Chapter 9: In Court
A week later T.J Detweiler found himself and his parents dressed up and walking to court. Their lawyer had come with them and as they approached the familiar courtroom T.J caught a glimpse of Spinelli and her parents walking in.
As T.J walked in he smelled the aroma he hadn't since the fourth grade summer. He had his memories. They were showed to their seats, parents on the front row of the audience with Gretchen and T.J, Mikey, Gus, Vince and Spinelli sitting across from where Mundy and his gang sat.
They didn't talk much to each other and was instructed by their lawyer and judge Skinner. It was an hour before everyone had arrived and everyone was in place for the trial.
"Settle down people," said the judge. "Now, the trial to take place is the act of an assault and $400 theft by Detweiler T.J, LaSalle Vince, Griswold Gus, Spinelli Ashley on Mundy Conrad." it went on. "The prosecution may begin."
Mundy's lawyer stepped forward and was first to speak. He called T.J Detweiler to the stand, and started the questioning after the official said the oaths swear.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth so help you god?"
"I do," T.J replied
"Now Master Detweiler, I understand this is not your first time in court is it?"
"No."
"Yes, in fact you have been in this very courtroom four time. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And I realise that one of your trials was after you destroyed the beloved statue of Thaddeus T. Third the third at the tender age of nine?"
"Yes but-"
"And another time because of an act of swearing at the meagre age of nine?"
"Well yes but-"
"Your honour, if a child could use such vile language and destroy a statue which we all loved at the mere age of nine, why, assaulting my client would seem like just a walk in the park."
"Yeah but-" T.J cut in.
"No further questions your honour."
Conrad Mundy was next in the stand and was being questioned by T.J's lawyer. The official once again did the oaths swear.
"Mundy, did you or did you not assault Mikey Blumberg?"
"I did not," Mundy replied.
"Did you rob $500 off him?"
"No."
"I have reason to believe you are lying and I hold here records of a number of cases where you were a suspect. These include assaults, abuse and theft."
"Never once was I convicted."
"Is there any reason for that?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Involving your father?"
"No."
"Being the police chief of the local police."
"Your honour I must protest," objected Mundy's lawyer.
"Sustained," said judge Skinner.
"This last statement has no relevance whatsoever and shows a prejudiced point of view."
"I see your point, sustained."
T.J was once again next to walk to the stand, but this time he was to be questioned by his own lawyer.
"I call T.J Detweiler to the stand," said T.J's lawyer.
"Now T.J, as we have heard previously you have been in court four times. The first time was of vile use of language. Did you win this case?
"I did," said T.J
"The second time was of and accident which turned resulted in the destruction of Thaddeus T. Third the third's statue. Did you win this case?"
"I did."
"The third time, as a witness to the decapitation of the statue of president Jefferson. Did you win this case?"
"I did."
"The fourth, as a witness to the trial of summer abortment suspicion. Did you win this case?
"I did."
"Your honour, my client is obviously not the criminal type, he has won all four of his trials and has no other record of misbehaviour."
This went on. Mundy, Skeens and L.K denied assaulting Mikey and stealing $500, the denied involvement in the fight and there were no independent witnesses to deny that.
Over two days the gangs were questioned deeply. Mikey had no witnesses to his assault and robbery and Mundy's dad had given the court alibis for Mundy, Skeens and L.K.
Mundy and his gang had paid for X-ray treatment from the effects of the fight and claimed it was assault. Skeens was a witness to T.J taking $400 out of Mundy's pocket and claimed it theft.
By the end of day three T.J and the gang had pretty much lost the trial. Tomorrow was the final day of the trial and T.J was lying down in his room thinking.
Suddenly he bolted upright and thought of something. Something that could just maybe banish his sentence.
"Butch," he shouted aloud.
A week later T.J Detweiler found himself and his parents dressed up and walking to court. Their lawyer had come with them and as they approached the familiar courtroom T.J caught a glimpse of Spinelli and her parents walking in.
As T.J walked in he smelled the aroma he hadn't since the fourth grade summer. He had his memories. They were showed to their seats, parents on the front row of the audience with Gretchen and T.J, Mikey, Gus, Vince and Spinelli sitting across from where Mundy and his gang sat.
They didn't talk much to each other and was instructed by their lawyer and judge Skinner. It was an hour before everyone had arrived and everyone was in place for the trial.
"Settle down people," said the judge. "Now, the trial to take place is the act of an assault and $400 theft by Detweiler T.J, LaSalle Vince, Griswold Gus, Spinelli Ashley on Mundy Conrad." it went on. "The prosecution may begin."
Mundy's lawyer stepped forward and was first to speak. He called T.J Detweiler to the stand, and started the questioning after the official said the oaths swear.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth so help you god?"
"I do," T.J replied
"Now Master Detweiler, I understand this is not your first time in court is it?"
"No."
"Yes, in fact you have been in this very courtroom four time. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And I realise that one of your trials was after you destroyed the beloved statue of Thaddeus T. Third the third at the tender age of nine?"
"Yes but-"
"And another time because of an act of swearing at the meagre age of nine?"
"Well yes but-"
"Your honour, if a child could use such vile language and destroy a statue which we all loved at the mere age of nine, why, assaulting my client would seem like just a walk in the park."
"Yeah but-" T.J cut in.
"No further questions your honour."
Conrad Mundy was next in the stand and was being questioned by T.J's lawyer. The official once again did the oaths swear.
"Mundy, did you or did you not assault Mikey Blumberg?"
"I did not," Mundy replied.
"Did you rob $500 off him?"
"No."
"I have reason to believe you are lying and I hold here records of a number of cases where you were a suspect. These include assaults, abuse and theft."
"Never once was I convicted."
"Is there any reason for that?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Involving your father?"
"No."
"Being the police chief of the local police."
"Your honour I must protest," objected Mundy's lawyer.
"Sustained," said judge Skinner.
"This last statement has no relevance whatsoever and shows a prejudiced point of view."
"I see your point, sustained."
T.J was once again next to walk to the stand, but this time he was to be questioned by his own lawyer.
"I call T.J Detweiler to the stand," said T.J's lawyer.
"Now T.J, as we have heard previously you have been in court four times. The first time was of vile use of language. Did you win this case?
"I did," said T.J
"The second time was of and accident which turned resulted in the destruction of Thaddeus T. Third the third's statue. Did you win this case?"
"I did."
"The third time, as a witness to the decapitation of the statue of president Jefferson. Did you win this case?"
"I did."
"The fourth, as a witness to the trial of summer abortment suspicion. Did you win this case?
"I did."
"Your honour, my client is obviously not the criminal type, he has won all four of his trials and has no other record of misbehaviour."
This went on. Mundy, Skeens and L.K denied assaulting Mikey and stealing $500, the denied involvement in the fight and there were no independent witnesses to deny that.
Over two days the gangs were questioned deeply. Mikey had no witnesses to his assault and robbery and Mundy's dad had given the court alibis for Mundy, Skeens and L.K.
Mundy and his gang had paid for X-ray treatment from the effects of the fight and claimed it was assault. Skeens was a witness to T.J taking $400 out of Mundy's pocket and claimed it theft.
By the end of day three T.J and the gang had pretty much lost the trial. Tomorrow was the final day of the trial and T.J was lying down in his room thinking.
Suddenly he bolted upright and thought of something. Something that could just maybe banish his sentence.
"Butch," he shouted aloud.
