The Last Buckaroo by J. R. Wright

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never have the chance to examine Kingsley on the stand.  Not now.  My point is,
if I can ’ t
get to the truth through this man, then who from will I get it? ”
    “ I
see your dilemma, Mister Clampett, ” Judge Samuels said.  “ I ’ ll
allow your questions, only as long as they are not accusatory.  But then, I
presume you don ’ t expect this witness
to outright incriminate himself anyway, do you? ”
    “ It ’ s
not what I get from him, Your Honor.  It ’ s
what the jurors glean from his testimony that counts.  Before I ’ m
done with him the picture will be crystal clear, I assure you. ”
    “ Continue
with the witness, Mister Clampett. ”
    Katie,
who felt much better now, was at the ready with her pad and pencil.
    “ Kermit,
what exactly was it Kingsley told you? ” Woody asked, his back
to Striker, facing the jury.  He wanted to see their reaction to Striker ’ s
answers.
    “ Well … he saw it happen.  He saw Yancey there swing the hammer that killed Clyde. ”
    “ And
where did this killing happen? ”
    “ In
the blacksmith shop. ”
    “ Well,
were the doors open on the blacksmith shop, Kermit? ”
    “ No,
the doors were closed, ” Striker said, and scratched his nose,
conspicuously.
    “ So,
where was Kingsley then, when he saw Clyde being bludgeoned to death? ”
    Striker
seemed confused.  “ I don ’ t
know. ”
    “ You
didn ’ t
ask him that? ” Woody
said.
    “ No. ”
    “ Why,
Kermit?  I mean, you ’ re an officer of the
law …”
    “ We
only talked for a short time.  He said he would tell me more later. ”
    “ So,
did Lester see Yancey drag the body into that back room? ”
    “ No. 
He didn ’ t
stick around long enough to see that, ” Striker said.
    “ So,
Kingsley must have been somewhere outside? ”
    “ I
guess …”
    “ Where
outside? ” Woody pressed on.  He wanted the jury to find a pattern to these obvious lies.
    “ I
told you I didn ’ t know. ”
    “ Well,
was he peeking through a crack between the big doors? ”
    “ No. 
I checked.  The doors have an overlap. ”
    “ Oh,
so you did do some investigating, ” Woody said.  “ Kermit,
did Lester Kingsley happen to say whether Yancey had that hammer is his left or
right hand? ”
    “ What
difference does that make? ”  Striker looked confused.
    “ Well,
it only makes sense …   A right handed person ’ s
swings will generally strike the left side of the person before him … and vice versa, if left handed.  Especially if it ’ s
a heavy hammer being swung. ”
    “ Clyde
was struck from behind, ” Striker blurted.
    “ How
do you know that, Kermit? ” Woody asked in a louder voice.  “ You
said Kingsley only saw Yancey swing the hammer. ”
    “ Well …   I … I could tell from the wound on Clyde ’ s
head. ”
    “ But
you never examined Clyde ’ s head.  It was a mass
of crusted blood and brains by the time you found him … there was no way anyone could even tell where the original wound was. ”
    “ Who
told you that? ” Striker said in a panicked tone.
    “ The
undertaker is here in court, Kermit.  Shall I put him on the stand? ”
    “ Objection,
Your Honor, ” Wilson stood.  “ I
think Mister Clampett is making testimony. ”
    “ Oh,
for Christ ’ s sake, Lane! ” the judge bellowed.  “ Hasn ’ t
this dragged on long enough as it is?  Calvin, stand up. ”
    Calvin
Twindle stood among the spectators, third row left.  “ Yes,
Judge ? ”
    “ Clerk,
get over there and swear Calvin in. ”   Moments later Samuels
asked, “ Okay,
Calvin, what condition was Clyde ’ s
head in when you received the body? ”
    “ Oh,
it was in terrible shape.  I worked a good thirty or forty minutes with soapy
water and brush just to reach what little hair he had, let alone find the
wound. ”
    “ So,
where was the wound? ” the judge asked.
    “ Back
of the head, left side.  I told the wife at the time, poor Clyde was done in
from behind by a south paw.  Isn ’