Author's Note: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of the characters. I only own the plot to the story and a few characters of my own
Summary: Western Au. Wild Spirited Elizabeth Swann leaves behind her family in Philadelphia heading to the small Texas border town of Sliverston for a teaching job.
Will Turner was a man not looking for trouble but trouble had always found him. He had a reputation as a gunhand who was rumoured to have killed thirty men. A nonsense Bounty Hunter who rode with questionable characters. Dark Will.
Author's Note. I'm not a lawyer so I hope I've got all the legal stuff right. Historically Five to Fifteen Years was the punishment for horse theft in Texas at the time. And Two to Five Years was the punishment usally for Rustling. I went with Huntsville as it's the oldest prison in Texas. If I got any of legal stuff wrong. I apologise . Like I said I'm not a lawyer. I only went off what I could find.
Chapter 11
Sliverston, Texas
1890
The makeshift courtroom was packed on Monday. When the trail for the Matthew, Wilson boys and Roy Davidson's trial was set to happened. I was the only witness for the prosecution.
The lawyer for the accused was some lawyer from over in Blackford. We had no lawyers practising here in Sliverston anyhow.
"All rise for his right honourable Judge Ian Mercer" The appointed Court Bailiff introduced the new Judge Mercer.
We all took our respective seats.
"The State of Texas vs Lloyd Matthews, Noah Matthews, Paul Wilson, Lewis Wilson and Roy Davidson. On the charges of Horse Theft and Rustling" The Bailiff read out the charges against them.
"Mr Anderson. How do you clients plead to the charges against them" Mercer spoke with a thick Scottish Accent with a hint Texas as well.
"They are pleading no guilty against my advice you Honour" The lawyer Anderson answered.
"Very Well. Mr Wright" Mercer nodded to the makeshift prosecution for today's trial. Harmon Wright.
"The Prosecution calls it's only witness. Mr William Turner" I rose from my seat. Making my way to the stand.
"Hold up you right hand and repeat after me. Do you Swear to tell the truth and nothing by the truth so help you god."
"I do" I answered.
"Mr Turner. Can tell the court in your own words what happened on the morning of June 13th""Harmon opened the questioning.
"I was out checking the herd near Wolf Hill. I saw and smelt smoke. It seemed unusual as there wasn'y any other hands out that way besides me. I followed the smoke till I came across a make shift camp.
I dismounted before going to have a closer look. That's when I spotted our horses in a make shift corral. I looked down from where I was standing and saw the five accused" I began to explain.
"And what where they doing" Harmon questioned.
"Lloyd Matthews was knelling by the fire heating a branding iron. When he went to pick it up. I fired a shot. Hitting the Branding Iron from his hand."
"Then what happened."Harmon asked.
"Lloyd and Noah Matthews opened fire. I called on them to surrender. But they fired back at me. I returned fire. I hit Lloyd Matthews in the shoulder. I again called for them to surrender. Noah Matthews continued to fire.
I hit him in the leg. I told him not to go for his pistol that he had dropped. He went for it. I fired again hitting his weapon. The other three Paul and Lewis Wilson, and Roy Davidson all dropped their gun belts and surrendered.
I took them back to Sliverston turning them over to Sheriff Barbossa" I finished.
"No More Questions. Your Honour" Harmon sat back down.
"Mr Turner. What is your profession" Anderson asked.
"I'm a Bounty Hunter. What's that got to do with anything"
"Your Honour. I'm just going to ask the same thing" Harmon interjected.
"Mr Anderson. What has Mr Turner's profession got to do with this case" Mercer was trying to find out where Anderson was going with this line of questioning.
"I'm just trying establish a reason for why my clients would steal horses from Mr Turner" Anderson rose from his seat" You knew a man named Brandon Matthews did you not"
"I did"
"He was also the man you shot and killed here in Sliverston five years ago. With no legally right to to do so" What the hell.
"Objection Your Honour. Really what does this have to do with this case" Harmon objected
"Mr Anderson. Brandon Matthews was wanted for Murder, Rape and a number of other serious charges. Mr Turner shooting of Brandon Matthews five years ago in Sliverston was perfectly legal" Mercer interjected.
"Yes it may have been legally. But ethnically and morally was it right. The woman he raped and killed was your wife Victoria Turner was it not"
"It was" I answered
"Mr Matthews worked on your family ranch for a time. Before you assaulted him and threatened to kill him if he ever set foot in the State of Texas again. Is that not correct Mr Turner."
"He tried to rape my wife. What would you have done. If it had been your wife, sister or daughter if someone you trusted and though of as a brother tried to force themselves on them. Tell me what would you do" I questioned.
"We are not talking about me" Anderson deflected the question" Did you or did you not threaten to kill Brandon Matthews"
"And if I did. Again what's that got to do with this case."Anderson was starting to piss me off.
"Mr Anderson. Mr Turner here is not the one on trial. For a Wanted Criminal he killed five years ago in a lawful killing. So please keep your questions for Mr Turner to be for the case at hand"
"Yes your Honour" Anderson answered like a child whom had been caught with his hand in cookie jaw."Mr Turner did you or did not threaten my clients on Thursday the 12th of June. In Brown's General Store.
You said I quote. 'Do you want your mama to bury another son'. Did you say that to my clients" Anderson challenged.
"I said something like that. But that was not what I said. I said. Unless you want your mama to bury another son. I suggest you pull your head in. And think before you act. Was what I said" I answered.
"Why do you think my clients attempted to steal your horses Mr Turner"
"Revenge" I simply answered.
"For you killing their older brother Brandon"
"Yes" I replied not sure where the hell he was going with this.
"No further question your honour" Anderson sat back down finished with his questioning of me.
"You may step down Mr Turner" Judge Mercer nodded. I stepped down from the witness stand.
"Mr Wright do you have anymore witnesses"
"No Your Honour. We do not" Harmon answered.
"Mr Anderson" Mercer turned to Anderson.
"We do your Honour. I call Mrs Dorothea Matthews to the witness stand" Brandon's mother stood from her seat beside Ira and Everett.
"Mrs Matthews. If you will raise your right hand. And repeat after me. I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me god"
"I do" Dorothea swore before sitting in the witness stand.
"Mrs Matthews. Do you believe that your sons Lloyd and Noah stole the horses of Mr William Turner as he has accused them of doing"
"No I do not."Dorothea glared in my direction.
"And why is that"
"My sons are good God fearing boys. They would do nothing of the sort" Dorothea answered.
"So you believe there is no truth to Mr Turner's accusation of them attempting to steal his horses on Friday the 13th of June"
"No. And I would not believe a word out of that lying murders mouth. He killed my eldest boy Brandon for no reason. My Brandon was nothing what that lying bastard was saying he was. He would never have done anything of those thing he was accused of doing" And here came the tears.
"Mrs Matthews. We are not talking about your son Brandon. We are talking about your sons Noah and Lloyd" Mercer interjected.
"No further questions."Mercer it seemed had taken the wind out of Anderson's sails after that.
"Mrs Matthews. You don't believe your sons did what they have been charged with"
"No I do not" Dorothea answered through gritted teeth
"What about your son. Noah repeatedly threatening to kill Mr Turner. Or getting back at him in retaliation for his brother's death. Though his brother was a wanted criminal on some pretty serious charges"
"No" Dorothea tensely answered.
"No further questions" Harmon sat back down.
"Mrs Matthews you may step down" Mercer turned to Anderson" Mr Anderson any more witnesses"
"No your honour"
The five of them took the stand to tell their side of the story. After that. It was time for the closing statements.
"Very well. You may start with your closing statements. Mr Wright" Mercer nodded to Harmon to start.
"Thank you. Your honour."Harmon stood up before addressing the jury. "You have heard the evidence. You are not here to judge the killing of Brandon Matthews's. You are here to judge if these men are guilty of horse theft and rustling that is all"
"Mr Anderson" Mercer prompted.
"Thank You Honour." Anderson stood up next and started to strut about like some rooster." I want you to ask yourself why my clients felt compelled to steal those horses. What drove them to do it."Anderson started to carry on.
The Jury retired to try and reach verdict.
We where only out of the court room a short time before we where called back in. It had only been half an hour at most.
"You have reached a verdict" Mercer addressed the head juror
"We have your honour" The Head Juror replied.
"And what is that verdict"
"We find the accused. Lloyd Matthews guilty of Horse Theft and Rustling. Noah Matthews guilty of Horse Theft and Rustling, Paul Wilson guilty of Horse Theft and Rustling, Lewis Wilson guilty of Horse Theft and Rustling and Roy Davidson guilty of Horse Theft and Rustling" The Head Juror read out the verdict.
"Thank You" Judge Mercer thanked him
"Will the accused please stand" The five of them stood up.
"In all my years in the Law. I have heard some half baked excuses from murders, outlaws and desperate men for what they've done. But today the excuse you five young men gave me for trying to steal Mr Turner's horses.
Was perhaps the biggest load of horse shit. I've ever heard. No matter how you feel about the man who killed your brother. Or for the fact that you believe he deserved to have his horses stolen. That does not give you the right to steal his property or his lively hood.
So in this instance. I am given no other option then to pass the maximum penalty I legally can sentence you to. Lloyd Matthews, Noah Matthews, Paul Wilson, Lewis Wilson and Roy Davidson.
I hereby sentence you all to eighteen years in the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville" Judge Mercer passed his sentence. Banging his gavel down.
"NO MY BOYS" Dorothea Matthews cried. As Lloyd and Noah where lead out of the courthouse.
"NO" May Belle Wilson and Mary Lou Davidson cried at the same time as their sons to where lead out of the courthouse.
Those gathered in the makeshift courthouse started to leave. Going back to their normal business.
After the trial I needed a stiff drink. I united Dutchmen before leading him down the street to the Rattlesnake Saloon.
Gibbs was behind the bar when I walked in.
"How'd the trial go" He asked pouring me a glass of Whiskey.
"As you'd expect" I took a long sip.
"How many years they get"
"Eighteen at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville."Gibbs whistled.
"So this new judge don't mess around then"
"No he doesn't" I agreeded. I paid for my drink. I headed back out of the Rattlesnake. I mounted Dutchmen before riding home to the Ranch.