The Brother
Chapter 13
The atmosphere in the courtroom next morning was one of tense excitement. As many of Dodge's citizens who could fit in the lobby of the Dodge House had already grabbed their places. Differing accounts of the proceedings had already been recounted in all the saloons and businesses of the town and people were anxious to see the conclusion of the Marshal's case against Lou Gannon.
Judge Brooking looked around at the motley crowd in front of him and slowly raised his gavel. "This court is now in session," he proclaimed as he struck the instrument on the table were he sat.
" I am going to issue a warning," he said trying to eye as many of the people gathered in front of him as he could. "There are a lot of you crowded in here today and I want you to remember that I want order at all times. Any rowdiness or other behavior unbecoming to a court of law and I will clear this room." He looked around at Jeff Tencher who was acting as the bailiff. "You can bring the jury in now."
Everyone was seated and as quiet descended on the room, the Judge turned to Mr. Tunney.
"Does your client wish to testify?"
"If it pleases your honor, Mr. Gannon feels that enough time has been wasted already with these frivolous charges, none of which have been proven, so he declines to make further comment."
The little man sat down and Dillon knew in his heart that any hope he had of questioning the man to catch him in a lie, had just left the room.
The judge sent the jury to deliberate, but it did not take them long to reach a verdict.
They obviously did not believe Billings' story about Lemay. They had read Jackson's statement and inspected his gun, and found no evidence that Lemay had ever fired a shot. They found Dragg Billings guilty of attempted murder, but could not find sufficient evidence to convict Gannon of any crime.
Accordingly the Judge had Billings stand and told him he could well sentence him to be hanged, but instead the man was to serve 25 years in state prison.
When Gannon stood before the judge there was a smirk on his face that Dillon wanted to remove with a fast backhand, instead the Judge pronounced him free to leave the court and go on his way. The jury could not find enough evidence to convict him of anything.
As the Judge dismissed the court there was a general murmuring of conversations as people made there way out onto the street.
Dillon placed the handcuffs back on Billings as he prepared to return him to the jail.
Gannon and his attorney were busy congratulating each other, as the Marshal passed by with his prisoner, but Gannon stopped and looked at him.
"You are not as smart as you think Marshal. You haven't heard the last of me and.." he stopped to look around the courtroom till his eyes located the red headed saloon owner, "you better watch out after your lady friend, I would hate to hear of anything happening to her."
Again Matt felt the almost irresistible urge to hit the man, but instead he ushered his prisoner out of the building towards the jail.
"Billings," he said, "if you had done the right thing in there, you would not be looking at a long prison sentence."
"Don't worry about me, Marshal, Mr. Gannon promised that he would make sure nothing bad happened to me. He's going to get me out and pay me a lot of money, you'll see."
Dillon almost felt sorry for Dragg Billings, he knew that whatever was in the man's future it was not going to be freedom and money.
Matt had watched the afternoon train pullout heading east. Tunney had been on it and just before the train left the station he had watched as Gannon had handed an envelope containing a bank draft for a large amount of money to the attorney. He watched as they shook hands, then Gannon walked away and made his way to the stage depot and then the telegraph office. He couldn't help but feel he had stirred up a hornet's nest and just hoped that he could prevent those around him from getting stung.
He went back to his office to find Judge Brooking sitting there talking to Chester.
The Judge stood up as the Marshal entered.
"Matt I wanted to talk with you before I left town."
Matt looked around to make sure that the door to the cells was closed, then taking some money from his pocket, he handed it to Chester telling him to go get some lunch for the prisoner.
The door closed behind the jailer and the Marshal and the Judge sat at the small table in the middle of the office.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out better for you Matt. There really wasn't much I could do."
"I know, I appreciate you trying though. I really thought I had Billings convinced to tell the truth until that man Tunney came along."
"I am worried that man, Gannon, may seek some kind of reprisal against you and Miss Russell and I came here to urge you to be careful."
"Thank you Judge, but there is not much I can do, there are enough men after me now that one more makes little difference, I do worry about Kitty though."
"Why don't you get her to leave town for a while?"
Matt smiled, "With all due respect Judge, you have never tried to convince Kitty to do something she does not want to do."
The conversation drifted into pleasantries until the Judge stood up to take his leave.
"I'll be back this way in about six weeks, oh and meantime I'll arrange for someone to come to collect Billings and take him to state prison. You had best stay here in town for a while." He took his watch from his pocket and looked at the time. "If I'm going to catch the Wichita stage, I best be leaving."
"I'll walk down there with you." Matt took his hat from the peg by the door and followed the judge out onto Front Street.
The rest of the day was quiet. Matt spent most of the time in his office filing reports and looking through a new stack of wanted posters. Towards evening he made his way to the Long Branch to find Kitty and take her to supper.
For once their meal was not interrupted, but somehow Matt found that pleasant conversation was beyond him.
Kitty reached her hand across the table and gently laid it on his arm.
"You know I'm not leaving town don't you."
"That's why I didn't even ask, but I do want you to be careful, I know something is going to happen. Gannon is not going to let this go."
It was much later that night that he was making rounds. He stopped by the depot to watch the late night stage leave for Pueblo. As he suspected Gannon got on it. He looked straight at the Marshal but no words were spoken between them.
Once the stage had left he made his way back to his usual last stop –the Long Branch – and hoped that he would be able to find some warmth and comfort for the night. Of course the saloon owner was waiting for him with much the same idea.
End