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The trial of the new century—the proceedings known as the State of Mississippi v Madden, North, and Stephens—was officially under way

Chapter 100

THERE THEY SAT, three White Raiders facing a jury of their peers

It was a true statee Everett Corbett cut off all objections froed white men who looked just like the e

“We have a jury,” the judge announced, “and so ill proceed to trial Is the prosecution prepared to begin in the ?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Jonah said

“And I’m sure the defense is ready”

“Defense is certainly ready, Your Honor,” said Maxwell Hayes Lewis

“Then without further ado—” an

Jonah Curtis stood up and dared to interrupt hiain

“Your Honor, begging the court’s pardon, I feel compelled to state for the record that the prosecution has not seen a fair and representative jury selection here today”

My father’s voice was dangerously soft “All right I have warned you, Mr Curtis, and I will not warn you again I ae of this courtroom I have ruled that this jury is fit to serve”

“But Your Honor—”

Suddenly ain! Try e ain, and I will declare a es Which, I remind you, is within my power”

My father turned on his heel and swept out of the rooht into his office and pull off his robe His clothes would be da into his swivel chair in that office lined with law books, oak filing cabinets, diplomas, and certificates of appreciation On his desk he permitted hiraph of him and Mama, arm in arm on the boardwalk at Biloxi