page2 (1/2)

Gracie Johnson was on trial for the murder of Lydia Davenport, a wealthy white woh to cause a nosebleed Worse, Gracie was a black wo her wealthy white employer

The year was 1906 Before it was all over, I was afraid they were going to hang Gracie

I had to be careful they didn’t hang me while they were at it

Chapter 2

“I WILL NOT TOLERATE another outburst,” Judge Warren said to the spectators He turned to look est that you, Mr Corbett, select your objections with greater care”

“Yes, Your Honor,” I said, then iue in check with my teeth

“Mr A the defendant”

Carter Ames, the city attorney, was a little old man about five feet tall He strode to the witness stand as if he were every inch of six-two

“Now, Grace, let’s go back to the afternoon in question, May twenty-third In your testimony—before the unfortunate disruption occurred—isn’t it true that you essentially ad Mrs Davenport?”

“Excuse ,” Gracie shot back

“The court stenographer will please read the testiiven by Miss Johnson a few moments before the courtroom interruption”

“Got it right here, Carter,” the stenographer said

Wonderful Arapher were on a first-na which parts of Gracie’s testimony had been left out or “improved”

The stenographer flipped back the pages in his tablet and began to read in a droning voice

“Miz Davenport was always a mean old lady Never had a nice word for anybody Ask ot killed, she toldto fire me because I was too stupid to knohich side of the plate do the fish fork go on She was a ”