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“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”

He snapped the Bible closed with a flourish and held it high in the air

“Gentledouilty”

Son of a bitch! Carter Aument

Chapter 4

THE DIMINUTIVE PROSECUTOR THREW a thin s with the light of triue in my stomach

But noas my turn to speak, and hopefully to save a woman’s life

I began with a simple declaration of the fact that no one had witnessed the ardener, Mrs Davenport’s secretary, and her houseman—all of whom despised their employer and could have easily committed the murder Of course, they were all white

Then, since Carter Ames had stolen my thunder, I decided to finish up in another direction, a bold and risky one that brought tremors to my hands

“Now, before you all go off to your jury roo that’s not often done Mr Adoot close to his stated destination He omitted the most important truth of all He neverthe possibility of losing her life

“You know the reason I don’t even have to say it But I’ to say it anyway

“Gracie Johnson is colored That’s why she’s here That’s the only reason she’s here She was the only colored employee in attendance at the Davenport house that day

“So there it is She’s a Negro You gentlemen are white Everyone expects that a white jury will always convict a black defendant But I know that not to be true I think—matter of fact, I truly believe—that you have h what the prosecutor is trying to do here, which is to railroad an innocent wo you honestly that her boss was a mean old woman

“Do you see e’ve found? We’ve turned up the most important fact of all And that fact, the fact that Gracie’s skin is black, should have no influence whatsoever on what you decide

“That’s what the law says, in every state in this Union If there is a reasonable doubt in your mind as to whether or not Gracie Johnson is a murderer, you… must… vote… to… acquit”