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him to jail。
For Day TWo the sun rose quickly in the east and in seconds burned the dew off the thick green Bermuda around the Ford County Courthouse。 A sticky; invisible fog smoldered from the grass and clung to the heavy boots and bulky pants of the soldiers。 The sun baked them as they nonchalantly paced the sidewalks of downtown Clanton。 They loitered under shade trees and the canopies of small shops。 By the time breakfast was served under the pavilions; the soldiers had stripped to their pale green undershirts and were drenched in sweat。
The black preachers and their followers went directly to their spot and set up camp。 They unfolded lawn chairs under oak trees' and placed coolers of ice water on card tables。 Blue and white FREE CARL LEE placards were tacked on tomato stakes and stuck in the ground like neat fencerows。 Agee had printed some new posters with an enlarged black and white photo of Carl Lee in the center and a red; white; and blue border。 They were slick and professional。
The Klansmen went obediently to their section of the front lawn。 They brought their own placards…white backgrounds with bold red letters screaming FRY CARL LEE; FRY CARL LEE。 They waved them at the blacks across the lawn; and the two groups started shouting。 The soldiers formed neat lines along the sidewalk; and stood armed but casual as obscenities and chants flew over their heads。 It was 8:00 A。M。 of Day Two。
The reporters were giddy with all the newsworthiness。 They rushed to the front lawn when the yelling started。 Oz…zie and the colonel walked around and around the courthouse; pointing here and there and yelling into their radios。
At nine; Ichabod said good morning to the standing…room…only crowd。 Buckley stood slowly and with great animation informed His Honor that he had no further questions for the panel。
Lawyer Brigance rose from his seat with rubber knees
and turbulence in his stomach。 He walked to the railing and gazed into the anxious eyes of ninety…four prospective jurors。
The crowd listened intently to this young; cocky mouthpiece who had once boasted of never having lost a murder case。 He appeared relaxed and confident。 His voice was loud; yet warm。 His words were educated; yet colloquial。 He introduced himself again; and his client; then his client's family; saving the little girl for last。 He plimented the D。A。 for such an exhaustive interrogation yesterday afternoon; and confessed that most of his questions had already been asked。 He glanced at his notes。 His first question was a bombshell。
〃Ladies and gentlemen; do any of you believe that the insanity defense should not be used under any circumstances?〃
They squirmed a little; but no hands。 He caught them off…guard; right off the bat。 Insanity! Insanity! The seed had been planted。
〃If we prove Carl Lee Hailey was legally insane when he shot Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard; is there a person on this panel who cannot find him not guilty?〃
The question was hard to follow…intentionally so。 There were no hands。 A few wanted to respond; but they were not certain of the appropriate response。
Jake eyed them carefully; knowing most of them were confused; but also knowing that for this moment every member of the panel was thinking about his client being insane。 That's where he would leave them。
〃Thank you;〃 he said with all the charm he had ever mustered in his life。 〃I have nothing further; Your Honor。〃
Buckley looked confused。 He stared at the judge; who was equally bewildered。
〃Is that all?〃 Noose asked incredulously。 〃Is that all; Mr。 Brigance?〃
〃Yes; sir; Your Honor; the panel looks fine to me;〃 Jake said with an air of trust; as opposed to Buckley; who had grilled them for three hours。 The panel was anything but acceptable to Jake; but there was no sense repeating the same questions Buckley had asked。
〃Very well。 Let me see the attorneys in chambers。〃
Buckley; Musgrove; Jake; Ellen; and Mr。 Pate followed
icnaDod through the door behind the bench and sat around the desk in chambers。 Noose spoke: 〃I assume; gentlemen; that you want each juror questioned individually on the death penalty。〃
〃Yes; sir;〃 said Jake。
〃That's correct; Your Honor;〃 said Buckley。
〃Very well。 Mr。 Bailiff; would you bring in juror number one; Carlene Malone。〃
Mr。 Pate left; walked to the courtroom and yelled for Carlene Malone。 Moments later she followed him into chambers。 She was terrified。 The attorneys smiled but said nothing: Noose's instructions。
〃Please have a seat;〃 Noose offered as he removed his robe。 〃This will only take a minute; Mrs。 Malone。 Do you have any strong feelings one way or the other about the death penalty?〃 asked Noose。
She shook her head nervously and stared at Ichabod。 〃Uh; no; sir。〃
〃You realize that if you're selected for this jury and Mr。 Hailey is convicted; you will be called upon to sentence him to death?〃
〃Yes; sir。〃
〃If the State proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the killings were premeditated; and if you believe Mr。 Hailey was not legally insane at the time of the killings; could you consider imposing the death penalty?〃
〃Certainly。 I think it should be used all the time。 Might stop some of this meanness。 I'm all for it。〃
Jake continued smiling and nodding politely at juror number one。 Buckley smiled too; and winked at Musgrove。
〃Thank you; Mrs。 Malone。 You may return to your seat in the courtroom;〃 Noose said。
〃Bring in number two;〃 Noose ordered Mr。 Pate。 Mar…cia Dickens; an elderly white woman with a hard frown; was led to chambers。 Yes; sir; she said; she was very much in favor of the death penalty。 Would have no problems voting for it。 Jake sat there and smiled。 Buckley winked again。 Noose thanked her and called for number three。
Three and four were equally unforgiving; ready to kill if the proof was there。 Then number five; Gerald Ault; Jake's secret weapon; was seated in chambers。
〃Thank you Mr。 Ault; this will only take a minute; Noose repeated。 〃First of all; do you have strong feelings for or against the death penalty?〃
〃Oh; yes; sir。〃 Ault answered eagerly; his voice and face radiating passion。 〃I'm very much against it。 It's cruel and unusual。 I'm ashamed I live in a society which permits the legal killing of a human being。〃
〃I see。 Could you; under any circumstances; if you were a juror; vote to impose the death penalty?〃
〃Oh; no; sir。 Under no circumstances。 Regardless of the crime。 No; sir。〃
Buckley cleared his throat and somberly announced; 〃Your Honor; the State would challenge Mr。 Ault for cause and move to excuse him under the authority of State vs。 Witherspoon。〃
〃Motion sustained。 Mr。 Ault; you are excused from jury duty;〃 Noose said。 〃You may leave the courtroom if you wish。 If you choose to remain in the courtroom; I ask that you not sit with the other jurors。〃
Ault was puzzled and looked helplessly at his friend Jake; who at the moment was staring at the floor with a tight mouth。
〃May I ask why?〃 Gerald asked。
Noose removed his glasses and became the professor。 〃Under the law; Mr。 Ault; the court is required to excuse any potential juror who admits he or she cannot consider; and the key word is consider; the death penalty。