Orchid Beach (Holly Barker 1)
“Thank you, no further questions.”
Skene stood. “Your Honor, I have no further witnesses.”
“Mr. Oxenhandler, do you wish to call any witnesses?”
“Yes, Your Honor, I wish to call Samuel Sweeney.”
Sweeney was sworn. He was now clean-shaven and barbered, and his clothes looked new.
“Mr. Sweeney, how long have you resided at the campsite off highway A1A?”
“A little over two weeks.”
Oxenhandler took Sweeney through his account of his activities on the evening of the chief’s shooting. “So you were not at your camp between the hours of eleven and eleven-thirty P.M.?”
“No, I was not.”
“Mr. Sweeney, do you own a pistol?”
“Yes, I own a Colt thirty-two-caliber pistol with a two-inch barrel.”
“When Detective Hurst asked you if you owned a pistol, and you affirmed that you did, was the Colt pistol the one to which you were referring?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Do you own a thirty-two Smith and Wesson pistol?”
“No, I do not.”
“I have no further questions of Mr. Sweeney, Your Honor, but in trial I can produce witnesses confirming his presence on that evening at both the movie theater and the gas station where he left his tire to be repaired. I can also produce a witness who can testify that he changed a tire on or near the spot where Chief Marley was shot, only a few minutes before that event occurred.”
“Any questions for Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Skene?” the judge asked.
“Not at this time, Your Honor.”
“Any other witnesses, Mr. Oxenhandler?”
“One, Your Honor. Call Mr. Everett Schwartz.”
A man sitting near Holly in the front row of the courtroom got up, took the stand and was sworn.
“Mr. Schwartz, how do you earn your living?”
“I’m a gun dealer. I have a shop in Jacksonville, and on weekends I often attend gun shows, where I buy and sell weapons.”
“Do you recognize the gentleman sitting at the defense table?”
“I do.”
“Have you ever sold him a gun?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of gun?”
“A thirty-two-caliber Colt revolver with a two-inch barrel, nickel plated.”
“When and where did you make this sale?”