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DuBose looked at Jeff Lee. “What do you say to that, Mr. Lee?”
“That Mr. Washington would never have been able to obtain this weapon while serving in the United States Army.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is not a U.S. Army weapon at all.” He pointed to the letter etched on the blade. “Look right there.”
“C?” read off DuBose.
“The letters S and A have worn off. CSA. Stands for ‘Confederate States of America.’ This is a socket bayonet used during the Civil War by Johnny Reb.”
All around the courtroom people started talking in hushed voices.
DuBose glanced first at Ambrose and then at Battle. “And have you ever seen this particular item before, Mr. Lee?”
Battle and Ambrose exchanged startled looks.
“Yes I have.”
“Where?”
“It belonged to Leslie Randolph. I used to date his daughter and visited their home many times. He showed it to me and told me his ancestor fought with it when he served with General James Longstreet in the Civil War. It was handed down in the family.”
This revelation threw the courtroom into a complete uproar, and Ambrose had to slam his gavel down several times before order was restored.
Ambrose barked, “Lawyers, my chambers! Now!”
CHAPTER 80
AMBROSE STRIPPED OFF HIS ROBE once he was in his office. Underneath he wore a white dress shirt, no tie, and dark slacks. Jack noted the sandals on the man’s bare feet.
The agitated judge paced up and down behind his desk for a few moments before whirling around on the trio of lawyers.
“What in the goddamn hell is going on here?” snapped Ambrose.
“I’d like to know that as well,” said DuBose. She turned to Battle. “What were the events that led to this Confederate bayonet being found?”
Battle said, “The police received an anonymous tip that the murder weapon was hidden in a tree stump on the defendants’ property. They went there and found it.”
“An anonymous tip,” said Jack incredulously. “Convenient. How did you get a search warrant issued on the basis of that?”
Battle had no response.
“It obviously doesn’t belong to our client,” said DuBose.
“Doesn’t mean he didn’t use it. It has blood on it,” said Battle. “He could have seen it at the Randolphs’ home. And it was found on his property.”
DuBose said, “And what are the odds the anonymous caller placed it there? Just like an anonymous caller knew about the murders and called the police in time to seemingly catch Jerome Washington red-handed. And then we still don’t know who paid off Tyler Dobbs to lie on the stand.”
“You have no proof of an anonymous caller phoning the police about the murders, not a scintilla,” snapped Battle.
“And you have no proof it didn’t happen that way,” retorted DuBose. “Which, prima facie, absolutely leads to reasonable doubt because the burden of proof is on you, not us, as you damn well know!”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come,” shouted Ambrose.
It was the bailiff with a note. He handed it to the judge.
