The blacks were peaceful。 They opened their coolers and picnic baskets； and shared with each other。 They congregated in the shade； but there were not enough trees to go around。 They filled the courthouse in search of cold water and rest rooms。 They walked the sidewalks and gazed in the windows of the closed shops and stores。 Fearing trouble from the horde； the Coffee Shop and the Tea Shoppe closed during lunch。 Outside of Claude's； they lined the sidewalk for a block and a half。
Jake； Harry Rex； and Lucien relaxed on the balcony and enjoyed the circus below。 A pitcher of fresh； slushy mar…garitas sat on the table and slowly disappeared。 At times they participated in the rally； yelling 〃Free Carl Lee〃 or humming along with 〃We Shall Overe。〃 No one knew the words but Lucien。 He had learned them during the glorious civil rights days of the sixties； and still claimed to be the only white in Ford County who knew all the words to every stanza。 He had even joined a black church back then； he explained between drinks； after his church voted to exclude
black members。 He dropped out after a three…hour sermon ruptured a disc。 He had decided white people were not cut out for that kind of worship。 He still contributed； however。
Occasionally； a crew of TV people would stray near Jake's office and serve up a question。 Jake would pretend not to hear； then finally yell 〃Free Carl Lee。〃
Precisely at one…thirty； Agee found his bullhorn； unfurled his banner； lined up the ministers and gathered his marchers。 He started with the hymn； sung directly into the bullhorn； and the parade crawled down Jackson； then onto Caffey； and around and around the square。 Each lap attracted more people and made more noise。
The jury room was silent for fifteen minutes after Reba Betts was converted from an undecided to a not guilty。 If a man raped her； she just might blow his head off if she got the chance。 It was〃now five to five with two undecideds； and a promise looked hopeless。 The foreman continued to straddle the fence。 Poor old Eula Dell Yates had cried one way； then cried the other； and everyone knew she would eventually go with the majority。 She had burst into tears at the window； and was led to her seat by Clyde Sisco。 She wanted to go home。 Said she felt like a prisoner。
The shouting and marching had taken its toll。 When the bullhorn passed nearby； the anxiety level in the small room reached a frenzied peak。 Acker would ask for quiet； and they would wait impatiently until the racket faded to the front of the courthouse。 It never disappeared pletely。 Carol Corman was the first to inquire about their safety。 For the first time in a week； the quiet motel was awfully attractive。
Three hours of nonstop chanting had unraveled whatever nerves were left。 The foreman suggested they talk about their families and wait until Noose sent for them at five。
Bernice Toole； a soft guilty； suggested something they had all thought about but no one had mentioned。 〃Why don't we just tell the judge we are hopelessly deadlocked？〃
〃He'd declare a mistrial； wouldn't he？〃 asked Jo Ann Gates。
〃Yes；〃 answered the foreman。 〃And he would be re…
tried in a few months。 Why don't we call it a day； and try again tomorrow？〃
They agreed。 They were not ready to quit。 Eula Dell cried softly。
At four； Carl Lee and the kids walked to one of the tall windows lining each side of the courtroom。 He noticed a small knob。 He turned it； and the windows swung open to a tiny platform hanging over the west lawn。 He nodded at a deputy； and stepped outside。 He held Tonya and watched the crowd。
They saw him。 They yelled his name and rushed to the building under him。 Agee led the marchers off the street and across the lawn。 A wave of black humanity gathered under the small porch and pressed forward for a closer look at their champion。
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
He waved at his fans below him。 He kissed his daughter and hugged his sons。 He waved and told the kids to wave。
Jake and his small band of hombres used the diversion to stagger across the street to the courthouse。 Jean Gillespie had called。 Noose wanted to see the lawyers in chambers。 He was disturbed。 Buckley was raging。
〃I demand a mistrial！ I demand a mistrial！〃 he yelled at Noose the second Jake walked in。
〃You move for a mistrial； Governor。 You don't demand；〃 Jake sard through glassy eyes。
〃You go to hell； Brigance！ You planned all this。 You plotted this insurrection。 Those are your niggers out there。〃
〃Where's the court reporter？〃 Jake asked。 〃I want this on the record。〃
〃Gentlemen； gentlemen；〃 Noose said。 〃Let's be professionals。〃
〃Judge； the State moves for a mistrial；〃 Buckley said； somewhat professionally。
〃Overruled。〃
〃All right； then。 The State moves to allow the jury to deliberate at someplace other than the courthouse。〃
〃Now that's an interesting idea；〃 Noose said。
〃I see no reason why they can't deliberate at the motel。 It's quiet and few people know where it is；〃 Buckley said confidently。
〃Jake？〃 Noose said。
〃Nope； it won't work。 There is no statutory provision giving you the authority to allow deliberations outside the courthouse。〃 Jake reached in his pocket and found several folded papers。 He threw them on the desk。 〃State versus Dubose； 1963 case from Linwood County。 The air conditioning in the Linwood County Courthouse quit during a heat wave。 The circuit judge allowed the jury to deliberate in a local library。 The defense objected。 Jury convicted。 On appeal； the Supreme Court ruled the judge's decision was improper and an abuse of discretion。 The court went on to hold that the jury deliberations must take place in the jury room in the courthouse where the defendant is being tried。 You can't move them。〃
Noose studied the case and handed it to Musgrove。
〃Get the courtroom ready；〃 he said to Mr。 Pate。
With the exception of the reporters； the courtroom was solid black。 The jurors looked haggard and strained。
〃I take it you do not have a verdict；〃 Noose said。
〃No； sir；〃 replied the foreman。
〃Let me ask you this。 Without indicating any numerical division； have you reached a point where you can go no further？〃
〃We've talked about that； Your Honor。 And we'd like to leave； get a good night's rest； and try again tomorrow。 We're not ready to quit。〃
〃That's good to hear。 I apologize for the distractions； but； again； there's nothing I can do。 I'm sorry。 You'll just have to do your best。 Anything further？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Very well。 We'll stand adjourned until nine A。M。 tomorrow。〃
Carl Lee pulled Jake's shoulder。 〃What does all this mean？〃
〃It means they're deadlocked。 It could be six to six； or eleven to one against you； or eleven to one for acquittal。 So ； don't get excited。〃
Barry Acker cornered the bailiff and handed him a folded sheet of paper。 It read：
Luann：
Pack the kids and go to your mother's。 Don't tell anyone。 Stay there until this thing is over。 Just do as I say。 Things are dangerous。
Barry
〃Can you get this to my wife today？ Our number is 881…0774。〃
〃Sure；〃 said the bailiff。
Tim Nunley； mechanic down at the Chevrolet place； former client of Jake Brigance； and Coffee Shop regular； sat on a couch in the cabin deep in the woods and drank a beer。 He listened to his Klan brothers as they got drunk and cursed niggers。 Occasionally； he cursed them too。 He had noticed whispering for the past two nights now； and felt something was up。 He listened carefully。
He stood to get another beer。 Suddenly； they jumped him。 Three of his rades pinned him against the wall and pounded him with fists and feet。 He was beaten badly； then gagged； bound； and dragged outside； across the gravel road； and into the field where he had been inducted as a member。 A cross was lit as he was tied to a pole and stripped。 A bullwhip lashed him until his shoulders； back； and legs were solid crimson。
Two dozen of his ex…brethren watched in mute horror as the pole and limp body were soaked with kerosene。 The leader； the one with the bullwhip； stood next to him for an eternity。 He pronounced the death sentence； then threw a match。
Mickey Mouse had been silenced。
They packed their robes and belongings； a