e of year。 At the end of one secluded wing； eight rooms were occupied and guarded by soldiers and a couple of state troopers。 The ten women had paired off nicely； as had Barry Acker and Clyde Sisco。 The black alternate； Ben Lester Newton； was awarded a room to himself； as was the other alternate； Francie Pitts。 The televisions had been disconnected and no newspapers were allowed。 Supper Tuesday
night had been delivered to the rooms； and Wednesday's breakfast arrived promptly at seven…thirty while the Greyhound warmed and blew diesel fumes all over the parking lot。 Thirty minutes later the fourteen loaded aboard and the entourage set out for Clanton。
They talked on the bus about their families and jobs。 Two or three had known each other prior to Monday； most were strangers。 They awkwardly avoided any mention of why they were all together and the task before them。 Judge Noose had been very plain on this point； no discussions about the case。 They wanted to talk about many things： the rape； the rapists； Carl Lee； Jake； Buckley； Noose； the Klan； lots of things。 Everyone knew of the burning crosses； but they weren't discussed； at least they weren't discussed on the bus。 There had been many discussions back in the motel rooms。
The Greyhound arrived at the courthouse five minutes before nine； and the jurors stared through dark windows to see how many blacks and how many Klansmen and how many others were being separated by the guardsmen。 It eased past the barricades and parked at the rear of the courthouse； where the deputies were waiting to escort them upstairs as soon as possible。 They went up the back stairs to the jury room； where coffee and doughnuts were waiting。 The bailiff informed them it was nine； and His Honor was ready to start。 He led them into the crowded courtroom and into the jury box； where they sat in their designated seats。
〃All rise for the court；〃 Mr。 Pate yelled。
〃Please be seated；〃 Noose said as he fell into the tall leather chair behind the bench。 〃Good morning； ladies and gentlemen；〃 he said warmly to the jurors。 〃I trust you're all feeling well this morning； and ready to go。〃
They all nodded。
〃Good。 I'm going to ask you this question every morning： Did anybody attempt to contact you； talk to you； or influence you in any way last night？〃
They all shook their heads。
〃Good。 Did you discuss this case among yourselves？〃
They all lied and shook their heads。
〃Good。 If anyone attempts to contact you and discuss
me as soon as possible。 Do you understand？〃
They nodded。
〃Now at this time we are ready to start the trial。 The first order of business is to allow the attorneys to make opening statements。 I want to caution you that nothing the attorneys say is testimony and is not to be taken as evidence。 Mr。 Buckley； do you wish to make an opening statement？〃
Buckley rose and buttoned his shiny polyester coat。 〃Yes； Your Honor。〃
〃I thought so。 You may proceed。〃
Buckley lifted the small； wooden podium and moved it squarely in front of the jury box； where he stood behind it and breathed deeply and slowly flipped through some notes on a legal pad。 He enjoyed the brief period of quietness with all eyes on him and all ears anxious for his words。 He started by thanking the jurors for being there； for their sacrifices； for their citizenship （as if they had a choice； thought Jake）。 He was proud of them and honored to be associated with them in this most important case。 Again； he was their lawyer。 His client； the State of Mississippi。 He expressed fear at this awesome responsibility that they； the people； had given to him； Rufus Buckley； a simple country lawyer from Smith…field。 He rambled on about himself and his thoughts on the trial； and his hopes and prayers that he would do a good job for the people of this state。
He gave pretty much the same spiel in all of his opening statements； but this was a better performance。 It was refined and polished garbage； and objectionable。 Jake wanted to burn him； but from experience he knew Ichabod would not sustain an objection during an opening statement unless the offense was flagrant； and Buckley's rhetoric did not qualify …yet。 All this fake sincerity and gushiness irritated Jake to no end； primarily because the jury listened to it and； more often than not； fell for it。 The prosecutor was always the good guy； seeking to right an injustice and punish a criminal for some heinous crime； to lock him away forever so he could sin no more。 Buckley was master at convincing a jury； right off the mark； during the opening statement； that it was up to them； He and The Twelve Chosen Ones； to search diligently for the truth； together as a team； united against
evil。 It was the truth they were after； nothing but the truth。 Find the truth and justice would win。 Follow him； Rufus Buckley； the people's lawyer； and they would find the truth。
The rape was a terrible deed。 He was a father； in fact had a daughter the same age of Tonya Hailey； and when he first heard of the rape he was sick at his stomach。 He grieved for Carl Lee and his wife。 Yes； he thought of his own little girls and had thoughts of retribution。
Jake smiled quickly at Ellen。 This was interesting。 Buck…ley had chosen to confront the rape instead of keeping it from the jury。 Jake was expecting a critical confrontation with him on the admissibility of any testimony regarding the rape。 Ellen's research found the law to be clear that the lurid details were inadmissible； but it wasn't so clear as to whether it could be mentioned or referred to。 Evidently Buckley felt it was better to acknowledge the rape than try to hide it。 Good move； thought Jake； since all twelve and the rest of the world knew the details anyway。
Ellen smiled too。 The rape of Tonya Hailey was about to be tried for the first time。
Buckley explained it would be natural for any parent to want revenge。 He would too； he admitted。 But； he continued with his voice growing heavier； there is a mighty distinction between wanting revenge and getting revenge。
He was warming up now as he paced deliberately back and forth； ignoring the podium； getting his rhythm。 He launched himself into a twenty…minute discourse on the criminal justice system and how it was practiced in Mississippi； and how many rapists that he； Rufus Buckley； had personally sent to Parchman； for life； most of them。 The system worked because Mississippians had enough good mon sense to make it work； and it would collapse if people like Carl Lee Hailey were allowed to short…circuit the system and dispense justice according to their own terms。 Imagine that。 A lawless society where vigilantes roamed at will。 No police； no jails； no courts； no trials； no juries。 Every man for himself。
It was sort of ironic； he said； winding down for a moment。 Carl Lee Hailey now sat before them asking for due process and a fair trial； yet he did not believe in such things。
Ask the mothers ot Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard。 Ask them what kind of fair trials their sons received。
He paused to allow the jury and the courtroom to absorb and ponder that last thought。 It sunk in heavy； and every person in the jury box looked at Carl Lee Hailey。 They were not looks of passion； Jake cleaned his fingernails with a small knife and looked thoroughly bored。 Buckley pretended to review his notes at the podium； then checked his watch。 He started again； this time in a most confident businesslike tone of voice。 The State would prove that Carl Lee Hailey carefully planned the killings。 He waited for almost an hour in a small room next to the stairs where he knew the boys would eventually be led as they were taken back to jail。 He somehow managed to sneak an M…16 into the courthouse。 Buckley walked to a small table by the court reporter and hoisted the M…16。 〃This is the M…16！〃 he announced to the jury； waving it wildly about with one hand。 He sat it on the podium and talked about how it was carefully selected by Carl Lee Hailey because he had used one before in close bat； and he knew how to kill with it。 He had been trained with an M…16。 It's an illegal weapon。 You can't buy one down at the Western Auto。 He had to go find it。 He planned it。
The proof would be clear： premeditated； carefully p