America & Co., LLC

John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill” Chapter 3

Jake Brigance was one of the best attorneys in Clanton, Ford County, Mississippi.  He was married to Carla and had a 4 year-old daughter, Hanna.  At 32, his hairline was already receding.  He drove the only Saab, which was red in color, in Ford County.  He had rules that he kept to get his day going, such as waking up at 5:30 a.m., getting to the coffee shop by 6:00 a.m., not answering clients phone calls until 11:00 a.m., and not seeing clients unless they had an appointment.

Clanton had three coffee shops in the square:  two for the whites and one for the blacks.  However, it was not uncommon for the whites to eat at Claude’s, the black cafe shop.      And since the 70’s, it was also safe for the blacks to eat at the whites cafe: Tea Shoppe or Coffee Shop. 

While he was at the Coffee Shop eating breakfast, Marshall Prather asked him if he had defended Cobb in the past.  Jake stated that he had not and inquired why.  Prather told him about Tanya’s rape.  Jake knew the family.  They talked about if Cobb and Willard got the maximum for rape, kidnapping, and aggravated assault, they could get out in 13 years.  Jake lost his appetite at the thought of them brutalizing Tanya and getting out of prison.

At the hospital, Carl Lee was still at the hospital with the Sheriff Ozzie Walls.  Gwen was given a sedative and sent home to her mother’s house.  The boys were sent home with Gwen’s brother.  Tanya was in serious condition but stable.

Jake arrived at the office.  He had the most beautiful office in Clanton overlooking the courthouse.  The office belonged to his predecessor, Lucien Wilbanks, who was disbarred for outrageous conduct unbecoming a member of the bar.  Lucien was an alcoholic who made public appearance in court while being drunk.  His secretary, Ethel, worked for him and after he was disbarred, Jake kept her on.  She did not arrive to work until 8:30 a.m. 

When Ethel arrived at work, there was a lady there to see Jake already.  She did not have an appointment.  Her name was Earnestine Willard.  She wanted to retain his services.  Jake refused to take her case.

Sheriff Walls started interrogating Willard.  He read him his rights prior to interrogation.  He recorded the interrogation.  During interrogation, Willard asked for an attorney.  Walls stopped the tape recorder.  He explained what would happened to him in prison once the blacks inmates found out he had raped a black young girl.  He told him that all he wanted was Cobb and if he talked that he would tell the DA that he had cooperated and he would get a reduced sentence and maybe not go to state prison.  Willard told what happened and asked that Walls not tell Cobb that he told.  Walls said he wouldn’t.     

Do you think Willard’s confession would stand up in court?  Most cops use scare tactics to get confessions all of the time.  But Willard asked for an attorney.  Should they have stopped all interrogations at the time and not use scare tactics?  What do you think?  Do you think Cobb will talk?  Do you think it matters anyway that they confessions?  You have Tanya description of the car and she can make a positive identification of the men or can she?  Cannot wait until the next chapter of his book?

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