Chapter 10

THE INQUEST

Nick dressed in his nicest suit and tie. Appearance speaks for itself according to Pappy. I have to keep my voice down too.

Nate and Tom sat with him at the tables. All of the Barkleys, Bettina, Lucinda, Amy, and Liz were on a bench directly behind Nick and his legal team. Carl had made it back in on the midnight train.

"McColl wanted to be here too, Nick but he knew you would have his hide for leaving the ranch unsupervised," whispered Carl to his best friend.

The judge thought to himself, I don't think I have ever had so many beautiful women in my court at once. The Barkley's would be fools to cheat on them.

Amanda Jackson and her attorney sat on the very back row.

Representatives of the Governor and the Senator were in the visitor's gallery as well as a throng of reporters. Jarrod looked up and nodded at them. They returned the gesture.

The hotel witnesses sat on the other side of the aisle along with the coroner, doctor from the hotel, and the district attorney.

The police officer went first and gave his testimony. Hearing two very different versions of the story he had arrested Mr. Barkley and would let the court settle it out. In his professional opinion, it could have gone either way by the witness accounts.

Two maids and a porter testified that Victoria Barkley was pacing in the hall and had them check on Mrs. Jackson's well-being. The deceased had told them she was resting but they all heard muffled noises from the room. They testified that Nick Barkley broke the door down when it was not answered.

A banker and two more ladies testified they heard an argument, Nick telling John numerous times to put the gun down and John Jackson accusing Nick of raping his wife; he also accused the brothers of sharing her over the years. All three of the witnesses heard John curse his wife for only having girl babies and if this one wasn't a boy, he would divorce her for adultery with the Barkley brothers.

The reporters hastily jotted down those notes. The government reps took notice

The coroner testified John Jackson died of internal bleeding from a gunshot wound at close range; he also had offensive and defensive wounds from a fight.

Nate and Tom shared looks; this was working out well.

A doctor from the jail testified that Nicholas Barkley had offensive and defensive wounds.

The judge called a brief recess and excused the first group of witnesses if the attorneys had no further questions.

"No your honor, we concede all this testimony was heard at the scene or observed by the doctors and public servants." Nate addressed the judge respectfully.

Nate and Tom talked to Jarrod and Nick at the break. "This is going better than expected. There is no reason Nick should be held except for his last name. Now you, Jarrod—-throw yourself on mercy and pay the fine. I can't believe you called the Judge a lowlife son of a bitch."

Victoria Barkley was called to the stand and she clearly made eye contact with the judge and people in the courtroom and galley.

She gave great detail of what she witnessed, she confirmed John's words, and she added that "I would never lie for my sons".

She in fact would testify against them if the need arose. "Their eternal souls are more important to me."

She testified to the bruises she had seen over the years and that Liz confirmed that John attacked her when she awoke.

Next, the doctor that treated Liz gave great detail about her injuries and that she had likely been violated during the beating. A shudder went through the chamber and the gallery.

He gave testimony about evidence of previous beatings. He testified under oath that she was lucky that she did not lose the seventh-month child and that she had named her husband as her attacker.

"May I add one thing, Judge that hasn't been asked of me,"

"Proceed."

"The one thing that lovely lady kept saying was it was her fault and the law was with him. The law is wrong, sir. No one should take what she did over the years especially a woman at the hands of a stronger man or heaven forbid a child."

"Thank you sir for your honest testimony and opinion."

Katarina testified at what she and Nick saw in San Diego. Jarrod had no idea. "Why had they not told him?"

Isabella testified to John's rage and the beatings Liz endured for all of the years she had lived with her. Bettina's testimony added that it began after the second girl baby.

Amy took the stand: she testified she did not believe that Jarrod had ever been unfaithful to her, and acted in a role of attorney and family friend, she had seen the bruises herself and witnessed the aftermath of this last attack. She confirmed she had heard Liz name her husband as the culprit.

She added as she was excused, "I plan to go back to Sacramento and lobby the Governor and our Senator, my family members to repeal the laws that allow husbands to beat their wives almost to the point of death and that husbands automatically to retain guardianship when a marriage fails. I respect Elizabeth Jackson and I hope to make a difference for other women like her. I apologize for my long-windedness; I come from a long line of orators."

The judge smiled, "I know your family and you make them proud. Mr. Barkley is quite lucky to be marrying you. You are excused."

Amy's face stayed stoic as she returned to her place on the bench.

Amanda Jackson spoke next, "I am her stepmother and I have witnessed the beating bruises for years." She went into details about the threats to take the children from Liz by John and her own husband.

Jarrod was called to the stand next. He testified how she sheltered her sisters from Jackson's wrath by transferring their guardianship since they were under the age of 25 to him as her attorney. He told of the selfish action of taking his wife off bedrest to christen a ship and the baby was born a month early as a result. He was the best man at their wedding when she was 13 years old at the end of the war. He gave testimony about John's mistresses over the years and on an occasion, he had punched him in frustration. He was the godfather to all five little girls. He never had had a romantic liaison with Liz, just a deep familial bond of friendship and attorney of record.

"Mr. Barkley on the other matter, did you call me those names when I did not release your brother and ordered an inquest?"

"Yes sir. I think you have heard all these testimonies and it is no excuse for my temper, just a poor explanation for my uncalled-for outburst. I have dedicated my life to the judicial process and I disappointed it along with myself and our wonderful state of California. You have my sincerest apology."

The reporters loved Jarrod's apology to the Judge as well as the two observers for the Governor and Senator.

"I appreciate your apology Mr. Barkley and I accept it. You may pay your fine before you leave my city and I am expecting some pro-Bono work too. Also, you should help that fine fiancée of yours write some new legislation to protect our weaker and fairer sex."

"Yes, your honor"

And finally, it was Liz's turn. Nate went and took her arm from beside Victoria and walked her slowly to the stand. She was 7 months pregnant with two black eyes, marks on her throat and arms, and a bruise on her cheek. Her auburn ringlets were classically piled on her head. She looked a lot younger than 30 years old. Her green eyes glistened with unshed tears and she held them open wide to still her emotions. Nate helped her to the witness stand.

"Everything that was said today is true." was all she said looking helpless and sad to the judge.

"I do not think I would be alive today to raise my children if Nick Barkley had not stopped the attack. John threatened me with death several times or taking my children. I don't even want to say what he said if I deliver a girl this time."

Nate asked the judge, "Do you have any questions, your honor?"

"Ma'm I give you the courts more sincere sympathy and respect for coming today. You may be seated. I have heard enough testimony."

"I do have one request, your honor." He nodded kindly.

She looked up at the gallery of reporters and spoke hoarsely. "Dear members of the press, I respect your rights of free speech and the press as a French daughter and an American citizen…It is a very important right rarely found in the world. But I ask before you write my story today, please remember six children will grow up hearing your words for the rest of their lives. Thank you."

An unnatural hush filled the room. The reporters were stunned as well as every person in that courtroom.

Nate helped her back to her seat.

"Nick Barkley, please rise. I render a verdict of self-defense. You are free to go. With the court's thanks for saving the life of a woman and child"

The courtroom erupted and people began congratulating Nick. Liz swooned from rib pain from being jostled and fell onto Victoria. Jarrod ran to pick her up instinctively.

A reporter pushed Amy to the ground to try to get a picture. She cried out in pain from the floor but Jarrod already was leaving the courtroom with Liz in his arms. Carl got to her and helped her up. Her hand was already swelling.

Jarrod was cradling Liz in his arms in a council chamber room. The baby had shifted into her broken ribs and when she stood up too quickly, she blacked out.

Carl took Amy out to an awaiting buggy back to the hotel with Audra and him.

Amy's decision was confirmed. "This is the sign I was asking for."

"I will announce in several months after I get home that I have broken the engagement. If I do it sooner, it will hurt both of us. We must preserve our reputations and I have a perfect farce to make that happen. I am keeping my word about changing the laws for Liz. She and many other women deserve it. I do love you but not enough." she told Jarrod at the hotel after the doctor set her broken finger in a splint.

He was mortified when he returned to the hotel with Liz to hear from Carl and Audra that Amy had been hurt. He hadn't even thought to ask where she was when Liz fainted.

He tried to apologize profusely but she stopped him. "I was going to do this anyway I believe but my heart has sealed my decision. Go to Liz, Jarrod. You belong together. Please take this without ANY malicious intent, I don't love you like I loved Bill. And I don't believe you love me like Beth or—-Liz. And in the name of all honesty, I believe I have found someone better suited to me. We have already seen each other this week several times. I have sent for him already and he will see me back home. I am aware enough that I need to be the center of attention in my home. My family will not hear an ill word about you."

She kissed him on the cheek and had the valet take her bags to Peter's carriage. Jarrod walked her silently downstairs to him. He refused to show any of the multitudes of emotions he was feeling. Peter looked awkward knowing the reputation of the Barkley temper.

Jarrod handed Amy's arm to him, "Take care of her. She is very special."

He kissed her on the cheek and turned around to go to his meeting with Amanda Jackson's attorney.