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Till I see you again, I remain

Your loving husband,

Ben

Chapter 125

THE JURY HAD A VERDICT

My father banged his gavel furiously, but it did no good “Quiet!” he bellowed “I will clear this courtroom!”

Spectators pushed this way and that, tripped over one another, stu away at his bench The jurors began tonervously at the uproar their appearance had provoked

“I will clear this courtrooain, but this had no effect at all on the level of noise and excitement in the room

“Very well,” he said “Bailiff, get ’em all out of here Get ’em all out!”

Those were the ic words Instantly the courtroom came to perfect attention The crowd fell silent, and everyone sank into the nearest available seat

“Very well That’s e Corbett “Mr Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?”

“Yes, Your Honor, we have”

The foreman handed a white slip of paper to the bailiff, who handed it up to er than that Ti, and my senses were unbearably acute

My father opened the paper and read it with no visible e nothing about the verdict

Then he spoke “Mr Foreman, in the matter of the State of Mississippi versus Madden, North, and Stephens, how does the jury find?”