Chapter 3 The Trial

Percival Mason to represent the citizens of Seattle in the Supreme Court trial of the century.

In the court case City of Seattle, the plaintiffs are asserting the claim of fraud and scams using duress to obtain property from the citizens of Seattle Messrs.' Rochester, Arlington, Benson and Miss Vanderhoff, The defendants for scam and fraud to take over Seattle. Seattle has retained Mr. P Mason and Mr. Barnabas Smith as lawyers for the plaintiffs and Messrs. Rochester, Arlington, and Benson and Miss Vanderhoff have retained Mr. F.L. Bailey. The Supreme Court will convened in Olympia on June 29, 1898, at 10:00 am. (The Seattle Post intelligencer, Paul Wethermann, Reporter)

Aaron Stemple purchased the paper at the newsstand and went to his office. He had little time to worry about the criminal proceedings, however, he was planning to take a few weeks off to go to Olympia to the Supreme Court to watch this particular proceeding. He and the Bolt brothers had been subpoenaed to appear in this trial. He really did not like seeing Patricia in court the second time he had been involved with her. He had feelings but he was an honest man and realized that those feelings would never be reciprocated. She was a woman who was out for herself. She did get feelings but if they came between her and money, well, she always chose money.

"And that is why I was so vulnerable and easy for her to get into me!" Aaron thought as he took a sip of his coffee. The door burst open, and Jason Bolt stood in front of him ready to chew his head off if he needed to do that.

"Good Morning Jason, what can I do for you? Aaron asked and stood up to greet him. Jason shook his hand and then said.

"Have you read the article in the paper today?" Jason asked. Aaron nodded yes and waited for Jason.

We were asked to go to Olympia and be there next Wednesday have you been subpoenaed as well?"

"Yes, I have, I am to appear there first. It seems that they will be starting with Patricia first. I think because she was at the end and only involved in a slight manner, they will probably give her more jail time." Said Aaron with a hopeful attitude. He did not wish her ill, but she did need to suffer the consequences of her actions. Jason nodded in agreement.

"Will Matilda be there as well Jason?" asked Aaron who was gathering his coat to go out the door. Jason went out first and then Aaron followed.

"I don't know, she hasn't written to me. I was told that as Pinkerton's once the report is filed we no longer are allowed to discuss it. So, she has not sent me any letters or telegrams. So, I really don't know!" Jason said. He was kind of worried. He knew that she loved him, but he had become dependent on her letters and wondered why she hadn't written even to let him know that things were okay.

Jason and Aaron walked over to Lottie's new saloon. His loggers had helped to rebuild it and with a hotel and restaurant and a saloon, she was able to hire some of the people of Seattle, especially the brides who had not been married yet.

"Jason, Jason!" Candy called from across the street. He turned to wait until she caught up with him. Aaron stopped and waited as well.

"Jason, how long do you think you will be gone? Asked Candy concerned that Jeremy would be gone just as long.

"I don't know. I can't say how long. They may only need the Bolts for a day or two or maybe a week. But I don't think it will be that long." Jason answered. Candy smiled at Aaron and then asked one more question.

Do you think that they will need Jeremy too much?" Jason looked at her and was about to answer when Aaron said.

"Miss Pruitt, we don't really know for sure? It may take a week; it may be longer. There are many things that go on in a trial that some take a little more time to straighten out." He said to her and then said.

"If you will excuse us, we have to go to a meeting, Lottie will need to attend the trial as well.

The trial was held in the Supreme Court of Washington State. Miss Vanderhoff was sentenced to 5 more years jail time for her part in the crime; however, Mr. Stemple had asked the Judge for leniency in the case and said that he would find a suitable job for her to help her not fall into the same situation again. The judge commuted her sentence, and she was remanded to Mr. Stemple who made plans for Miss Vanderhoff to live with his sister Julie in San Francisco and work in a dress shop for the next 5 years. Julie would oversee her employment and education as well as assist her in whatever would help her to be rehabilitated.

Mr. Rochester and companions were on the next docket. Jason Bolt as well as Jeremy and Joshua, Lottie and of course Aaron were expected to be there. The day dawned on a bright cool morning, such as one gets in late September. Jason and his brothers had stayed at the Olympic Hotel as did Aaron. They all walked to the court house together. When they arrived, there were many reporters who were clamoring for an exclusive, especially with Jason. When he stopped for a moment, they came running up to him and asking him very personal questions such as:

"How long have you known Miss Sweeney? Is she really just a detective or does she have a side job? I have been told that she was a spy during the civil war. What is your opinion? Has she been faithful to you? Are you going to marry her? Is she with child?" Jason did not answer the questions and almost reacted to the last question without thinking. Joshua pulled him back quickly as their lawyer came. Jeremy looked at Jason, his eyes were intense, he was ready to do something, the same way he looked when Jeremy had stopped him from finishing the contest in order to save a couple who would have been killed if a tree fell on them.

"Jason!" said Barnabas: "don't listen to the reporters, they want something to happen to make it look bad for you. Come on into the court house and remember Joshua, Jeremy no talking to the reporters!" He 'herded' them into the courthouse and the courtroom where they were to sit behind the rails. Lottie and Aaron had arrived earlier but had not been bothered by the reporters because Aaron had hired a carriage to take them the back way.

They sat behind the railing as their lawyers sat at a table with their papers and notes. The lawyers for Mr. Rochester and company were already to make their opening statement. They were waiting for the judge to arrive. Joshua watched for the Bailiff, as did the Barnabas and everyone else. The Jury filed in and then the Bailiff said:

"All Rise! Court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Stone presiding!" Everyone stood up. Then when the judge sat down everyone sat down.

"The first on the Dockett is: Seattle vs. Mr. Rochester and companions." Said the Bailiff who was standing right in front of the Bench. The judge reviewed the complaint again and said:

Mr. Smith and Mason and Mr. Bailey, please come forward?" They came forward and the judge told them what he expected from them and then he said, okay The plaintiff may begin.

There was silence as both sides said their opening statement, Mr. Mason said that he would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Rochester and Companions had been intending to purchase as much property from the city of Seattle in order to create their own town. Mr. Bailey said that he would prove that the City of Seattle was looking to blame someone for their own mishandling of finances, property etc...

Thus, the trial began first witnesses then cross examinations, then an objection or two one sustained one that was allowed. The morning wore on. Jason wondered why Matilda was not there, he thought that since she had been in the thick of it, she would have been there. He also wondered why he had not seen or heard from her since everything had ended. His thoughts went to the times they had together, and he was thinking about this when Barnabas, whose turn it was to call forth a witness called Matilda in. She came to the stand, raised her right hand, and said she would tell the truth, the whole truth so helps her God! She then went to sit in the witness stand. It was highly unusual for a woman to appear in court in those days. But because of the nature of the situation her testimony in the presence of witnesses was required. Jason sat up but Mr. Mason looked at him and Jason understood that there should be no eye contact or any discernable motion that the court or anyone could misconstrue. Jason took a breath and closed his eyes, when he opened them, he kept still and quiet.

"Miss Sweeney, how did you come to know that something was happening in Seattle that warranted your involvement?" Barnabas asked her.

"I was working on another job when some names came across my desk and noticed that they were in Seattle. I of course had to finish the job I was on first, so I did not arrive until a few weeks later." She said sitting stoically in the witness seat.

"Why did you get involved with the good citizens of Seattle?"

"Objection! This man is leading the witness?" said Mr. Bailey.

"Judge Stone, I am establishing the reasons for her involvement in this case!" said Barnabas.

The judge thought about it and said: "Overruled!"

Barnabas thanked the judge and continued:

"Now Miss Sweeney, could you tell the jury why you were involved with this case?"

As I was finishing the case I was on previously, my volunteer detective had to go home before we were done. I asked what the problem was and that is how I learned of the events that were happening in Seattle, when the names were mentioned, I knew that we the Pinkerton agency had to investigate and bring these men to justice."

"Just to establish further, was it because of a perceived involvement with one of Seattle's prominent citizens that you took the case?" Miss Sweeney sat for a moment, she did not want to speak of anything private between her and Jason. All she could do was to say:

"I have known most of the good people in Seattle for a long time. I first met them when I was on a case that took place in New Bedford and I followed pretending to be one of the Brides, in order to catch a murderer! I came with them by ship from New Bedford, the first Mail Order Brides to arrive there in Seattle. I let them know who I was and what I needed to do. We caught the murderer after we landed in Seattle. I am grateful that the Bolts, and Mr. Stemple were able to help me in that case." She said. Barnabas, thanked her and said:
"Your witness Mr. Bailey!" Barnabas went back to his seat at the table. Joshua looked at Jason and wondered if he would be able to keep his temper if something happened. They both knew that Mr. Bailey would try to discredit Miss Sweeney if possible.

"Jason,' whispered Joshua, "how about we leave for a little while?" Jason looked at his brother, he knew why his brother was asking. Jason nodded no. He would stay, he would keep his thoughts and his emotions in check until later in the day when no one was around.

"Miss Sweeney, yes, it is true that you had met the Bolts, Jason Bolt in particular but you have had other dealings with him, have you not?"
"What do you mean by 'other dealings'" asked Miss Sweeney. She sat silently, not moving an inch or a muscle, the picture of calm and peace inside.

"I mean, perhaps meeting him for a little 'love tryst'!" said Mr. Bailey. Jason took a deep breath, this was going to be hard, but he had to remain quiet and positive, no emotion showing but really inside he was seething, he thought:

"How dare they insinuate that about Miss Sweeney!"

"Miss Sweeney, I ask again, was it a lover's tryst? When did you meet him the second time? In San Francisco? It is okay to say that, we know that you are not exactly a clean woman!" When the lawyer said this, Joshua had to hold his brother down by putting one hand on his brother's leg and the other on his shoulder. Jeremy did the same thing. Inside Jason was seething. Outside, his eyes had turned a steel blue. If Jeremy and Joshua had not been there, he would have rushed upon the lawyer. Aaron motioned to Mr. Mason and asked if they could have a little break.

"May I ask for a break now?" Mr. Mason said. Mr. Bailey looked at Jason, he smiled, he had wanted some kind of reaction and he had got it. All he had to do was to come back later and prove that he and Miss Sweeney had an affair and that their testimony would be ruined.

"I agree with Mr. Mason" said Mr. Bailey, "is it possible to have a recess now?"

The judge looked at his clock and realized that it was now 11:50 am.

"yes, we can have a recess and lunch until 2:00 pm. Court is adjourned!" He banged his gavel, The Bailiff said:

"All Rise!" Everyone stood up, the Judge left the room, and everyone filed out to get some lunch and a break.