MacCallister Kingdom Come by William W. Johnstone Page B

Marie. They tried to kill Mr. Drew’s son, Mickey, as well, but he survived a gunshot wound to the stomach and provided the law with the information necessary to make the arrest.”
    â€œIs this eyewitness in the courtroom today?” Judge Nesbit asked.
    â€œHe is, Your Honor.”
    â€œAnd will he testify?”
    â€œHe will, Your Honor. I call him to the stand now.”
    Gillespie walked over to help Mickey stand, then stepped back as he was sworn in.
    â€œNow Mickey, you were an eyewitness to the murder of your father, mother, and sister, is that correct?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    There was a gasp of surprise from the gallery.
    â€œI didn’t see my pa get killed,” Mickey said. “He was already dead when me ’n Jean Marie went into the house.”
    â€œBut you did see two men standing over the body, did you not?” the prosecutor asked.
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAre those men present in this courtroom?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œWould you point them out, please?”
    â€œIt’s them two over there.” Mickey pointed to Jaco and Putt.
    â€œAnd would those also be the same men who shot you?”
    â€œHe’s the one that shot me.” Mickey pointed to Jaco.
    â€œAnd did you see these men kill your mother and your sister?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œNo further questions, Your Honor.”
    Ethan Poindexter was the court-appointed defense counsel. “Young man, were you shot before or after your mother and sister were killed?”
    â€œI was shot before,” Mickey said.
    â€œThen how is it you can testify that you saw these two men kill your mother and sister?”
    â€œOn account of I wasn’t kilt,” Mickey replied. “I was just playin’ like I was dead, but all the time I was lyin’ there, I was watchin’ what was happenin’.”
    â€œNo further questions,” Poindexter said, realizing that by asking that question he had only made the situation worse for his clients.
    Gillespie rested his case, and Poindexter called a witness for the defense, a man named Benton, who claimed that he had come by the Drew ranch just before noon and that when he left, Jaco and Putt left with him.
    â€œI don’t know who shot the boy and kilt his folks, but it wasn’t Jaco and Putt, seein’ as they was both with me,” Benton said.
    Poindexter surrendered his witness to Gillespie.
    â€œMr. Benton, what is your mother’s name?” Gillespie asked.
    Poindexter stood and shouted, “Objection, Your Honor. Irrelevant.
    â€œYour Honor, I will establish relevancy,” Gillespie promised.
    The judge nodded. “You may continue. Witness is directed to answer the question.”
    â€œWhat is your mother’s name, Mr. Benton?” the prosecutor repeated.
    â€œShe don’t have the same last name as me,” Benton said. “Her name is Miz Pittman.”
    â€œWould her first name be Althea?”
    Benton mumbled the answer.
    Gillespie took a step forward. “I’m sorry, Mr. Benton. I didn’t hear that answer.”
    â€œYeah, her first name is Althea.”
    â€œYour Honor, if it please the court, I would like to read a court document, dated two years previous. ‘Question: ‘What is your mother’s name? Answer: Althea Pittman.’ The person responding to the questions in this case, Your Honor, was A. M. Jaco. Benton and Jaco are brothers, and I submit that Benton has just committed perjury in order to help his brother.”
    â€œThat ain’t true!” Benton said.
    Gillespie faced the witness. “Mr. Benton, you can go to prison for five years for lying or you can recant your statement now, and I won’t prosecute you. It is your decision.”
    Benton looked over at Jaco. “Brother or not, I ain’t goin’ to jail for you!”
    â€œSo, Mr. Benton, I’m going to ask you again. Did you stop by the Drew ranch,