They knew they had been taught not to lift a hand in anger or say anything in an angry manner.
The young men from town were brought in and seated on another bench on the same side of the room as the Amish. Darren Kennedy smirked as he passed the Amish. Conrad Bolling, Denver Whitmore, Ashley Wilkins, Douglas Winthrop, Marshall Porter, Alan Barkley, Earl Staunton, Abner Washington and Liam McDonald walked in looking smug and satisfied with themselves. After all, they lived in the town and those Amish were not wanted and had no business being in town, they thought.
The bailiff called the court to order and announced that Judge Melinda Pierson would be presiding. The Amish men look startled that a woman was on the bench. They began to feel doubtful about the outcome. Surely a town woman would favor the town boys.
Judge Pierson cracked the gavel and announced that she would not stand for any disrespect toward the court or toward anyone in the court. She reminded them that this was not a trial but a meeting to decide if there would be a court case and what would be expected. She asked the bailiff, Bill White to bring Sheriff Micah Fleming to the stand.
It was difficult to tell from the sheriff’s face how he felt. He gave his full name and title. The judge asked him to proceed.
“Last Saturday, July 23rd, I was working on my report to the town council when Pete Mulanaugh came rushing into my office. Pete owns the Tasty Bite Restaurant across the street from the court house. He said there was a big fight going on and he had observed young men from town harassing and taunting some Amish boys. He didn’t see how the fight started but was sure the Amish had not started it because everyone knows they are peaceful. I got my hat and ran out calling for Deputy John Lynn and Deputy Roy Braun to follow. When I ran the two blocks and got where I could see, I saw one young man haul off and kick the stuffing out of a young man on the ground. He was Amish and badly hurt. I ran up and ordered them to stop. A couple of the boys from town ran and I didn’t get them. My deputies came with two vehicles and I arrested everyone until I could make sense out of the disgraceful brawl. The Amish young men have been respectful and mannerly. The town young men have been arrogant, loud, quarrelsome and hard to contend with.”
The judge thanked the sheriff and dismissed him. He left the witness stand and sat in the court room. The judge looked sternly at all the boys on the front benches. She then asked the bailiff to call Pete Mulanaugh to come to the witness chair.
Pete got up from the back of the court room and came forward. He, too, was sworn in and settled nervously to answer questions.
He knew if he angered the town parents, his business would suffer, but he also knew that God had commanded to not give false testimony.
The judge smiled and said, “Mr. Mulanaugh, we apologize for taking you away from your business, however, I need for you to tell us how you first observed this --- this--disgraceful occurrence.”
“Yes, your honor, I’ll be happy to tell you what I can. I own the Tasty Bite Restaurant across the street from the courthouse. I’m thankful to have such good business from both the people in town and the Amish. I even have two Amish girls as waitresses.” He turned to smile at the judge, but faced front and continued talking much too rapidly in his nervousness.
“Mr. Mulanaugh, please talk so that the Court Reporter can take your statement.”
He gulped. “Yes, your honor. Well, I was at the front counter taking money from a customer that was just leaving. A man and a woman. The woman had started out the door but turned around to say that there was a big fight going on about a block near the Feed and Tack Store. The man rushed to join her and I was right behind them. I saw there was indeed a fight. This is unusual, so I called to one of the waitresses to tell her that I would be back shortly. I ran toward the fight and, as I got closer, I could see there were a lot of young men and some of them were Amish. Just then one of the Amish men was knocked down and three of the town men proceeded to kick him. I yelled, but they paid no attention to me. Apparently someone had already called the Sheriff because he ran up just as I got there. He and his deputies started pulling the men apart and he tried to get them to stop and talk to him. Some of the men from town wouldn’t stop, so he arrested all of them saying he would take them all in until he got to the bottom of it. Two of the men from town looked as if they had taken some hard licks. I heard some men standing around say the men from town had started it all.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mulanaugh, I appreciate your input, but I can’t take hearsay talk as facts. I must have the actual people here to tell us what they observed and heard.”
“I’m sorry, your honor, but I think the people were tourists, or at least from another town near us.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mulanaugh, I appreciate your sharing with us. You may be excused.”
Judge Pierson looked at her notes for a minute and then looking up said, “I see the Prosecuting Attorney is present, but I don’t see Attorneys for the young men present.”
At that moment there was a flurry of activity at the door and a man came running in. He was so tall and thin he looked like Ichabod Crane. His black hair was a little longer than his collar. His black eyes were so prominent that they looked bugged out. His thin lips were drawn tight as he rushed in with coat tail flapping. His gray suit, white shirt and blue tie looked as if he’d slept in his clothes.
“Sorry, your honor. I’m Ezekiel Marshall. I’ve just this morning been hired by Dr, Willfred Kennedy to represent his son and any of his friends who have need of my services.”
“That’s fine, Mr. Marshall. I hope you understand we are not having a trial this morning. We’re listening to facts to determine if there should be a trial.”
“Yes, your honor. I mean, no, your honor. I’m not aware of the entire situation. May I ask for a delay to talk to my client, or clients? If this could be postponed until sometime tomorrow, I would appreciate it.”
“Mr. Marshall. I repeat. This is not a trial, however, I appreciate your dilemma. As it is 11 o‘clock, I shall adjourn until two o’clock this afternoon. That should give all of us time for lunch and to get our wits together.” Judge Pierson tapped her gavel on the pad and stood up.
“All rise,” the bailiff quickly called, looking confused.
The Amish fathers looked to Jacob to know what to do. He quickly walked to the gate leading into the area where the young me
n were seated.
Calling to the bailiff he asked what was going on and if the Amish fathers could talk to the Amish young men.
“I don’t see why you can’t talk to them. They can’t leave to have lunch with you. They’ll be fed here.”
“Thank you. I just want to talk to my son.” He walked to Lawrence and they looked at each other with fear, shame and deep concern.
“Got segen eicg, my buwe (God bless you my boy).” Lawrence hung his head and took deep breaths to keep from crying.
“Daed, how is mamm? I’m so sorry that I brought this on all of you. Kyle was being beaten by three at once and I tried to separate them. I didn’t strike any blows and didn’t try to fight. I was just trying to separate them and stop the fight.”
“Then how did you get that black eye?”
“Someone hit me when I was trying to pull some of them apart.”
“Did you see who?”
“Nee daed. There was too much going on and there were twice as many of them as there were of us.”
Moses Yoder had been standing by listening. “Didn’t anyone else try to stop it?” He was so upset he forgot to speak English.
“A man was coming out of the feed store just as it started,” Buckley Yoder remembered.
“Maybe we can find who it was.” Moses said with a tremble in his voice.
When they returned from lunch a women came hurrying into the court room. “Oh, I hope I’m not too late.”
“Too late for what?” Jacob asked politely.
“My husband and I saw all of this start when we were in the feed store.”
“Where is your husband?”
“In the hospital. He tried to stop it and got knocked down. Someone stepped on him and caused bleeding in his chest. We went to the hospital and I just today heard there was to be a hearing. I’d like to help.”
The bailiff and deputies, who were keeping an eye on the people, came over and asked everyone to go to their places.
“Sir, my husband and I were in the feed store and saw everything just as it started.” She spoke to the bailiff.
“I’ll inform the Judge. Please take a seat. All rise. The honorable Judge Melinda Pierson is prepared to continue the hearing.”
As she sat at her station the bailiff stepped up and whispered to her. She looked out at the court room, found Mrs. Bledsoe, nodded and whispered to the bailiff.
“The court is now in session. Mrs. Anita Bledsoe, please come forward.”
Anita hurried through the gate and stood by the bailiff facing the judge.
Judge Pierson smiled at her. “Mrs. Bledsoe, do you have facts that you would like to share with us concerning this fight?”
“Yes, your honor and I think what I have to say will expedite this hearing.”
“Fine. Bailiff, swear her in and show her to the witness stand.”
“Place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?” he asked.
She hesitated. “Yes, and so help me God I will. I don’t approve of that line being left out.”
The judge turned to Mrs. Bledsoe. “Please tell us what you observed and how you reacted.”
“Yes, your honor. My husband and I were in the Feed and Tack store. I was waiting on my husband to finish a transaction and looked out the window. I saw these young Amish men walking by and minding their own business. Suddenly that one,” she pointed to Darren Kennedy, “stepped in front of them with several more behind him. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but from the smirk on his face I knew it wasn’t good.”
“I object,” Attorney Marshall jumped up.
“What are you objecting to, Mr. Marshall. To the lady telling the truth?” Judge Pierson asked
“Mrs. Bledsoe said she inside the store and couldn’t hear what was being said. She called his expression a smirk, but maybe she saw something that wasn’t really there.”
The judge drew a deep breath. “Mrs. Bledsoe, would you truly say it was a smirk on this young man’s face?”
“Oh, yes. The other young men with him started talking and looking as if they were taunting the Amish young men.”
“Your honor! I object.”
“This lady has already stated that she could not hear what was being said. How does she know what they were saying?”
“She didn’t say she knew. She said it looked as if they were taunting.”
“Well, what she’s saying is making it sound worse than what it was.”
“Please have a seat Mr. Marshall. Remember this is only a hearing. Please continue, Mrs. Bledsoe.”
“I called to my husband and he and the store owner came to stand beside me. I saw that the Amish men were not showing any signs of anger while the others were looking angry and twisting their mouths to say things. At that moment,” she pointed to Darren, “that young man started shoving that young man in the chest.” She pointed to Kyle. “Before my husband could get out of the door other young men from town had joined the group and they were shoving the young Amish men around. None of the Amish fought back.” She pointed to Darren again. “He took his fist and hit him,” pointing to Kyle, “in the chest so hard that he fell backward. Several of the others started kicking him and fighting the Amish. One young Amish man”, she pointed to Lawrence, “was begging everyone to stop and was trying to drag the men off the Amish men. All of the town men then started hitting the Amish men and continued until the sheriff came up.”
Mr. Marshall jumped up. “Then how did Douglas Winthrop end up in the hospital with a concussion?”
“I can answer that, your honor,” Mrs. Bledsoe said.
“Did you see what happened?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Please tell us.”
“I don’t know any of the names, but I did see some of the town boys so close together trying to fight the Amish that one boy apparently lost his balance and fell backward striking his head on a concrete flower container in front of the feed store. I’m no doctor, but I imagine that’s how he got the concussion.”
“Then,” Judge Pierson said, “are you saying the young men from town struck the first blows and antagonized the Amish men?”
“As far as I could see, they struck the only blows.”
A commotion in the middle of the room caused everyone to look that direction. Two men came walking by the Amish fathers and gave them dirty looks.
“Your honor, my name is Quincy Winthrop. May I respond to this lady’s testimony?”
“Yes, of course. Mrs. Bledsoe you may be excused, but don’t leave yet. Bailiff, bring Mr. Winthrop to the stand and swear him in. And who are you?” she spoke to the second man standing.
“Your honor, I am Dr. Willfred Kennedy, father of Darren Kennedy. I have a say in this.” He glared at the Amish men, but did reluctantly sit.
Quincy Winthrop walked with great importance to the witness stand. He placed his hand on the Bible and listened to the bailiff ask him for the truth.
The bailiff again left out ‘so help me God‘. Winthrop smirked at Mrs. Bledso when he didn’t put in the phrase.
“All right Mr. Winthrop, may we hear what you have to say?”
“Oh, yes,” he said emphatically. “My son is a Christian and was raised in a Christian home. He has been taught to have compassion on those less fortunate than him,” he smirked at the Amish, “and I know for a fact he would never indulge in something as low as a fight.”
The judge smiled. “Can we ever be sure what our children will do or say when they are out of our sight or when with others they might be trying to impress their friends?”
“Oh, yes, your honor. I asked him and he told me he didn’t fight and that the Amish men were hitting them. I believe my son.” He smiled at his son.
Jacob stood up. “Your honor. It’s going against our religious training to even be in court. I feel I must say something to clear this up.”
“Please do. Bailiff, escort Mr. Winthrop off the stan
d and swear in Mr.-- May we have your name?”
“Jacob Startz, your honor. My son is Lawrence Startz.”
He sat in the witness chair. “Your honor, I mean no disrespect, but we don’t approve of swearing and I would like to be excused from that part.”
Trying not to smile, Judge Pierson said, “Well, do you affirm that you will tell the truth?”
“Yes, your honor. I have to. If I tell a lie, I will be punished for it.”
Not wanting to get into religious discussions with him, the judge asked him to tell what he wanted them to know.
“Your honor, I was not there and did not witness the fight. I can only tell you that our young people are taught to turn the other cheek. If any of them fight, get caught telling lies or spreading hurtful gossip, they will be brought up before the church and shamed. If it is bad enough they will face meinding.”
“What is that Mr. Startz?”
“Oh, that is shunning. For about six weeks they would be as if they are dead. Not even family members can eat with them, speak to them or do anything with them. You are not shunned if you have not been baptized and joined the church. All of these Amish boys have been baptized and joined the church. They would be shunned if they lifted their hands in anger against anyone. That is how I know they did not fight. It would bring shame to the entire family, and to the church.”
“Thank you, Mr. Startz, I am aware of your beliefs and feel reasonable sure that the Amish young men did not fight.”
Mr. Marshall jumped up at the same time Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Kennedy did. All three of them started to argue with her at the same time.
She hit the gavel smartly on the pad. “Gentlemen, and I hope you are, please sit down and keep quiet. I feel I’ve heard enough to know if there will be a trial. I know for a fact that the Amish will not even defend themselves. As for taking the other young men to court, I leave that up to the Amish whether they will sue or not. They certainly have a case.”
Again the three men jumped up to argue.
“Please sit down and be quiet or I’ll have the deputies arrest you.”