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| ISBN-13: | 9781504932646 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 08/20/2015 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 450 |
| File size: | 570 KB |
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The Sins of My Fathers 2
"The Trial"
By C. Anthony Sherman
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 C. Anthony ShermanAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-3265-3
CHAPTER 1
Theresa Rene Malveaux won the heated election for Lafayette Parish District Attorney against the longtime politician, Earnest Toussaint. Toussaint's re-election bid was considered weak by most of the political insiders. Malveaux used the recent indictments by the U.S. Attorney General to her best advantage. Since the arrest of some of the state's top officials and businessmen, it was clear to most residents that it was time for a change in Louisiana politics. Trever Levy, her longtime friend and confidant, stood by her side every step of the way. And for his part, he brought along Chase Pierce to work in her campaign efforts in canvassing the communities.
Politics was new to Chase, and it showed. Nevertheless, his honesty helped him to overcome his immaturity. Many people voted for Theresa because they simply liked Chase. Theresa recognized his charm and considered asking him to join her team of lawyers when she took office later. For the time being, she needed someone of his character and dedication to attend the courtroom proceedings, starting in two weeks, to observe the first of the trials in the 204th District Court.
"I just need you to take notes from your perspective, Chase. I know there are reporters there and yeah, I know they will be reporting back to the public, but ... I want your perspective on what's going on. Besides, I think it will be very good for you," said Theresa.
"Oh, you think it will be good for me, huh?" asked Chase.
"I think so. I think you will find that this trial will not just be what's happening today, but I think they are going to go back in time ... you know ... back into the past generations of these guys. I think you might find some of that info to be interesting," Theresa said.
"I do have a practice you know. I mean, I do have to make a living too. So, what do you have in mind?" asked Chase.
"Well, I'm not in office yet, but I think I can arrange to cover some expenses for you, if I can give you a title. How about my Campaign Political Advisor?" asked Theresa.
"What? I don't know a thing about politics, Theresa," responded Chase.
"I know that ... you know that ... and Trever knows that, too. But the way you handle yourself, nobody else will know. Just be inquisitive and be focused on the situation at hand. I'm not concerned ... I know you can do it. You arrange your schedule so you can be there for about a month. I'll make up the difference," said Theresa.
"Are you sure you want me to do this, Theresa? Are you sure I can do this?" asked Chase.
"I have faith in you, Chase. You need to have faith in yourself. Now let's talk about the players here. You're going to be in the company of some powerful people. At least, they were at one time. But listen ... all you will be doing is recording what you see and hear. Now, let me tell you who the players are. You know some of these guys and their families. You're going to experience some emotional highs and lows in there – especially when you look into their faces and the faces of their families. I have a list here. Okay, take a look at this," said Theresa.
"Okay, let's see ... Avery Balthazar, owner of the Lafayette Glass and Light Company. What this guy did with his family business will boggle your mind. Nobody would have ever thought that old man Avery would be involved in anything illegal," said Theresa.
"What did they do? I mean what were they involved with to get caught up in a federal sting like that?" asked Chase.
"Listen, Chase, you're going to hear a lot of things about a lot of people down here, trust me. But wait ... there's more. It's been quiet for a long time, but I remember several years ago, there were rumors about some drugs being distributed throughout the state and into Texas and Arkansas by a family out of southern Louisiana. Now things settled down for a few years and apparently the players shifted their operation around. Now I hear that the feds have gone back quite a ways into the past to snare some families who channeled some of their profits into other businesses to launder their money," reported Theresa.
"Who are some of the other players you know? Are they well known?" asked Chase.
"I'm not privy to all the names ... there's a lot of speculation going around, but I can't know for sure until the trial starts. I do hear that the Boudreaux family should be worried, along with the 'Doucette's and some Simon's, Roubenaux and Pierce families too."
"Simon and Pierce? What the hell ... Pierce, that's my family name," Theresa.
"You're right! You are a Pierce, aren't you?" she responded.
"What do you know about the Pierce's? Do you have any names? How far back are we talking about? Come on Theresa, talk to me," asked Chase with anticipation in his voice.
"Hey, I got no info on anybody, specifically. All I know is that there are some people who got caught up in the Feds sting and they are looking at the family history to see if any of the wealth they have has anything to do with their family history — that's all I know. You know what your family history is, don't you Chase? I mean, what did your father or your grandfather and great grandfather do for a living? How did they earn a living? Frankly, I think if anything like that got exposed about any of us, we would all be shocked. But, I suppose they did what they had to do to survive, right? That's what life's all about, isn't it Chase? We do what we have to do to survive."
* * *
CHAPTER 2"Hear ye, hear ye, in the 204th Federal Court, in the State of Louisiana, the Honorable Judge Steven J. Sistern presiding — all rise!"
"You may be seated!" said the Judge.
Judge Sistern scanned the courtroom to assess the mood in the air and to determine just how much energy he needed to exert to control the tempers of the lawyers. Since he was nearing his long-awaited retirement — at the end of this trial — he had to please no one, and he didn't have to worry about reelection. When it was all added up, this would be his 145th, and the last 'high profile' trial.
The United States Attorney General knew the danger he faced by approving Judge Steven J. Sistern as the presiding judge, since he was a long-time member of the local community. But in the end, it was felt that this judge had the least to lose. Just last year, Sistern had presided over a case that involved a cop who was found guilty of killing a drug dealer. The judge gave him life without the possibility of parole. In another, the judge gave a 10-year sentence to a former police juror from Baton Rouge for lying before a Grand Jury concerning money laundering.
Sistern was a no-nonsense judge and that was what the Attorney General wanted. He knew that Sistern was familiar with some of the defendants, and that was the risk the AG would be taking. But given his alternatives, Sistern was the right man for the job.
"Is the Plaintiff present and all counsels accounted for?" asked Judge Sistern.
"We are, your honor," answered Roy Ardoin, the lead lawyer for the Plaintiff.
"Are the counsels for the defendants present and accounted for?"
"The counsels for the defense are present, your honor," responded Jesse Dubois.
"Alright, now the jury has been sworn in and seated and the court reporter will be recording all proceedings. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a high profile trial --you can see the cameras in the back of the room. You can see that there are reporters sitting to my right. I recognize that members of the defendant's family are here and some of you are just interested citizens. I will require that there be absolute silence during the time this court is in session. This trial will take place with the parties up here, and not out there where you are. Now that means I don't want to hear any outbursts of emotions of any kind, nor do I want to hear any disrespect to anyone in this court. There will be testimony during this trial, which I suspect will last at least 2-3 weeks, and I will not tolerate anyone coming into this courtroom late. We will begin every day at 8:00 a.m. sharp, and we will take a break for lunch at about 12 noon. If anyone has to leave before that time, you'll have to wait until 1:30 p.m. to return. Now, I don't want to be unduly harsh on anyone, but I suggest you relieve yourselves before the court proceedings begin ... Madam Clerk, have all parties been sworn in for the Plaintiff to begin testimony?"
"They have, your honor," answered the Clerk.
"Good. The Counsel for the Plaintiff may make its opening statement ... Mr. Ardoin."
"Thank you; your honor ... Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the Plaintiff's family here are citizens of the United States and residents of the state of Louisiana. As such, the Plaintiffs are entitled to all the rights and privileges afforded to any other citizen of the United States. Now we will prove to you that the defendants who are on trial here, have unduly benefited and otherwise enriched themselves by illegal and ill-gotten means at the expense of my client's ancestors. We will show you, through expert and eye- witness testimony, that these defendants are moral criminals, and you should find them to be guilty as charged. Now, you may be saying to yourself that the defendants look like your next door neighbors ... I can assure you that their counsel will try to convince you that they are just like you ... hard working, church-going, law-abiding citizens, who are just trying to make a living. Indeed, some of these defendants have been elected to serve the fine citizens of this state in various capacities. However, through their cunning ways, and their devious and greedy deeds, and that of their ancestors, they have violated the very laws which were set in place to protect the law- abiding citizens of this country and this fine state.
Why--you should ask--should they be allowed to benefit from, and even pass on to their descendants, the profits they have acquired for many, many years. In fact, we will prove to you that not only did they engage in illegal business ventures, they were enriched by their ancestors, who passed their ill-gotten wealth to them. So the question you should ask yourself is; should anyone ... anyone, be allowed to benefit from inherited wealth ... no matter how it was acquired? We will prove to you, by the preponderance of the evidence, that the defendants were the beneficiaries of unlawful financial gain that their forefathers acquired by means of slave trade, prostitution, murder, extortion, trickery, confiscation, lying and cheating. And these defendants have profited - unduly -from it. They have enriched themselves in a citadel of a family business and have transformed their inherited wealth into businesses that many would call legitimate ones.
For example ... there has been land which was legally owned by ex- slaves - I mean acres and acres right here in the Lafayette Parish - which was acquired by land-grabbers who stole it from hard working families and eventually turned it into one of this state's finest golf courses. Yes, it's true. This land was considered the bottom land, sold to Milo Patton and his family. Milo was forced to sell his 50 acres of land to the sons of the slave owners who set him free, for pennies of what it was worth. Milo was forced to sell it back to the brothers or they would find themselves hanging from one of the big oak trees majestically adorning the 18th hole as it stands today. Was that a fair deal ladies and gentlemen? Is it fair when one side has an overwhelming advantage over the other? Would any of you consummate a deal if you were forced to sell your home and move on, and if you didn't like the terms and refused to accept them, the state would give you 1/10 of its worth? Would you deem that to be a fair deal? What if you said no? What if you refused? What if you refused and they took it from you and forced you to sign the deal? Then, they paid you the 1/10 and turned it into a business that was worth 10,000 times more than they paid for it?
We will prove to you, with the preponderance of the evidence, that these defendants sitting before you, are the benefactors of these immoral and Illegal deals and are today poised to pass on to their descendants, the enormous wealth they enjoy because of the misdeeds of their fore-fathers. Not only that, but we will prove to you ... that they have turned that inherited wealth into other so-called businesses which have made them multi- millionaires. The question is ... do they have a right and should they be allowed to unduly benefit at the expense of the poor families who are descendants of people like Milo Patton's family or The Josh Simon family, who live from paycheck- to- paycheck, and enjoy no benefit from their forefathers' investment in the land that these defendants have been so richly rewarded? That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is the question. In your hearts, and after careful consideration of the facts we will present to you, we know you will agree with us, and say no. No to the unfairness! No to the illegality of transactions forced upon those poor innocent people of the past, and reward their descendants for what's rightfully theirs. When you hear all the facts, I know you will do the right thing. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen for your attention."
"Alright ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard what the Plaintiff's attorney wants to prove to you and now you will hear from the defense," said the judge. "Counsel, who will give the opening statement for the defense?" "I will, your honor, Jesse Dubois, for the defense."
"Alright fine, Mr. Dubois. You may proceed."
"Thank you, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of this fine jury, first of all, I want to thank you for accepting the request that you come and serve on this jury. I realize that you have agreed to give up time away from your families and work to come and serve as you have. I know it may present some hardship for most, if not all of you. To that end, I promise you that the defense will not take it lightly that you want to get on with serving in this capacity so you can get back to your everyday lives."
"Having said that, get on with it counselor," ordered Judge Sistern.
"Yes, of course, your honor."
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you have just heard the opening statement from the Plaintiff's counsel. I noticed that you have listened very carefully to every word, as I have. I'm sure you will agree with me that the Plaintiff's counsel has embarked upon a charge, and has brought my clients before this court to answer to charges that are totally unprecedented in the history of this country. Never has there been in any court in these United States, a charge brought upon the recipient of wealth, which was passed down from their ancestors. Why the very idea that you cannot pass your hard-earned fortune - no matter how large or small - to your children and your grandchildren. Why, that's what the Bible says we should do in the book of Proverbs ... Here, hand me that Bible, please. Look at it. Look what it says here ... in the book of Proverbs."
"Objection!"
"What are you objecting to, Mr. Ardoin?" asked the judge.
"Your honor, the counsel has not established the Bible as an exhibit, and indeed we don't even know which version of the Bible he's quoting from."
"Objection is overruled. This is his opening statement, Mr. Ardoin. I remind you, we are not in the argument stage ... continue with your opening statement Mr. Dubois," ordered the judge.
"Thank you, your honor. As I was stating, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the book of Proverbs 13:22 says ... 'A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children.' Now, what reasonable thinking person will interpret that statement to be anything other than you ought to provide for your descendants? In fact, it would be against the Holy Bible if a man fails to do just that. It's plain and simple ... nothing complicated about what a good person should do with his wealth, is there? So, I want you to remember that when the Plaintiff's attorney starts arguing against what the Bible says an honorable man should do. That's not a crime! That's what they will be trying to convince you to agree with ... but we want you to reject their arguments ... all of them. It is preposterous to think that my clients, who are good, church-going, God-fearing Christians, have done anything wrong by receiving their family's wealth. That's it ... there's nothing else. And yet ... the Plaintiff's attorney here — in their infinite wisdom — is accusing my clients of wrong doing, by accepting what was rightly provided for them by their fore-fathers. Do y'all smell something fishy here ... huh? Something doesn't quite add up, does it? Ladies and gentlemen, like I said, I'm truly sorry that you were called to serve the court in this way. For that, I apologize. Your honor, I move to ask the court to call this a mistrial and release my clients ... all of them ... from this unlawful prosecution. The plaintiff has no right to interrupt the lives of these fine, honorable men, whose families have served their communities well, for over three generations."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Sins of My Fathers 2 by C. Anthony Sherman. Copyright © 2015 C. Anthony Sherman. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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