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se； or if he puts a good defense。 But the grand jury don't worry 'bout things like that。〃
〃Anything further from the grand jury？〃 Buckley asked anxiously。 〃Okay； we need a motion。〃
〃I make a motion we don't indict him for anything；〃 yelled Crowell。
〃Second；〃 mumbled Barney Flaggs。
Buckley's knees quivered。 He tried to speak； but nothing came forth。 Ozzie suppressed his joy。
〃We have a motion and a second；〃 announced Mrs。 Gossett。 〃All in favor raise your hands。〃
Five black hands went up； along with Crowell's。 Sk votes。 The motion failed。
〃Whatta we do now？〃 asked Mrs。 Gossett。
Buckley spoke rapidly： 〃Someone make a motion to indict Mr。 Hailey for two counts of capital murder and one count of assault on a peace officer。〃
〃So move；〃 said one of the whites。
〃Second；〃 said another。
〃All in favor； raise your hands；〃 said Mrs。 Gossett。 〃I count twelve hands。 All opposed…I count five plus mine makes six。 Twelve to six。 What does that mean？〃
〃That means he's been indicted；〃 Buckley replied proudly。 He breathed normally again； and the color returned to his face。 He whispered to a secretary； then addressed the grand jury。 〃Let's take a ten…minute recess。 We have about forty more cases to work on； so please don't be gone long。 I would like to remind you of something Judge Noose said this morning。 These deliberations are extremely confidential。
You are not to discuss any 01 your worK ouisiue room…〃
〃What he's tryin' to say；〃 interrupted Crowell； 〃is that we can't tell anybody that he came within one vote of not gettin' the indictments。 Ain't that right； Buckley？〃
The D。A。 quickly left the room and slammed the door。
Surrounded by dozens of cameras and reporters； Buckley stood on the front steps of the courthouse and waved copies of the indictments。 He preached； lectured； moralized； praised the grand jury； sermonized against crime and vigilantes； and condemned Carl Lee_Hailey。 Bring on the trial。 Put the jury in the box。 He guaranteed a conviction。 He guaranteed a death penalty。 He was obnoxious； offensive； arrogant； self…righteous。 He was himself。 Vintage Buckley。 A few of the reporters left； but he labored on。 He extolled himself and his trial skills and his ninety； no； ninety…five percent conviction rate。 More reporters left。 More cameras were turned off。 He praised Judge Noose for his wisdom and fairness。 He acclaimed the intelligence and good judgment of Ford County jurors。
He outlasted them。 They grew weary of him and they all left。
Stump Sisson was the Klan's Imperial Wizard for Mississippi； and he had called the meeting at the small cabin deep in the pine forests of Nettles County； two hundred and thirty miles south of Ford County。 There were no robes； rituals； or speeches。 The small group of Klansmen discussed the events in Ford County with a Mr。 Freddie Cobb； brother of Billy Ray Cobb； deceased。 Freddie had called a friend who called Stump to arrange the meeting。
Had they indicted the nigger？ Cobb was not sure； but he had heard the trial would be in late summer； or early fall。 What concerned him most was all the talk about the nigger pleading insanity and getting off。 It wasn't right。 The nigger killed his brother in cold blood； planned the shooting。 He hid in a closet and waited for his brother。 It was coldblooded murder； and now there was talk of the nigger walking free。 What could the Klan do about it？ The niggers have plenty of protection nowadays…the NAACP； ACLU； a thousand other civil rights groups； plus the courts and the government。 Hell； white folks ain't got a chance； except for the Klan。 Who else would march and stand up for white people。 All the laws favor the niggers； and the liberal nigger…loving politicians keep making more laws against white people。 Somebody's got to stand up for them。 That's why he called the Klan。
Is the nigger in jail？ Yes； and he's treated like a king。 Got a nigger sheriff up there； Walls； and he likes this nigger。 Gives him special privileges and extra protection。 The sheriffs another story。 Someone said Hailey might get out of jail this week on bond。 Just a rumor。 They hoped he got out。
What about your brother？ Did he rape her？ We're not sure； probably not。 Willard； the other guy； confessed to rape； but Billy Ray never confessed。 He had plenty of women。 Why would he rape a little nigger girl？ And if he did； what was the big deal？
Who's the nigger's lawyer？ Brigance； a local boy in Clanton。 Young； but pretty good。 Does a lot of criminal work
and has a good reputation； won several minuet
told some reporters the nigger would plead insanity and get
off。
Who's the judge？ Don't know yet。 Bullard was the county judge； but someone said he would not hear the case。 There's talk of moving the case to another county； so who knows who will be the judge。
Sisson and the Kluxers listened intently to this ignorant redneck。 They liked the part about the NAACP and the government and the politicians； but they had also read the papers and watched TV and they knew his brother had received justice。 But at the hands of a nigger。 It was unthinkable。
The case had real potential。 With the trial several months away； there was time to plan a rebellion。 They could march during the day around the courthouse in their white robes and pointed； hooded masks。 They could make speeches to a captive audience and parade in front of the cameras。 The press would love it…hate them； but love the altercations； the disruptions。 And at night they could intimidate with burning crosses and threatening phone calls。 The targets would be easy and unsuspecting。 Violence would be unavoidable。 They knew how to provoke it。 They fully appreciated what the sight of marching white robes did to crowds of angry niggers。
Ford County could be their playground for hide and seek； search and destroy； and hit and run。 They had time to organize and call in rades from other states。 What Kluxer would miss this golden moment？ And new recruits？ Why； this case could fuel the fires of racism and bring nigger haters out of the woods and onto the streets。 Membership was down。 Hailey would be their new battle cry； the rallying point。
〃Mr。 Cobb； can you get us the names and addresses of the nigger； his family； his lawyer； the judge； and the jurors？〃 asked Sisson。
Cobb pondered this task。 〃Everbody but the jurors。 They ain't been picked yet。〃
〃When will you know them？〃
〃Damned if I know。 I guess at trial。 What're y'all thinkin'？〃
〃We're not sure； but the Klan most likely will get involved。 We need to flex our muscle a bit； and this could be a good opportunity。〃
〃Can I help？〃 Cobb asked eagerly。
〃Sure； but you need to be a member。〃
〃We ain't got no Klan up there。 It folded a long time ago。 My granddaddy used to be a member。〃
〃You mean the grandfather of the victim was a Klansman？〃
〃Yep；〃 Cobb answered proudly。
〃Well； then； we must get involved。〃 The Klansmen shook their heads in disbelief and vowed revenge。 They explained to Cobb that if he could get five or six friends of similar thinking and motivation to agree to join； they would have a big； secret ceremony deep in the woods of Ford County with a huge burning cross and all sorts of rituals。…They would be