Sycamore Row

the Glacier Inn bar. Lucien had visited Mr. Wolkowicz late the day before, retained him, and organized the deposition.A court reporter and a videographer were waiting in the conference room. At one end of the table, Mr. Wolkowicz stood, raised his right hand, repeated after the court reporter, and swore to tell the truth, then sat facing the camera. He said, “Good morning. My name is Jared Wolkowicz and I’m an attorney, duly licensed by the State of Alaska. Today is Wednesday, April 5, 1989, and I’m sitting here in my law office on Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, Alaska. Here with me is Lucien Wilbanks, of Clanton, Mississippi, and also a man by the name of Ancil F. Hubbard, who currently resides in Juneau. The purpose of the deposition is to record the testimony of Mr. Hubbard. I know nothing about the case that brings us here. My role is to simply vouch for the fact that this will be an accurate recording of what takes place here. If any of the lawyers or judges involved in this matter would like to speak to me, feel free to call.”
    Wolkowicz left the chair and Lucien stepped forward. He was sworn by the court reporter, then likewise sat facing the camera. He said, “My name is Lucien Wilbanks and I’m well known to Judge Atlee and the lawyers involved in the contest over the last will and testament of Seth Hubbard. Working with Jake Brigance and others, I have been able to locate Ancil Hubbard. I have spent several hours with Ancil and there is no doubt in my mind that he is in fact the surviving brother of Seth Hubbard. He was born in Ford County in 1922. His father was Cleon Hubbard. His mother was Sarah Belle Hubbard. In 1928, his father, Cleon, hired my grandfather Robert E. Lee Wilbanks to represent him in a land dispute. That dispute is relevant today. Here is Ancil Hubbard.”
    Lucien vacated the chair and Ancil took it. He raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth.

    Wade Lanier began his toxic cross-examination by asking about Simeon. Why was he in jail? Had he been indicted? How often had she visited him? Was he contesting the divorce? It was a harsh but effective way to remind the jurors that the father of Lettie’s five children was a drunk who’d killed the Roston boys. After five minutes, Lettie was wiping tears, and Lanier looked like a prick. He didn’t care. With her emotions in play, and her judgment temporarily impaired, he quickly switched gears and laid his trap.
    “Now, Ms. Lang, prior to being employed by Mr. Hubbard, where did you work?”
    Lettie wiped a cheek with the back of a hand and tried to collect her thoughts. “Uh, that was Mr. and Mrs. Tingley, here in Clanton.”
    “What type of work?”
    “Housekeeper.”
    “How long did you work for them?”
    “I don’t know exactly, but about three years.”
    “And why did you leave their employment?”
    “They died. Both of them.”
    “Did they leave you any money in their wills?”
    “If they did, nobody ever told me.” This got a few smiles from the jurors.
    Wade Lanier missed the humor. He continued, “And before the Tingleys, where did you work?”
    “Uh, before that, I worked as a cook in the school in Karaway.”
    “For how long?”
    “Maybe two years.”
    “And why did you leave there?”
    “I got the job with the Tingleys and I’d rather work as a housekeeper than a cook.”
    “Okay. Before the job at the school, where did you work?”
    She was silent as she tried to remember. Finally, she said, “Before the school, I worked for Mrs. Gillenwater, here in Clanton, as a housekeeper.”
    “And for how long?”
    “About a year, then she moved away.”
    “Before Mrs. Gillenwater, where did you work?”
    “Ummm, that would be the Glovers, in Karaway.”
    “And for how long?”
    “Again, I can’t remember exactly, but it was three or four years.”
    “Okay, I’m not trying to nail down specifics, Ms. Lang. Just remember things as best you can, all right?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “And before the Glovers, where did you work?”
    “That was Miss Karsten, here in town. I worked for her six years. She was my favorite. I never wanted to leave her but she died suddenly.”
    “Thank you.” Lanier scribbled on his legal pad as if he was learning something new. “Now, just to summarize, Ms. Lang, you worked for Mr. Hubbard for three years, the Tingleys three, the school two,Mrs. Gillenwater one, the Glovers three or four, and six years for Miss Karsten. According to my math, that’s