ey were scarce in Ford County。
It was imperative the case be tried in another county； a blacker county。 One black could hang the jury。 A majority could force； maybe； an acquittal。 Two weeks in a motel and strange courthouse was not appealing； but the small disforts were greatly outweighed by the need to have black faces in the jury box。
The venue question had been thoroughly researched by Lucien。 As instructed； Jake arrived promptly； although reluctantly； at 8：00 A。M。 Sallie served breakfast on the porch。 Jake drank coffee and orange juice； Lucien； bourbon and water。 For three hours they covered every aspect of a change of venue。 Lucien had copies of every Supreme Court case for the past eighty years； and lectured like a professor。 The pupil took notes； argued once or twice； but mainly listened。
Whitfield was located a few miles from Jackson in a rural part of Rankin County。 Two guards waited by the front gate and argued with reporters。 Carl Lee was scheduled to arrive at nine； that was all the guards knew。 At eight…thirty two patrol cars with Ford County insignia rolled to a stop at the gate。 The reporters and their cameramen ran to the driver of the first car。 Ozzie's window was down。
〃Where's Carl Lee Hailey？〃 a reporter shouted in a panic。
〃He's in the other car；〃 Ozzie drawled； winking at Carl Lee in the back seat。
〃He's in the second car！〃 someone shouted； and they ran to Hastings' car。
〃Where's Hailey？〃 they demanded。
Pirtle； in the front seat； pointed to Hastings； the driver。 〃That's him。〃
〃Are you Carl Lee Hailey？〃 a reporter screamed at Hastings。
〃Yep。〃
〃Why are you driving？〃
〃What's with the uniform？〃
〃They made me a deputy；〃 answered Hastings with a straight face。 The gate opened； and the two cars sped through。
Carl Lee was processed in the main building and led； along with Ozzie and the deputies； to another building where he was checked into his cell； or room； as it was called。 The door was locked behind him。 Ozzie and his men were excused and returned to Clanton。
After lunch； an assistant of some sort with a clipboard and white jacket arrived and began asking questions。 Starting with birth； he asked Carl Lee about every significant event and person in his life。 It lasted two hours。 At 4：00 P。M。； two security guards handcuffed Carl Lee and rode him in a golf cart to a modern brick building a half mile from his room。 He was led to the office of Dr。 Wilbert Rodeheaver； head of staff。 The guards waited in the hall by the door。
It had been five weeks since the shootings of Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard。 The trial was four weeks away。 The three motels in Clanton were booked solid for the week of the trial and； the week before。 The Best Western was the largest and nicest； and had attracted the Memphis and Jackson press。 The Clanton Court had the best bar and restaurant； and was booked by reporters from Atlanta； Washington； and New York。 At the less than elegant East Side Motel the rates had curiously doubled for the month of July but it had nonetheless sold out。
The town had been friendly at first to these outsiders； most of whom were rude and spoke with different accents。 But some of the descriptions of Clanton and its people had been less than flattering； and most of the locals now honored a secret code of silence。 A noisy cafe would bee instantly silent when a stranger walked in and took a seat。 Merchants around the square offered little assistance to anyone they did not recognize。 The employees in the courthouse had bee deaf to questions asked a thousand times by nosy intruders。 Even the Memphis and Jackson reporters had to struggle to extract anything new from the locals。 The people were tired of being described as backward； redneck； and racist。 They ignored the outsiders whom they could not trust and went about their business。
The bar at the Clanton Court became the watering hole for the reporters。 It was the one place in town they could go to find a friendly face and good conversation。 They sat in the booths under the big…screen TV and gossiped about the small town and the uping trial。 They pared notes and stories and leads and rumors； and drank until they were drunk because there was nothing else to do in Clanton after dark。
The motels filled Sunday night； June 23； the night before the venue hearing。 Early Monday morning they gathered in the restaurant at the Best Western to drink coffee and speculate。 The hearing was the first major skirmish； and
could likely be the only courtroom action until the trial。 A rumor surfaced that Noose was ill and did not want to hear the case； and that he would ask the Supreme Court to appoint another judge。 Just a rumor； with no source and nothing more definite； said a reporter from Jackson。 At eight they packed their cameras and microphones and left for the square。 One group set up outside the jail； another at the rear of the courthouse； but most headed for the courtroom。 By eight…thirty it was filled。
From the balcony of his office； Jake watched the activity around the courthouse。 His heart beat faster than normal； and his stomach tingled。 He smiled。 He was ready for Buck…ley； ready for the cameras。
Noose looked down past the end of his nose； over his reading glasses； and around the packed courtroom。 Everyone was in place。
〃The court has before it；〃 he began； 〃the defendant's motion for a change of venue。 The trial in this matter has been set for Monday； July 22。 That's four weeks from today； according to my calendar^ I have set a deadline for filing motions and disposing of same； and I believe those are the only two deadlines between now and trial。〃
〃That's correct； Your Honor；〃 thundered Buckley； half standing behind his table。 Jake rolled his eyes and shook his head。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Buckley；〃 Noose said dryly。 〃The defendant has filed the proper notice that he intends to use an insanity defense。 Has he been examined at Whitfield？〃
〃Yes sir； Your Honor； last week；〃 Jake answered。
〃Will he employ his own psychiatrist？〃
〃Of course； Your Honor。〃
〃Has he been examined by his own？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Good。 So that's out of the way。 What other motions do you anticipate filing？〃
〃Your Honor； we expect to file a motion requesting the clerk to summons more than the usual number of prospective jurors…〃
〃The state will oppose that motion；〃 Buckley yelled as he jumped to his feet。
〃Sit down； Mr。 Buckley！〃 Noose said sternly； ripping off his glasses and glaring at the D。A。 〃Please don't yell at me again。 Of course you will oppose it。 You will oppose any motion filed by the defense。 That's your job。 Don't interrupt again。 You'll have ample opportunity after we adjourn to perform for the media。〃
Buckley slumped in his chair and hid his red face。 Noose had never screamed at him before。
〃Continue； Mr。 Brigance。〃
Jake was startled by Ichabod's meanness。 He looked tired and ill。 Perhaps it was the pressure。
〃We may have some written objections to anticipated evidence。〃
〃Motions in limineT'
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃We'll hear those at trial。 Anything else？〃
〃Not at this time。〃
〃Now； Mr。 Buckley； will the State file any motions？〃
〃I can't think of any；〃 Buckley answered meekly。
〃Good。 I want to make sure there are no surprises between now and trial。 I will be here one week before trial to hear and decide any pretrial matters。 I expect any motions to be filed promptly； so that we can tie up any loose ends well before the twenty…second。〃
Noose flipped through his file and studied Jake's motion for a change of venue。 Jake whispered to Carl Lee； whose presence was not required for the hearing； but he insisted。 Gwen and the three boys sat in the first row behind their daddy。 Tonya was not in the courtroom。
〃Mr。 Brigance； your motion appears to be in order。 How many witnesses？〃
〃Three； Your Honor。〃
〃Mr。 Buckley； how many will you call？〃
〃We have twenty…one；〃 Buckley said proudly。
〃Twenty…one！〃 yelled the judge。
Buckley cowered and glanced at Musgrove。 〃B…but； we probably won't need them all。 In fact； I know we won't call all of them。〃
〃Pick your best five； Mr。 Buckley。 I don't plan to be here all day。〃
〃Yes； Your Honor。〃
〃Mr。 Brigance； you've asked for a change of