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“This is extraordinary,” said Ambrose after he’d read it.
“What is it, Judge?” asked Battle anxiously.
He looked up. “The maid, the little Negro gal who testified earlier? While you all were looking at that bayonet with Mr. Lee’s brother she got a gander at it, too. Said she’s seen it many times sitting in the umbrella stand by the front door of the Randolphs’.”
“She’ll need to testify to that,” said Battle quickly. “And that shows that the defendant had access to it and could have used the weapon to kill the Randolphs. He’d been in the house before, had probably seen it then, like I just suggested, and it was right there when he came through the door on the day of the murders.”
“And it also could have been planted in the stump by the real killer,” said Jack.
Ambrose donned his robe and said emphatically, “And that’s a fact for the jury to consider. Okay, let’s head back in.”
“Good,” said Battle. “Because I have another witness to call.”
“Who?” demanded DuBose. “And what will this witness say?”
“You’ll find out in a few minutes.”
CHAPTER 81
BATTLE RECALLED CORA ROBINSON TO the stand. She recounted seeing the bayonet in the umbrella stand by the front door in the house on the day of the murders. She also confirmed that was where Leslie Randolph kept it.
“So anyone going into the house would be able to see it?” asked Battle.
“Oh, yes sir,” she said brightly.
“Including the defendant when he went into the house that time?”
Her features crumpled. “Um... I don’t know ’bout that.”
Battle said in a scolding tone, “Mrs. Robinson, could the defendant have seen the bayonet if he came into the house? Yes or no?”
“Yes,” she said, thoroughly frightened now.
“So he could have used it to kill the Randolphs, could he not?”
DuBose said, “Objection. Speculation.”
“No, I’m going to allow that,” said Ambrose, glancing at the row of journalists.
“Mrs. Robinson?” prompted Battle. “Answer the question.”
“Yes, I guess he could.”
“Thank you. Nothing further.”
“Defense?” said the judge.
Jack walked up to Robinson. “Did the defendant ever indicate to you that he had seen the bayonet?”
“No sir,” she said.
“Never touched it that you know of? Never asked questions about it?”
“No sir, never.”
“You said it was in the umbrella stand by the front door?”
“Yes.”
