Black Diamond.
This morning I received a telegram from James asking me to come to the law office in Diamond. I rode over and knocked on the door, wondering what this would be about.
“Come in, Trin,” he invited and I opened the door, walking inside. “Morning Trin, glad you came.”
“Morning, James. I received a telegram that you needed to see me?”
“Yes ma’am. I have a case sometime today involving a lady named Angel.”
“Shall we sit?” I asked, taking a seat to listen to him.
“Her and her partner named Jack Smith robbed Thad, and although it does not appear that she actually did the shooting, Jack did. She was accomplice to it. I have the arrest report although Thad does not ever give a actual statement.”
“Well that’s unfortunate... Maybe I could wrangle one out of him?”
“The log shows she was there as well as a lady named Meg, who witnessed it. To make it more interesting, let’s say it’s not really worth it. Can you imagine shooting a man over his hat, boots and gun?”
“Right, I see this on the docket now...” I flipped through my notes. “TJ was the arresting officer... You’ve got a statement from him... And the law report from Sheriff Matty...”
“I have the arrest report, warrant. Yeah, I did get that and got what Thad gave Matty and Ryker, but it’s not legal. Can’t use that in court.”
“Right. So Thad did give them something..”
“Just the dialogue...”
“Oh, that’s not helpful...”
“Yeah, that’s why I need your help.”
“To get a report from Thad?”
“Thad, I can use as a witness. That not a problem. Meg, I need to track down and see if she will testify.”
“Ah... I can do that.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“We’ll hopefully be back within the hour,” I smiled and headed out of the office.
I looked around town but didn’t find Meg. When I came back into town I talked with Bill and James and we tested the bank doors to make sure that the locks worked better now. Meg walked over and we asked her to come with us to the law office. We headed down the street and closed the door behind us when we were inside. James informed me that I could use the office any time and I smiled at that, telling him that that would be very helpful especially since I closed the office in Bisbee.
When we were seated, James began. “I’ve been going over the report on when Thad was shot and robbed and noticed you were a witness. Would you like to help as a witness to convict them?”
“Oh?” Meg shivered a bit and I wondered if she was recalling the horrible incident.
“You do remember the shooting and robbery that night? I realize it’s hard but to insure justice we must put them away. Especially since they robbed an elder of this town. What next, our children? We must stop this and send a message. This cannot be tolerated,” James told her.
“Heathen western,” Meg mumbled.
“And especially because it was to one of your relatives, Miss Meg. You can bring him to justice.”
“And I need you to help us do that,” James added.
“Why of course... Wh...what is needed? As the attending did not even inquire my statements,” Meg stuttered.
“Now ma’am, all I want you to do is just testify to what you saw,” James said. “With your testimony the main charge of robbing a person in this case I will make. So will you help us miss?” he asked as Cora and Bree walked in and out of the office.
“James, when is this trial happening exactly?”
“Under one condition,” Meg looked at him. “That the heathens will not come after me should they not b justifiably restrained.”
“Basically I will ask you to describe what you saw,” James explained. “We can convict them on the main charge and that will be enough.”
“James...? When is the trial...?” I asked again.
“We not sure yet. According to Angeles, it’s sometime today.”
“Well, yes, that in fact is a concern as well... That I would be available to attend the proceedings.”
“Well if you around can I use as a witness? If not I will proceed with that. Will be nice to have you as one.
“Perhaps James... She could fill out a witness report just in case?” I suggested. “So that you’re not without anything from her?”
“Well I guess she could, and ask the judge if I can admit it as evidence.”
“You can always provide witness statements, James. I always recommend it, just in case the person isn’t available. These things do happen and I’ve lost cases because of it,” I told him.
“Well it was a quite time in town and not many were about... and a couple had arrived claiming that they were in fact new to town and the area and that they had heard good things about Black Diamond - and wished to settle here,” Meg explained as James wrote down her statement. “Well as ya’ll may know dear Thad takes pride in what has been made of this town as do most of our citizens so he proceeded to, um, show the couple about. Was such an expert I thought he had a tour guide hat and pinafore on! And the next thing I knew after a bit the man of the touring couple pulls out a pistol and demands for Thad’s boots, of all things! The lady I think had wanted his hat... and the poor tour guide was standing in the road outside the bank with his hands in the air as the new arrivals laid bids on, of all things, his clothing! I was scared frozen. Thad, I do believe, muttered a few uncomely words. Can’t say I blame him much, and there was a loud bang! To my absolute horror Thad collapsed to the ground and the touring man snatched Thad’s boots and hat and he and the woman ran off. I screamed very loudly... I am quite known for my scream. And um, two medica came running as we were just around the corner from the clinic building. I chased after the tourist through the hills. They were whooping louder then them dang birds that fly over town.”
“Did you see the woman do anything like go thru his pockets or take anything from him?” James asked.
“Well yes, the pair had raked through the groaning Thad ‘fore they ran away. ‘Tis why I followed. Why else would I bother? I can’t remember exactly what they had lifted from him... His gun, boots and hat for surely though.”
James finished writing out her statement and then got her to sign it. When she had left the office James told me about the ladies’ society trial this afternoon. He said that the ladies had had a meeting in Ghenna with Bella Starr. Bella had asked the women to carry bags for them, but what the ladies didn’t know was that the bags were filled with counterfeit money. He told me that even women like Pet and Cora were on the trial so there was a lot riding on the income. Bella apparently vanished and left them holding the bags. I decided that I had better catch that trial as it promised it would be a big one.
***
Tombstone.
As I walked into the courtroom later this morning, I went to sit in the jury bench. Skyla came over and sat beside me and I gave her a huge hug. We caught up on how we were doing and I told her about moving into Diamond together. She asked if we were getting married and we joked that that was far too conventional for us.
Nim told us that we had to wait until the judge called us forward as jury so we all had to walk back into the gallery to wait and be summoned. A man stood and gave me space to sit but I assured that I wouldn’t be sitting for too long. He introduced himself as Tony and then another man introduced himself to me as Jack.
Nim told us that the jury could enter now so Skyla and I took a seat in the jury bench. As the rest of the jury joined us as the line of defendants took their seats including Pet, Freja, Cora, Doll, Ivy and Ella. Nim resumed her position as bailiff and Angeles took her seat as judge. We wondered who the defendants’ attorney would be and watched as Lot eventually strolled in. Loreh, the girl that I had met who lived in Diamond, took the position as prosecutor and then the proceedings began.
Angeles welcomed everyone to the courthouse and then asked if the jury was satisfactory. Loreh asked that all members from the ladies’ society be removed from the jury but Angeles informed her that they could stay because those particular members had not been arrested.Lot pointed out that even the judge was a member of the lades’ society and angeles insisted that today she would remain as an unbiased judge for this trial.
“Well ladies, you have been charged with the following offenses: Possession of counterfeit currency. What is your plea please?”
All six ladies declared “not guilty” and Angeles requested that they let their lawyer answer for them. Lot rubbed his temples and sighed. “Not guilty.”
“Prosecutor, please approach the jury and give your opening statement, then later Mister Balbozar,” Angeles instructed.
Loreh walked up to us, glancing at each jury member and making eye contact with each of us. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, today we have outstanding citizens on trial for ‘Possession of Counterfeit Currency’. This is a case where I will show you that even the best of citizens can go bad and you as a jury are here to divide hard evidence from what you believe to know of any individual. Please keep in mind that a crime is unlawful and the only one above the law is God Almighty himself.” She turned to the judge and said, “That is all, your honor.”
I pulled out my notebook as I did every time I was on the jury and began to take notes as the ladies continued to complain about that statement.
“Lot, make your clients please close their mouths during the trial until they are called as witnesses,” Angeles instructed. “Now please, your opening statement.”
Lot stood and asked, “Your honor, can you give me a moment with my clients?” He motioned for Jeffery to come up to the front and I blinked at the sight of the child walking up to the defendants. Lot asked the boy for a stick of gum for each of the ladies and he willingly offered the gum, wanting to do anything to help. I hook my head in awe as the ladies took the gum and some of them didn’t chew them but others did.
When Jeffery had returned to his seat, Lot walked over to the jury box and dramatically pointed at the ladies. “When these fine ladies, holding a simple and innocent tea party were arrested for just having fun. Today, I will prove that Miss Honi, and why...even our prosecution, are just bitter that the ladies society did not allow them to join the true ladies of Tombstone.”
As Lot finished his statement and sat down, Angeles asked if Loreh had any witnesses to call. Loreh called Suzy Honi, the arresting officer, to the stand and Suzy was sworn in. Lot said something to the girls and Angeles gave him his first warning to be quiet during the exposition. Lot slammed his palm on the table, glaring at the ladies and yelled, “Now hush!” We all jumped at that and Loreh began.
“Miss Honi, can you tell the court the incidence that led to the arrest of these outstanding citizens?”
“Yes I was at the ranger station when I noticed a lot of activity in Ghenna. I then noticed a man standing guard it seemed out the Ghenna tunnel door. I went down to observe him and he went inside the tunnels. I heard noise like a lot of inside the tunnels so I waited. Suddenly several women wearing masks and carrying large money bags emerged. I stopped them and had them raise their hands. I went and checked the bags they were carrying and found it was full of paper money. Closer examination revealed it was fake money. It was printed on the same paper the local newspaper is printed on with the same ink colors. You can see it is clearly fake,” Suzy said as she lay several bills on the judge’s desk for Angeles to examine and I wished they’d show us as jury members the money to examine closer. “I then arrested these ladies for having counterfeit money.”
Angeles examined the money and said, “Clearly fake. And very bad impression, really,” and handed it to Nim to examine who nodded in agreement.
“Thank you Miss Honi,” Loreh smiled. “Now Miss Honi, can you tell the court a little about Ghenna, what is the town like and who would be found there?”
“It is a town full of outlaws nothing good ever comes from there.”
“Thank you again Miss Honi.. Your honor, no further questions,” Loreh said and went to sit down again.
“Please approach,” Angeles said to Lot. “It is your turn. And thanks, prosecutor.”
“Howdy Miss Honi,” Lot said as he walked over to her.
“Hi there, Lot. You’re sober today. What a change,” she greeted him and there was laughter in the courtroom.
“Firstly, you say these ladies were in the desert and wearing masks, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Have you noticed that their skin is soft and smooth, and yet yours is as dry as old parchment? I suggest you start wearing a mask as well.”
“And your point is?” Suzy asked.
“Now, onto my questions.” He pointed to the money on the counter and asked, “Could you please describe for the court what is on that note?”
“It is made to appear like a ten dollar bill. However, you notice the ink runs on it.”
“A ten dollar bill you say, interesting, please also tell us about the picture it has on it.”
“It has a picture of Thomas Jefferson on it so again it is clearly fake.”
“Yes, I see that, but can you describe the picture on it.”
I noticed Adrian’s gaze and sat up straighter, wishing I could see the money closer so I could examine it better.
“Oh yes it clearly is fake, since the only legal tenders in circulation at the moment are $2 bills, $50 bills and $100 dollar bills , unless the are Silver Certificates, which this is clearly not,” Lot explained.
“Yes so your clients are not very smart either,” Suzy nodded.
“We never even saw the money!” Freja exclaimed then.
“True, true! We never saw money, just the bags!” Doll agreed.
Nim made a motion for the women to hush and I looked over at the women then back to Lot and Suzy as Angeles banged the gavel for order.
Lot picked up the bill and showed it to the court, then looked back at Suzy. “Clearly you are not either ma’am, since counterfeiting is described as trying to make an imitation of what is genuine, which this is clearly not trying to copy anything genuine. No further questions.”
I raised an eyebrow at that and Suzy asked, “So why were they hiding in masks and going through the outlaw tunnels?”
“We weren’t hiding!” Freja exclaimed.
“Maybe since your such a smart ranger, you should have asked them that before you arrested them,” Lot told her.
“Thanks lawyer. Thanks for your time, Suzy,” Angeles said and Suzy sat down.
I wrote down the point that it was a ten dollar bill, not a fifty, hundred, or two-hundred as was in circulation, continued to watch with interest.
“Hush Miss Freja, you have been asked, ladies, any more outbursts, I will put you in the cell outside until your called to the witness stand,” Nim warned.
“If I WERE to wear a mask it certainly would not be a horrid bandanna,” Ivy muttered and Freja stomped her foot in frustration.
“And lawyer I would like to remind you my complaints were not only for witness or defend. They are for lawyers too so keep that observation for the closing statement. First warning for you. Now prosecutor, any other witnesses?”
“No further witnesses, your honor,” Loreh shook her head.
“Well now is time sure for listen to all the ladies who was arrest... now Lot please, who is your first witness?” Angeles asked.
“Oh my god, do I have to your honor?” Lot muttered and we all snickered at that comment as the ladies raised looked at him in surprise.
“Call your first witness,” Angeles ordered and I noticed that Pet was looking anywhere but directly at Lot. Lot called her to the stand anyway and she was sworn in. I thought about how smart it was that he was using the preacher, of all the women, as the first witness.
“Mornin’ Miss Pet. I am sorry the court has dragged you here,” Lot began.
“Me too!” Pet looked around as she continued her knitting. “But justice must be served and the Ladies’ Society vindicated.”
“Miss Honi made mention that nothing ever good comes from Ghenna, strangely, she always seems to be there herself, but I digress. Can you tell the court why the ladies society were there?” Lot asked and I chuckled a bit at his comment but smiled that he’d answered a question I had had already.
“Of course,” Pet smoothed her skirt. “Ya see, every month we have a Ladies Social activity. our tea parties are becoming quite well known in the county. Anyway, I had heard rumors that Belle Star was hiding out, I mean, living in Ghenna and I had heard of the woman from newspapers and such. Well, she’s a woman, we’re women and in good neighbour fashion I approached her to ask her to give us her life’s story. Graciously she agreed. She’s a fine woman.”
“Is this lady in the court room today?” Lot asked.
Pet looked around and squinted some and then said, “Why yes, she is.”
“She is?” Lot turned. “Can you point her out for the court?”
“I ain’t wearing my glasses. Hello Miss Belle,” she said and thn pointed. “This lady here.”
Freja whispered something and Lot looked over at her, “Miss Freja, please!!”
“She’s a real nice woman. Been through a lot in her life,” Pet said. “I’m yet praying for your salvation dear,” she looked at the woman.
“Young lady, stand up,” Lot requested.
“Me?” the woman pointed to herself, then stood up.
“Your honor, can you ask Miss Nim to apprehend this lady so she don’t leave the court?” Lot requested.
“Lawyer, before call the other witness, finish with Miss Pet,” Angeles requested.
“Yes, yes, I just don’t want this lady to leave.”
“For what?” Belle looked at Lot in shock.
“Marshal show this lady the jail we have in Court house and let her wait there until she is called. Thank you,” Angeles requested.
“The court has some questions for you, soon, very soon,” Lot told Belle.
“Miss Star, there is an empty seat next to Lot at his bench, please take it,” Nim suggested, openly going against Angeles’ wishes but no one seemed to notice.
“Now Miss Pet, I have one final question,” Lot turned back to Pet as Belle walked over to sit with the ladies in the defendants’ row.
“Your honor, I will watch her, she came up willingly and took a seat here,” Nim promised to Angeles and she nodded.
Skyla looked from the woman back to me and whispered, “Who the hell?” I shrugged, not knowing who she was either.
“I wish for your answer to be on court records for all eternity, is that clear?” Lot asked. “Miss Pet, who is the most beautiful and elegant lady in all of Chochise county?”
I raised an eyebrow at that question and several in the courtroom muttered Ivy’s name. Bella even said, “That would be Miss Trin, of course.” I looked over at her and gave her my smile of thanks, still surprised that someone had said my name.
“Why in Chochise County? That would be Miss Ivy Lexington. Everyone knows that Lot.”
“Thank you, but now it is official as its on court records,” Lot smiled. “No further questions.”
“Prosecutor, any questions?” Angeles asked as Lot sat down and Loreh stood to come over and cross-examine. “Your honor, I would like to submit to the court the public record of Miss Pet and her back ground in Arizona.”
“Objection,” Lot stated. “Her back ground has nothing to do with this case.”
“Let me see that please,” Angeles requested and Loreh handed her the paper.
“We know nothing of this prosecution lady , for all we know she could be a hussy, but we don’t ask her past,” Lot argued.
“Your honor, it has all relevance to prove Miss pet is is capable of the crime,” Loreh explained.
Angeles read the paper and asked Lot, “Mind if I read this?” She continued to read the paper and then said, “I don’t see anything wrong on this note, prosecutor. Please whatever asked, this be relative or reference to this trial. Everyone have a past and that need be respect and not be judging today.”
“Now Miss Pet,” Loreh continued, “Can you tell the court that since Ghenna is known for it’s outlaws, why you would agree to attend a tea party in such a place? After all, the tea party could have been anywhere.”
“Objection!” Lot declared. “She already told the court why, does she have to repeat it because this lady can’t pay attention?”
“Sustain... next question.”
Loreh looked from Pet to the jury and asked, “Miss Pet, can you answer for the court why, in an outlaw county that you would be found wearing a mask?”
“Certainly,” Pet nodded. “We were asked by Miss Belle to help her carry her life’s saving to the wagon she’s a lot older than she used to be and that MANY bags would certainly wear her to a twig and taken all day. after serving us a great tea and cake, she told us about the foul smell in the tunnels and we should wear the masks to help with the stench. so we were grateful to have them.”
Skyla asked for my pad and pen and I gave it to her while we watched as Loreh glanced at the jury and said, “I see. “Miss Pet, did it occur to you that while in the tunnels, there was something wrong in being there? Obviously, being a member of clergy, you’d have a sense that something was wrong and wasn’t a place in which a person such as your self should be.”
“Objection!” Lot called. “A member of the clergy care for her flock no matter where they maybe, in imitation of the good Lord himself.”
“May I answer that one?” Pet smiled at the judge.
“Prosecutor, I repeat to you the same to other lawyer. Leave those comments for the closing statement and limit to asking questions,” Angeles warned her.
“I take the prosecution don’t read the bible as well,” Lot suggested.
“And I support your objection, Lot,” Angeles looked at him and I smiled at that.
“Yes your honor. Miss Pet.. did you at any point question whether the money you so kindly helped carry in outlaw territory was gained through unlawful means?” Loreh asked.
“Why should I have made such an inquiry from a woman who clearly stated it as being her life’s savings?”
Skyla wrote down the words “Dusty equals Ghenna and mines equal lots of bad air due to dampness”. She handed me the pad of paper and I nodded to her, having been in Ghenna myself and remembering how dusty it was.
“We didn’t ask her how she acquired her money. We are not law members, we are but women, good Christian women who sought to help her in her time of trouble.”
“Thank you Miss Pet. Your honor, no further questions,” Loreh said then and sat down.
I wrote down that it was true, Pet had always been a compassionate woman to me and helped those in need without question.
Angeles called for the next question and Lot called Belle to the stand. She was sworn in and Skyla wrote down the fact that the woman didn’t look all that old and nodded to Belle. I shrugged, still not remembering the woman, never having seen her in Ghenna or otherwise.
“Miss Belle, I am going to get straight to the point,” Lot started. “You are a well known criminal, so just what were you doing in Ghenna, with bags of money.” I raised an eyebrow and gave Skyla a look, thinking she can’t have been that well known.
“Well known Criminal! I was only in jail once...” She took a deep breath and continued. “The money were actually coins that I had been collecting over the years. I no longer live in Ghenna Sir.”
I wrote down the word ‘coins’ and Lot pointed out, “You said coins. Miss Honi said she found notes.”
“Yes Sir, I had coins. I’m not sure why these ladies got these said notes.”
“Why have the ladies hold em again?”
“I’m getting old. The coins are heavy. I was moving the bags to my wagon so that I could move back east and live out my days.”
“And how did you stumble upon these fine ladies?”
Belle looked over to Pet and answered, “I was looking for some guidance one day. I’ve had a hard life... a few husbands have passed away. She thought I would be good to speak to those fine ladies.”
“I see, and Miss Pet was that guidance, correct?”
“But of course. A great preacher this far west.”
“No further questions,” Lot said and sat down.
Angeles invited Loreh to cross-examine and she stood to walk over to her. “Miss Belle, you say you had coins, yet the accused were found with counterfeit, uncirculated paper notes. Can you tell the court how the ladies came into possession of these notes?”
“Objection!” Lot called. “It’s is only counterfeiting if you attempt to copy a legal tender. The court has already been told the money did not resemble legal tender.”
“Actually it’s counterfeit if you attempt to pass anything off as legal tender,” Nim told him.
“We do not have a $10 bill in circulation,” Lot objected.
“Your honor, I am not questioning the notes, but rather if Miss Belle has awareness of them,” Loreh said.
“Enough Lot... after trial 5 minutes,” Angeles said and I blinked in response.
“Shall I answer that question then, Your Honor?” Belle asked.
“Miss could you please answer the question?” Angeles requested.
“I had no awareness of the notes. The ladies were lead to the exit of the mines, but a few ladies had been left behind. I went back to make sure they made it through safe.”
“Thank you Miss Belle.. Your honor, no further questions,” Loreh said and Belle went to sit down.
“Marshall please lead again this lady to jail she wait there until trial finish,” Angeles requested.
“Jail?!” Belle looked shock and I shook my head, wondering what the point was now that she had answered Lot’s questions.
“No Miss Star, sit with the defence attorney, your fine,” Nim shook her head and Belle went back to sit with the rest of the ladies.
“Lot, next witness please,” Angeles requested.
“No more witness your honor,” Lot said. “I would like to raise a motion though ma’am.”
“Are you sure?” Angeles asked. “Yes Lot and I ask a the Prosecutor for answer your motion for the records.”
“Yes ma’am, It would seem the only person in court who currently has these alleged forged bills is Miss Honi, none other than the lady who is in charge of cavalry payroll. I think it would do well to have her investigated, and to find out just how she pays the men at the fort.”
I sat up straighter, thinking that would be an incredibly interesting investigation to pursue as a Pinkerton Detective.
“I KNEW SHE WAS CROOKED!” A woman shouted from the audience and I blinked at that.
“Well Lot, I can answer that for you...” Angeles said. “Until last Saturday was me who controlled the fargo box before back to Fort... now I am pregnant and can’t doing that.”
“Uh huh... So Miss Honi has been plotting this for some time,” Lot suggested and I looked from him to Sky, intrigued at that accusation.
“And I want this agreed in the record, that we respected the motion of Mr. Balbozar.”
“Suzy is not on trial here, I object,” Bella said from where she sat on the jury.
“Shush Miss Bella, we object to a lot of things you do, but we don’t say so in public, now just listen,” Lot told her.
“The General or I aren’t on trial. Any observation may be free to report to the local law, Lot,” Angeles told him.
“Okay ma’am,” Lot nodded and I gave him a look saying that I was really interested in pursuing that investigation.
The lawyers were invited to give their closing statements so Loreh approached the bench. “Ladies and gentlemen.. today you’ve hear the evidence that Miss Belle had coins, yet the accused were found with paper notes. Youve heard that the accused were in outlaw territory wearing masks. Consider this evidence and discern what the truth is from what is fabricated. I have all faith you will all, together, bring justice for the crime.”
Loreh smiled and then returned to her seat. Lot came forward and began, “I remind you that the charge today was counterfeiting. Now, I want you to listen carefully to how we define counterfeiting: Something made in imitation of what is genuine. Miss Honi very clearly pointed out for you all that they were found with a $10 note. The united states to not have any $10 notes in circulation. So clearly the money was not in imitation of anything genuine. It was play money, no law against that. But it does make you wonder why the lady in charge of Cavalry Payroll did not know that, just how does she pay our soldiers?” Lot smiled and returned to his seat.
“We pick our salary in the bank Lot... another observation....” Angeles pointed out.
“Shush Judge, please allow the court to proceed with proper process,” Lot said and I chuckled softly.
We were invited to enter the jury room and deliberate. After we’d picked a spokesperson, we discussed the case and came to the consensus that the women were not guilty as they didn’t even know what was in the bags and they were just helping a fellow woman out, as would have been their nature. Thad also informed us that he had found his ranger badge, which was a relief for me as I knew I would be using his assistance in Black Diamond.
The door was open a crack and we heard Adrian request the judge to allow the whole town to vote on the verdict as it was such a critical trial. I wondered out loud why we even had bothered to sit on the jury bench and that we might as well just go home. We walked outside and found that there had been two separate barrels put out. One barrel was for “guilty” and the other for “non guilty”. A lot of money was raised for the town, though many in the jury bench were confused about the method of its announcement. Either way, the women of the ladies’ society went home free after a very memorable and well-fought trial from both sides.
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