Chapter 14 – The Trials Will Soon Be Over
Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell came down the stairs from their adjoining guestrooms and joined the Walker family for breakfast. Everyone was unnaturally quiet as if each person at the table was afraid talking about what had brought the two of them to this family's Denver home would only bring more tribulations. Matt still hadn't testified in the most important of the series of trials, so another attempt on his life was probable.
As a precaution, the group that had shared the breakfast table split into two. The Walker women and District Attorney Derrick Walker proceeded to the courthouse in the family carriage while Matt, Kitty and Detective Sargent Lionel Walker rode to the same building in a police carriage via a different route. Each vehicle contained a fourth passenger, an armed detective. While the police officers stationed outside the house didn't follow either carriage, there were enough of Denver's law officers stationed along both routes in both uniform and plain clothes that there was no need to draw attention to which carriage carried Matt Dillon despite the fact Lionel was sure the house was watched and they could see it for themselves.
The Walker carriage arrived at the courthouse without incident, allowing the DA to seat his wife and daughter just behind the seats saved for the witnesses and their closest associates while he had plenty of time to prepare for the next phase of the prosecution's case. When the men on trial and their attorney arrived along with all the court officers without any sign of his son Lionel and the primary witness, Derrick began to worry. Then the judge entered, called the trial to order and asked the prosecution to proceed. Despite his concern, all the man could do was stall.
Ten minutes later the witness finally arrived, looking quite disheveled. His two companions were in a similar state. The reason for his unkempt appearance and those of his companions would be among his first questions. First, however, the witness had to be sworn in and the preliminary questions taken care of. Matt Dillon identified himself as the United States Marshal for Kansas headquartered in Dodge City and further stated that he was testifying as a result of an undercover operation he was ordered to undertake by the United States Attorney General after a simultaneous request for his services from the Kansas Attorney General and Governor and Colorado's Governor with the full knowledge of the Denver District Attorney. Before receiving his direct order to cooperate, the Dodge Marshal was directly contacted by the two Kansas officials in a joint telegram.
"Marshal Dillon, perhaps before you begin the meat of your testimony, you'd be kind enough to explain the lateness of your arrival and your appearance. I know that you left for this courtroom appropriately attired and groomed and with ample time to arrive before these proceedings began. What exactly transpired?"
"I and my three traveling companions were halfway here when we came upon a roadblock. There were a number of horses and wagons in our path and when our driver tried to move around them, three of those involved in blocking the way grabbed the harness to stop our forward movement. At the same time several shots rang out and we were pulled from the coach. I'm afraid during the fight the detective with us was shot. Miss Russell was thrown to the ground and nearly trampled before she could seek shelter under our carriage while Lionel Walker and I fought off our attackers. Finally, other police officers were able to reach the scene and after questioning us, we were able to continue on our way."
"I'm sorry to hear of the officer's demise, but glad that the rest of you came through your ordeal relatively unscathed. Are you ready to give your testimony or would you prefer I ask for a recess to allow you to collect yourself after yet another attempt on your life?"
"I'm ready to tell what I know. This isn't the first attempt on my life and it won't be the last."
"In that case, Marshal, please tell the court how you became involved. As you relate your tale, don't neglect to enlighten the jury as to not only the conclusions you reached, but how you arrived at them."
Matt repeated for this new jury how and why he was asked to go undercover as Matt Kimbro to discover who was behind what seemed to be a conspiracy to gain political control over vast stretches of western Kansas and eastern Colorado. He told of Lance Bodkin the young mayor & land agent in Imperial confirming his assumed identity after he'd established a chain of communications with him while still in his hometown using his uncle, Harry Bodkin, president of the Dodge City Bank. While in Garden City Matt informed the young man of events in that town and, in turn, received notice of the attempts of the men there to reach other conspirators farther up the chain. He explained that's how he knew to expect someone might follow him on his train trip from Garden City back to Dodge, which, he informed the jury, ended with the attempt on his life made by the now convicted Trevor Michaels.
Matt continued his tale of the exchange of coded information he was able to follow with the valuable assistance of the two Bodkins, starting with learning the identity of Web Rawlins in Pueblo. A similar arrangement with Bill Pence in that town led to Dean Littlefield. Bill, Matt knew, had already testified at this trial and also at one of the trials that took place during the first week after his arrival in Denver, while he was regaining his powers of speech, involving only Colorado conspirators. Not knowing exactly what Bill had told the jury about how the now convicted men had tried to use the takeover of the Pueblo saloon Kitty's former partner owned in partnership with his wife Laura for 14 years, the lawman described what the couple he and Kitty had remained friends with had relayed to him. Matt then described how he put all this information together and came to the conclusions included in his report to his superiors in Washington, the Kansas Governor and State Attorney General and the Denver District Attorney that led to this trial.
Matt sat patiently while Bertram Langtry rose to again try to discredit the lawman's testimony. The defense attorney had a strange smile on his face as he began questioning the chief prosecution witness.
Marshal Dillon, I don't doubt you have a great deal of experience. How long have you been the chief peace officer in your quaint little town of Dodge City? Oh, don't answer that now," he interjected as Matt began to respond. "That can be dealt with while you're dealing with my more revealing question. In all those years of experience have your suspicions and conclusions ever proven to be erroneous? Remember while you reply that you are under oath," he continued without pausing for breath.
"I've been marshal in Dodge City just about 20 years and yes, there have been times I've been proved wrong. I've arrested the wrong man and much to my embarrassment have been played by those I thought had airtight alibis. However, I'd say I've been right about 95% of the time."
"I submit marshal, that in the case of my clients you are wrong. You've already admitted fallibility. Why should the jury believe beyond a reasonable doubt that you are correct in you assumptions and conclusions this time?"
"It's very simple, Langtry. I obtained Web Rawlins identity from Lance Bodkin before the now convicted Trevor Michaels tailed me on the train from Garden City to Dodge City where he tried to murder me in my office. Further checks of communications showed that Rawlins reports to Dean Littlefield. Furthermore, since beginning the trip to Denver to testify three more attempts have been made upon my life. Whether or not they've been arrested and tried or killed in action, all of them have been tied to Littlefield's organization, even the ones from today's attempt. They were already known to the Denver police and were being watched and their backgrounds and associations checked."
Langtry made one further attempt to show the connections were circumstantial and/or coincidental. The looks on the jurors' faces told him he wasn't convincing them this was their likely conclusion.
After Matt was dismissed from the witness stand Derrick Walker announced he had no further witnesses. Langtry began to call his defense witnesses. None could directly refute the testimony of the prosecution witnesses. Most could only cast doubt on whether or not it was within their character and abilities to launch such a scheme while trying not to undermine the business acumen of the two men on trial. Within three hours of the defense resting its case, the jury found Rawlins and Littlefield guilty of all counts against them and they were directed to return the saloons that had been forcibly sold to their rightful owners along with whatever money and profit they'd obtained thereby. All the people who began their day at the Walker home over breakfast returned there for a late supper to celebrate another victory for justice under the law.