Sons of Fortune

“No, your honor, it’s my first appearance in your court.”

“Will you please approach the bench, Mr. Davenport?”

“Yes, sir.” Fletcher stepped out from behind the little table and walked toward the judge, where the prosecution counsel joined them.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” said Mr. Justice Abernathy. “May I inquire what legal qualifications you have that are recognized in my court, Mr. Davenport?”

“None, sir.”

“I see. Is your client aware of this?”

“Yes, sir, she is.”

“But she still wants you to represent her, despite this being a capital charge?”

“Yes, sir.”

The judge turned to face the attorney general for Connecticut. “Do you have any objection to Mr. Davenport representing Mrs. Kirsten?”

“None whatsoever, your honor; in fact the state welcomes it.”

“I feel sure they do,” said the judge, “but I must ask you, Mr. Davenport, if you ha

ve any experience of the law at all.”

“Not a great deal, your honor,” Fletcher admitted. “I’m a second-year law student at Yale, and this will be my first case.” The judge and the attorney general smiled.

“May I ask who your director of studies is?” asked the judge.

“Professor Karl Abrahams.”

“Then I am proud to preside over your first case, Mr. Davenport, because that is something you and I have in common. How about you, Mr. Stamp?”

“No, sir, I qualified in South Carolina.”

“Although it is most irregular, in the end it must be the defendant’s decision, so let us proceed with the case in hand.” The attorney general and Fletcher returned to their places.

The judge looked down at Fletcher. “Will you be applying for bail, Mr. Davenport?”

Fletcher rose from his place. “Yes, sir.”

“On what grounds?”

“That Mrs. Kirsten has no previous record, and constitutes no danger to the public. She is the mother of two children, Alan aged seven, and Della aged five, who are currently living with their grandmother in Hartford.”

The judge turned his attention to the attorney general. “Does the state have any objection to grant bail to Mr. Stamp?”

“We most certainly do, your honor. We oppose bail not only on the grounds that this is a capital charge, but because the murder itself was premeditated. We therefore contend that Mrs. Kirsten constitutes a danger to society, and may also try to leave the state’s jurisdiction.”

Fletcher shot up. “I must object, your honor.”

“On what grounds, Mr. Davenport?”

“This is indeed a capital charge, so leaving the state is hardly relevant, your honor, and in any case, Mrs. Kirsten’s home is in Hartford, where she earns her living working as a hospital custodian at St. Mary’s, and her children are both at a local school.”

“Any further submission, Mr. Davenport?”

“No, sir.”