Judge Brooker asked for a meeting between Matt, Festus, Brown and Johnson. Brown was reluctant as he felt he was being set up for something. Brooker assured him differently and rather than meet at the jail house where Sam now sat watch over Jed Fleming, they met in a room at the Dodge House. Brooker felt that maybe it was as neutral as anyplace in Dodge could be at the moment.
The judge sat in the leather wingback chair next to the door. The other four men sat on the other various chairs in the room that were pulled together in a line of sorts. Brooker hooked his thumbs into this vest pockets and watched the two cattle barons glare at each other.
"If you two are finished with your little game of starring, we can begin..." Brooker's voice held no humour.
Johnson coughed and then ran his hand across under his nose as he turned toward the judge. Brown just frowned and readjusted his position in his chair. Matt made note and his left eyebrow rose slightly at the men's antics.
"Gentlemen. I have asked you to meet with me before we proceed with the trial of Jed Fleming. You all know that Doctor Adams was seriously wounded in some sort of gun play, and believe me, with the help of the marshal and his deputies, we will get to the bottom of this matter." He looked at Brown and Johnson with a knowing eye. "Now on the same matter, with the doctor's injury, I will be holding this trial at a later date, maybe a week or so, says Newly O'Brien. By then the good doctor should be well enough to testify. Until that time," again the judge's eyes looked at the two cattle barons, "I have asked Marshal Dillon to spare no resources to protect the doctor from further harm as it is my understanding that he was almost murdered..."
Brown jumped to his feet. "You keep looking at us like we're common criminals! I ain't even touched a hair on the doctor's head, let alone had someone shoot him!"
Judge Brooker, Matt, Festus and Erik Johnson were relieved to hear Brown declare his innocence. They knew he was now out of the equation, but they still were no closer about who did shot Doc.
Brooker looked over to Matt and nodded. Matt slowly stood from his chair and faced Templeton Brown. "Jed Fleming is going to be on trial for murder, you know that..." It wasn't really a question but Brown nodded. "It is our collective opinion that he has asked for help and that help was meant to kill Doc Adams so he couldn't testify, after all he saw what happened the other night."
Brown swallowed. "Matt, I already told you I don't know who done it. I said I'd work with you to find out. But I ain't heard nothing."
Matt looked over to Judge Brooker who then spoke. "Mr Brown. I'm relieved to hear that you are cooperating with the Marshal. But in all seriousness, if some of your men are responsible for shooting Doctor Adams, they too will stand trial for attempted murder. And further that, if they were acting on behalf of another, namely Jed Fleming, they will be tried and sentenced accordingly. All of this is dependent on the doctor's recovery, of course"
Brown nodded again. "Judge Brooker. If there are men in my company that shot the doctor, and Jed did what he did...well, I want you to know that I had noting to do with their reasoning and actions."
Brooker shook his head in understanding. "Well, Marshal Dillon. You and your deputies have your work cut out for you. I suggest you waste no time in dealing with this matter of who shot your doctor. And." Brooker stood up from the chair, " I think you can count on these two gentlemen to help you if you need it."
Matt squinted his eyes at the two cattle barons. "Sure, Judge. I can find something for them to do."