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Scribe
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 93
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The Sentencing of William Pinner
Some call Cypress Crossings God’s oven. That particular Thursday, the sun blazed down on the Louisianan town at a remarkable 110 degrees. Some who remember say that it was a sign sent by God; others say that the devil himself was in attendance and it was he who radiated that much heat. Whatever the reason, not a soul could be found walking the streets or shopping at Mcfarley’s Hay and Feed. Every man, woman, and child old enough to sit without fuss were standing on the lawn of the Cypress Crossings courthouse, trying to get a seat to see the verdict and sentencing of William Pinner.
It was what many consider the biggest murder trial ever in the small southern town, and not a single inhabitant wanted to miss out on the chance to see its culmination. The stores closed, the mill gave its employees a day off, and even the schools shut down on account of the important decision. It was as if time stood still that Thursday, but, for most folks, it had been a long time coming.
From the day that Beth Tucker, the mayor’s daughter, turned up dead in the swamp a few miles out of town, everyone demanded that justice be served. The mothers were afraid for their children, the fathers afraid for their wives, and the whole place just about as jittery as a little boy holding a grasshopper. The most complicated case the town sheriff had ever previously encountered was when Tuck Benson’s barn had been vandalized by a couple of young teenagers; needless to say a murder investigation was way out of his league. After a week of fruitless inquiry, someone reported that they had seen a homeless man, Bill Pinner, walking away from the swamp sometime in the last few weeks...thus they had their suspect. Now Bill had never been known to be a violent man. He could be most often found passed out in an alley, sleeping under the old covered bridge, or begging for change near the Hay and Feed. Was Bill a problem drinker? Yes, but a murderer...no one knew for sure. Nonetheless, the authorities managed to find enough evidence to bring ol’ Bill to trial.
It didn’t take much to convince the public that Bill had undoubtedly been poor Beth’s murderer, and many even suggested an immediate hanging in lieu of trial. Bill was placed in the town lock-up and preparations were made for the court preceding. Amazingly, he didn’t argue with the sheriff (proof some said of his guilt) and only desired they allow him his Bible. He had never been a piously devoted worshipper, but under circumstances like these, it was understandable that he looked towards God. It looked as if Bill’s destiny hung at the end of a noose.
The proceedings themselves went exactly how Mayor Tucker would have hoped. His lawyer went to work immediately, describing to the jury how Bill had lured young Beth into the swamp so he could rape and murder her. He painted a picture of a violent drunk who was not only a menace to society, but a direct threat to every child in the town. Meanwhile, Bill’s lawyer was rumored to have fallen asleep twice during the plaintiffs questioning. Yet, despite it all, Bill showed no emotion, just gripping his gold leaf- lettered Bible and staring into nothingness.
Not since the ribbon cutting had the court house seen this many people. The court officials had selected the few who would be able to actually enter to see the proceedings; however, the rest of town would have to wait for the announcement. The lock-up was directly across the street, so the crowd was poised to watch Bill transported to the courthouse. As the doors of the jail opened, the onslaught began.
“Why'd ja have to go an’ kill that youn’ girl huh, whad she eva’ do to you?” screamed a short, overweight woman, “I hope’ ya rot in hell ya hea’ me! Rot in Hell Bill Pinner!”
Spurred by the woman’s remarks, the crowd continued to jeer and harass the prisoner. It took all three police escorts to fend off the violent mob, but Bill never opened his mouth. He only gripped his Bible close to his chest and gazed straight ahead.
“I hope ya’ don’t think the lord is gun’ come to ya’ rescue,” yelled a man noticing the book, “ ya’ might as well just give up that bible cas’ not even that can save ya now.”
It sounded like a bee’s nest in the courtroom when Bill entered, but no one even heeded his arrival. Moments later, the mayor and his lawyer entered, and finally Bill’s lawyer staggered in and sat with his head on the table next to Bill‘s Bible and a stack of other books. What seemed like ages passed, until the judge and jury finally arrived. An unearthly silence passed over the room, and then what the crowd had waited months for finally unfolded.
“Ladies and gentleman of the jury, have you reached a verdict?“, asked the judge.
“We have, your honor.”
“And what say you?”
“We the jury find the defendant William Pinner...guilty of murder and sentence him to death.”
Around the room squeals of joy and sighs of relief erupted. The mayor was hugging his lawyer when, for the first time, Bill opened his mouth. The room fell silent again.
“Shakespeare once wrote that when beggars die no comets are seen, but when princes die the heavens themselves blaze forth. Let the sky burn bright tonight.”
Bill bent down and took his large Bible with the gold lettering from beside the others. He pulled it from its hiding place, dislodging the others as he did so. When he opened the cover, there was a large crudely cut square in the center. He pulled a gun from inside the book. From the outside, five shots could be heard, and when the smoke cleared, the judge, the mayor, both lawyers, and William Pinner were found lying dead.
That night, the town mourned the loss of some of their most upstanding individuals, but the sky was dark and starless. The paper ran a special issue, proclaiming that justice had been finally served, but at a ghastly price. The minister gave a special sermon that Sunday. It was widely attended, and that very same Sunday, two young girls were found in the swamp, dead with the special issue of the paper pinned into their bodies.
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"Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test that it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain."
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