“I need a book to read,” Constance said. “It is too quiet in here, and it’s boring.”
The Pastor had just entered the cell area and said, “I brought you a Bible, Miss Constance. It’s the best book to have, and it’ll help you pass the time.”
“Thank you, Pastor. I’m grateful,” Constance answered.
Chapter 16
Half the town turned out for Constance’s trial. Deputy Walters had to stop people at the doors of the town hall when the large room being used as a courtroom was filled. Grunts, complaints, and a few unsavory words were heard, annoyed men turned away from the most significant event to hit the town in ten years. Everyone wanted to see the high society lady on trial for trying to kill one of the town’s own. Blake was well-liked in town, and Eliza had been welcomed by all.
A table had been set up in the front of the room for the judge to use, and a small chair sat next to the table for witnesses. Two smaller tables sat near the judge’s table for the town prosecutor and Constance and her attorney.
When the crowd in the room settled down, Sheriff Conroy led Constance into the room, her hands shackled in front of her. She wore a light blue satin gown with a high neck lace collar and matching cuffs. Perched on her head was a small matching blue hat with tiny white flowers and a small bluebird. The women in attendance were whispering about the gown and the uppity young woman from back East that would dare wear something so frivolous to a serious court hearing.
Sheriff Conroy removed the shackles from Constance’s wrists when she was seated at the table. He told Constance to remain in her chair unless instructed to rise by her attorney. He wasn’t sure if she heard him since she had been humming ever since they left the jail thirty minutes earlier. She refused to make eye contact or answer any of the Sheriff’s questions.
“She’s all yours, good luck getting her to say anything,” the Sheriff told the attorney. When the attorney leaned toward Constance and spoke to her, she hummed louder.
A few moments later, the men assigned to the jury filed in and took their seats, followed shortly by the judge.
When the judge entered the room, Constance remained seated and yanked her elbow from her attorney’s grip when he tried to get her to stand.
The judge raised his eyebrows at the seated woman but didn’t say anything. He banged his gavel on the table and called the court to order. When he instructed the prosecutor to begin with his opening statement, Constance turned sideways in her seat and began whispering loudly.
The judge banged his gavel again and said, “Mister Clauson, please instruct your client that she is to remain quiet when I or anyone else in this courtroom speaks.”
“Yes, your honor, but I have already instructed her, but she refuses to stop speaking,” the frustrated attorney responded.
“Do we need to gag her for the duration of this trial?” the judge asked.
Aunt Hortense jumped to her feet and confronted the judge. “You leave her alone. Constance is a good young woman. She only talks to herself when she’s upset. We all do that at times. She’s been doing it since she was a child. She was ignored by her father after her mother died, and it helped ease her pain.”
“Sit down, Ma’am,” the judge shouted, banging his gavel repeatedly. “If you are called to testify, you will have your chance to speak. If you interrupt again, I will have you removed from the courtroom.”
Aunt Hortense sat but scowled at the judge.
Constance continued to whisper, and at times her voice rose, and she argued out loud about whether she should or shouldn’t listen to her attorney.
The judge waved the prosecutor and defense attorney forward and lowered his voice, “Is this behavior unusual for the young woman, or has she been speaking to herself for some time as the older woman stated?”
Before either man could answer, Constance jumped from her chair and began to speak rapidly and loudly, “I don’t care what you say. I will not tell them I am sorry for shooting Eliza. We talked about this before, and we all decided she should die.”
The judge addressed Constance, “Miss Bradshaw, who are you speaking to? Is there someone in this courtroom who colluded with you to try and kill Missus Montgomery?”
Constance blew out a breath and pointed to the empty space beside her. “They are right here. We are trying to have a discussion. They told me I should do everything possible to remove that woman from Blake’s life.”
The courtroom sat in stunned silence, and the judge spoke again.
“Describe them to me please so I can ask them to come forward and testify.”
Constance shrugged, “I can’t. I don’t know what they look like. I can’t see them. I only hear them and talk to them.”
The judge banged his gavel and announced, “I want the courtroom cleared immediately except for the prosecutor, defense attorney, and the witnesses that have been called.”
People began leaving the courtroom complaining and talking loudly about the strange behavior of the young woman from back East.
The judge looked at Deputy Walters and said, “Make sure Doc comes back in. I think we need him.”
The deputy nodded and hurried to catch up with Doc before he walked out of the building.
When Deputy Walters returned with Doc, the judge ordered the doors closed and for the deputy to remain at the entrance to assure no one tried to gain access to the room. He then called the defense attorney and the prosecutor forward to speak to them.
“It seems to me that Miss Bradshaw seems troubled. We will resume questioning without the
