The Trial of Sarah McCluster

The Trial of Sarah McCluster

Suzy Red
Lockhart, Texas
89063

Lesson Plan Abstract

In the children's novel, Sarah, Sissy Weed, and the Ships of the Desert, by Paula Paul, eleven-year-old Sarah McCluster experiences the dilemma inherent in growing up in the mid-1800's. At a time in which the laws regarding slavery are being tested, Sarah befriends a young endangered slave girl who had been brought illegally into this country. Finding herself a surprised witness to two crimes, Sarah is torn between the choices of obeying her parents, respecting the law, and doing what she feels to be morally right. In the process of trying to save the life of her young black friend, Sarah alienates powerful people in her town.

After students experience the novel, Sarah McCluster must face trial in our classroom which is transformed into a courtroom of the 1800's! In this civil trial, Sarah is accused of helping Mayor Seamore's slave to escape. Mayor Seamore is asking the court to make Sarah's parents repay him for his slave.

This unit provides an excellent example of how law-related education crosses curriculum lines. The language arts are incorporated as students read the novel, then write and present their own written statements. (Included in this unit are witness statements to be used as guidelines for teacher conferencing with student witnesses.) Their lawyers study the facts and write their questions for each witness, and as the Judge prepares the law ln the case. Related historical research possibilities are endless. Higher level thinking is stimulated throughout this unit as students learn which techniques and vocal qualities are most persuasive.

PREPARE FOR Sarah McCluster's TRIAL

A. Learn the facts in your case. Outline what happened!

1. What facts support your side?
2. What facts weaken your side?
3. What facts weaken their side? B. List witnesses in the case. 1. Decide which witnesses you will call to the stand.
2. Do NOT call any witnesses who will NOT support your side.
3. Decide on the order in which you will call your witnesses.
4. Give a list of your witnesses, in order, to the other side. C. Write a set of questions to ask each witness you will call. (Direct examination) 1. Ask questions that will bring out the facts in the case. (LAWYERS cannot tell the facts themselves! Only witnesses can tell the facts!)
2. Go over the questions with your witnesses before the trial. D. Write a set of questions to ask each witness that the other side will call. (Cross examination) 1. Your questions may try to make the witness admit some fact that will help your side.
2. Your questions may show the witness is lying, unsure or confused. E. In your opening statement, you are not arguing your case yet.

F. Write a closing argument.

1. This is your last chance to tell the jury why you are right.
2. Go back over your case, listing your arguments simply.
3. Argue, yell, get mad! G. Prepare voir dire (jury selection) at the beginning of the trial. 1. Ask each person who MIGHT be on the jury a question to see if you want him or on the jury.
2. Try to choose jurors who will be fair to your side.
3. Some questions you might ask are: * Are you related to Sarah McCluster or the Seamores?
* Do you think slavery is wrong? H. Object to the other lawyer's questions if you think: 1. the questions have nothing to do with this case.
2. the questions are trying to LEAD the witness to say something.
3. the witness said something that they just heard someone else say but didn't see or hear themselves.
4. the lawyer is picking on the witness. INFORMATION SHEET: PLAINTIFF'S (MAYOR SEAMORE'S) LAWYER

A. Your job is to convince the jury to believe Mayor Seamore's story and give Mayor Seamore what he wants.

B. In this case, the major points for you to prove are:

1. Sarah often tried to aggravate the Seamores. * She laughed when Mayor Seamore fell off of his horse, and his hat got messed up.
* She lied to Mayor Seamore about why she missed charm and deportment class.
* She often tried to see Sissy Weed and even lied about her thimble just so she could get to talk to Sissy. 2. Sarah made friends with Sissy.
3. Sarah often lied to adults, including her parents. * She said she missed charm and deportment class because her mother was sick.
* She said she lost her thimble by the cistern pump when she really just wanted to see Sissy.
* She lied to Mr. Lassiter, the newspaper editor, about why she wanted the slavery information. 4. Sarah often disobeyed her parents. * She was told not to go to the cove, but she went.
* She left her Galveston hotel room without permission while her mother napped.
* She went out into the storm twice. 5. When Sarah found Sissy hiding in the cove, she hid her from everyone and did not intend to give her back.
6. Sarah made arrangements to disguise Sissy and sneak her to Mexico on a camel. C. What fact show that the defendant, Sarah McCluster, should be held responsible for the loss of the Seamores little slave, Sissy Weed? 1. Mayor Seamore owned Sissy Weed.
2. Owning slaves was legal.
3. Sarah made friends with Sissy Weed.
4. Sarah provided the clothing to disguise Sissy Weed and made arrangements for her to escape. INFORMATION SHEET: DEFENDANT'S (SARAH McCLUSTER'S LAWYER)

A. Your job is to convince the jury to believe Sarah McCluster's story and to convince the jury that it was not Sarah's (the defendant) fault that Mayor Seamore's slave got away.

B. The major points for you to show are:

1. Sarah was not responsible for Mayor Seamore's slave, Sissy Weed, getting away.
2. Mayor and Mrs. Seamore were not responsible slave owners. (Sissy didn't even have proper clothing.)
3. Sissy Weed would probably have died of the beatings if she had not gotten away, so Mayor Seamore would have lost her anyway.
4. Sissy was brought to the United States illegally. * The law at this time permitted slavery.
* The law at this time prohibited any new slaves from being brought in to this country. 5. Sarah tried to seek help from her parents and the Sheriff before she took action herself.
6. Sarah was acting more responsibly than all the adults when she took action to save the life of a Sissy Weed, another human being.
7. The Widow Watson, one of Mayor Seamore's business associates, twice threatened Sarah's life and actually attempted to kill Sarah and Sissy Weed.
8. Rev. McCluster gave Sissy back to the Seamores when he learned that Sarah had found her.
9. Even when Sissy Weed was returned to the Seamores by the McClusters after she ran away the first time, the Seamores were not concerned with her well-being. C. What facts weaken the other side? 1. R.J. and Sarah heard Widow Watson and the Captain talk about unloading the contraband slaves.
2. Sissy saw the ship captain (who was working for the mayor and Widow Watson murder a man on the beach, so the Seamores were afraid that Sissy would tell what she knew.
3. Mayor Seamore went to see Widow Watson.
4. Mayor Seamore was at the Galveston slave auction with Widow Watson.
5. Mayor Seamore called out the armY to help find this little runaway slave girl.
6. Mrs. Seamore conducted charm and deportment classes to teach girls manners and yet she and her husband did not treat all other people (especially slaves) well. Witnesses:

Sarah McCluster
Mrs. McCluster
Rev. McCluster
R. J. LaSalle
Hi Jolly (Hadji All)
Mendez Gonzales
Bella
Sissy Weed
Mayor Seamore
Mrs. Seamore
The Sheriff
Mr. Lassiter

WITNESS STATEMENT: SARAH McCLUSTER

My name is Sarah McCluster. I am 12 years old. I live with my mother, Mary McCluster, and my father, Reverend Bill McCluster. My daddy is a Presbyterian minister. Although I know my mom wants me to act ladylike, I think that stuff is a waste of time. I guess you'd say I am just a tomboy.

My best friend is R.J. LaSalle who is 13. He's been my best friend since we moved to Indianola, Texas, six years ago.

On April 29, 1856, R.J. got real excited when he thought there was something strange going on in Indianola. We were seeing camels running loose and R.J. told me he thought there was contraband on the camel ships. So, the next night, R.J. and I slipped away from the party at Mayor Seamore's house and climbed the hill to Widow Watson's house. We slipped up to the window and listened to Widow Watson argue with the ship captain. The captain was talking about not wanting to risk his life by getting caught in the cove at night.

Widow Watson told him that no one goes to the cove at night he wouldn't get caught.

That's all I heard before we bumped the window and had to run. From there, we ran to the cove where we saw a ship anchored offshore. On the beach we saw a campfire where a man had his bedroll. We figured he was just a fisherman. Suddenly a camel sneaked up behind us and nudged us, scaring us out of our wits. We ran back to the party at the Seamores.

The next morning, we heard about the dead man who was found floating on Powderhorn Bayou, by the cove! We told the sheriff that we had seen him but he only laughed at us.

Mama told me not to go out to the cove anymore, but R.J. came to get me that night. We went to the cove and saw the Glory Star anchored just a little way offshore, in the cove. While we watched, we heard a bunch of splashes. People were jumping off the ship and swimming toward the shore. They were all Negroes-about 10 of them. Illegal slaves, fresh from Africa! Soon a white man rowed ashore and Widow Watson met him! I was scared. Now I knew why the man on the beach was killed--he saw what WE were seeing now! Anyway, a little toddler wandered into the bushes where R.J. and I were hiding. A black girl about my age came to get him and we met--Sissy Weed and I, face to face, for the first time. Luckily, she didn't say anything to give us away.

I tried to tell Daddy, but he wouldn't listen, and I became depressed. So he and Mama took me on a trip to Galveston. While we were there, I slipped away and went to a slave auction where I saw Widow Watson and Mayor Seamore! When we got back to Indianola, I learned that Mayor Seamore had bought Sissy Weed, but not the rest of her family. While she worked for him, I met her a couple of times. She was very unhappy and told me by pointing and some English words that she wanted her mamma and little brother. I wished I could help her but I knew I couldn't.

Then one night, at one of Mayor Seamore's parties, I saw Sissy Weed again. She was serving lemonade. When she saw the captain, she dropped the lemonade, and started crying "Kill! Kill!" I heard the next morning that she got whipped for that. Then, I heard that she ran away. I went out looking for her and finally found her at the cove just as a hurricane hit. When we were making our way back to town in the storm, we were about to cross the bayou rope bridge when we saw Widow Watson cut the bridge loose in front of us! Then, Sissy jumped into the torrential bayou and swam across. She wanted me to come but I couldn't swim, she came back and pulled me across. She saved my life. I took her to the church behind my house where she would be safe during the storm. Mama and Daddy were really upset with me for being out in the storm. Later, I saw part of the church roof blow off and was afraid that Sissy would drown, so I sneaked back out, brought her into my house, and hid her in my wardrobe overnight. In the morning, Daddy and Mama discovered her there. Daddy let her tell the sheriff about her having seen the captain kill the dead man in the cove, but he insisted that we had to return her to the Seamores after that.

A few days later, Bella, the Seamore's black maid sent for me. When I sneaked over there, Bella told me that the Seamore's were going to kill Sissy, and I had to help her get away. So, I packed my clothes and white gloves and bonnet into a vegetable basket which R.J. delivered to the Seamores. Sissy dressed up like me and went out with R.J. to get a camel ride from Hi Jolly. She hugged me good-bye and from there, Mendez Gonzales took her to Mexico to live with his family.

WITNESS STATEMENT: MRS. McCLUSTER

I am Mrs. McCluster, Sarah's mother. I am married to the Reverend William McCluster of Indianola, Texas. We moved to Indianola in 1850. I try to be a good mother and wife. I work hard sewing and cooking for my family. I also work with the ladies of our Presbyterian church.

My daughter is 12 years old. Sarah has been raised by the church and knows all the Bible well. She's a bit of a tomboy, but I try to make sure that she is getting the skills every young lady must have. I used to send her to Mrs. Seamore's charm and deportment classes where she learned to sew, read poetry, entertain guests, and to be ladylike. She didn't like the classes, but I know how important it is for young ladies to be socially accepted. She especially had trouble learning to pretend she didn't understand the affairs of the day and just sitting and listening to others talk. Sarah's a talker!

Sarah has always been concerned with right and wrong. She's always cared about other people. A couple of times, I have caught her in lies, like all kids, but she's always been quick to be sorry and try to make it up.

Sarah likes to play with R.J. LaSalle. Together, they are active and go to the cove often to fish.

I don't like slavery. I think it's cruel and inhuman, but I'm just a woman, so my opinion is not important.

On April 29, 1856, Sarah was supposed to go to charm and deportment class, but I learned later that she and R.J. were out playing with the camels that were roaming the streets, instead. Mrs. Seamore sent one of her girls to my house to inquire if I was ill--as Sarah had said. (I must say, I was embarrassed!) But, when Sarah told me about the camels running loose in town, I could kind of understand why she didn't go to charm and deportment class. (Sarah has always been adventurous.) Sarah always wanted to ride a camel, I know. I thought it wouldn't be very ladylike, but understanding her adventurous spirit, I did not discourage it too much.

Sarah seemed to get really depressed for awhile, but she never told me about Sissy Weed or the slave auction until the day we discovered the little black girl hiding in her wardrobe. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears! Sissy Weed was so darling. I combed her hair and dressed her in some of Sarah's out-grown clothes. While I was dressing her, I saw how skinny she was, and I saw the scars on her tiny back from the whip. How could anyone hurt such a tiny, precious human being? But, I was worried about our family. The penalty for helping a runaway slave is DEATH! I was glad when my husband, Bill, gave her back to the Seamores, but I felt so sorry for the little one.

Sarah couldn't understand why her daddy would do such a thing. She thinks the law is wrong--so do I but I have to be careful not to say such things. Sarah always did want to take things into her own hands. She is so impatient. Later, I noticed that Sarah's pink gingham bonnet, her white gloves, and shoes were missing from her room.

After all of the problems over Sissy, I didn't send Sarah back to the Seamore's charm and deportment class. I couldn't see how she could learn charm and good deportment in an atmosphere of inhumanity. I realized that I could pick up worse habits from the Seamores than from R.J. Bill and I told her she couldn't go inside the Seamore's house nor even on their grounds anymore.

I don't think Sarah would steal someone's slave as Mayor Seamore is saying, but I think you'd better ask my husband about things like that. I'm just a woman, you know.

WITNESS STATEMENT: REV. McCLUSTER

I am Rev. William McCluster, Sarah's father. I am the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Indianola, Texas. We moved to Indianola in 1850. I try to be a good preacher and father. Sometimes it is hard. I have always hated slavery; the idea of one person owning another just makes me sick. We are all God's children. But, I believe that the Bible teaches us to obey the law, and the law DOES say that slavery is legal. Many of the people in my congregation own slaves, and, even though I believe deeply that slavery is morally wrong, I was reluctant to say so in my sermons. I didn't want the church to spilt over the question of slavery. (There is talk about the United States becoming split over slavery.)

My daughter is 12 years old. Sarah has always been concerned with right and wrong. She's always cared about other people. Sarah's a talker! She likes to play with R.J. LaSalle. Together, they are active and go to the cove often to fish. Sarah has been raised in the church and knows all the Bible well. She's a bit of a tomboy, but I don't worry about lt. My wife takes care of that kind of thing. I'm usually too busy working on my sermons and helping my flock to worry much about Sarah. Sarah knows she is welcome to come talk to me anytime. I do remember one time, she did come into my study to talk and I listened until she started talking about slavery. I guess I felt guilty because I hadn't taken an active stand against slavery. Anyway, I quickly avoided the subject and made Sarah leave so I could work on my sermon. Now, I wish I had been a better listener.

Sarah seemed to get really depressed after that, but I wouldn't let myself even imagine that it had anything to do with slavery. I didn't know anything about the problem with the Seamore's little slave girl until I discovered the little black girl hiding in Sarah's wardrobe. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears! I was in agony. My wife told me about seeing the scars on her back from the whip. How could anyone hurt such a tiny, precious human being? But, I was worried about our family. The penalty for helping a runaway slave is DEATH! I wanted to help the little girl, but I couldn't put my own family in danger, so I decided to return Sissy Weed to the Seamores. First, I took her to the Sheriff so she could tell her story about the captain killing the man on the beach. I had hoped that someone would listen and care about what she had to say. But, the captain and Widow Watson had left port, and the Sheriff decided that no one would believe a little slave girl anyway. I did talk to Mayor and Mrs. Seamore about the immorality of slavery, though. Sarah helped me to become brave in my beliefs! Now I even preach against slavery from the pulpit.

Sarah couldn't understand why I would give Sissy Weed back to the Seamores. She thinks the law is wrong--so do I but I know that the way to change it is NOT to disobey it. Sarah always did want to take things into her own hands. She is so impatient.

I told her Sarah that she couldn't go inside the Seamore's house nor even on their grounds anymore.

Later, I heard that Sissy Weed was missing again, so I asked Sarah if she had anything to do with it. Sarah told me that she did send her clothes and the money I had given her to buy new shoes to Sissy Weed. Is that a crime?

I don't believe that my family should be held responsible for the disappearance of Sissy Weed. I think lt was the Seamores' fault. If they had treated her right and not beat her, she might have been willing to stay.

I pray to God that our nation will soon come to its senses and make laws to stop slavery. Until then, we must hold slave owners responsible for the safety and well-being of their slaves.

WITNESS STATEMENT: R.J. LaSALLE

My name is R. J. LaSalle. I am 13 years old. I live with my mother who makes a living by selling vegetables.

My best friend is Sarah McCluster who is 12. She's been my best friend since she moved to Indianola, Texas, six years ago.

On April 29, 1856, I got real excited when I thought there was something strange going on in Indianola. There were camels running loose and I told Sarah I thought there was contraband on the camel ships. So, the next night, Sarah and I slipped away from a party at Mayor Seamore's house and climbed the hill to Widow Watson's house. We slipped up to the window and listened to Widow Watson argue with the ship captain. The captain was talking about not wanting to risk his life by getting caught in the cove at night. Widow Watson told him that no one goes to the cove at night he wouldn't get caught. That's all I heard before we bumped the window and had to run. From there, we ran to the cove where we saw a ship anchored offshore.

I heard voices crying from the ship and figured it had to be a madman being held captive in the ship's hold.
On the beach we saw a campfire where a man had his bed roll. We figured he was just a fisherman. Suddenly, a camel sneaked up behind us and nudged us, scaring us out of our wits, so we ran back to the party at the Seamores. The next morning, we heard about the dead man who was found floating on Powderhorn Bayou, by the cove! We told the sheriff that we had seen him but he only laughed at us.

That night I came to get Sarah. We went to the cove and saw the Glory Star anchored just a little way offshore in the cove. While we watched, we heard a bunch of splashes. People were jumping off the ship and swimming toward the shore. They were all Negroes-about 10 of them. Illegal slaves, fresh from Africa! Soon a white man rowed ashore, and Widow Watson met him! I was scared. Now I knew why the man on the beach was killed--he saw what WE were seeing now! Anyway, a little toddler wandered into the bushes where Sarah and I were hiding. A black girl about my age came to get him and we met Sissy Weed face-to-face, for the first time. Luckily, she didn't say anything to give us away.

Sarah went with her parents to Galveston. While she was gone, I found out that Mayor Seamore had bought Sissy Weed, but not the rest of her family. I told Sarah about it when she got back.

I heard that Sissy had been whipped a lot after that. One day I was delivering vegetables to the Seamores house when Bella, the Seamores' black slave told me to tell Sarah that she had found Sarah's thimble. She wanted Sarah to come get it right away. I thought it was funny that she wouldn't just let me take it to Sarah. So I told Sarah.

The next morning, I went to Sarah's house to tell her that I had arranged a camel ride for her with Hi Jolly, the African camel man who was hired to round up the camels. Sarah told me she had an idea to help Sissy escape. She gave me a basketful of her clothes to take to Bella. Later, Sissy came out, dressed like Sarah. We walked together to where the camel rides started. There, Mendez Gonzales took her to Mexico to live with his family.

WITNESS STATEMENT: HADJI ALI (HI JOLLY)

I am Hadji Ali, an Arab. I am the best camel man in the world. I was hired by the army to round up the camels that were roaming the streets of Indianola. My friend, Mendez Gonzales was helping me.

We liked to let the children ride on the backs of the camels we caught. I remember the first time I saw Miss Sarah. She wanted to ride, but the boys made fun of her and said she was just a girl and couldn't ride. I said she could, but Mayor Seamore stopped the camel rides that day. He seemed more worried about the camels than the children, though.

I speak the language of the black African man, so once I was asked by the Sheriff to interpret the words of the Seamore's little slave girl. She told me that she saw the captain of the ship kill the man on the beach. That made the Mayor very mad. The sheriff wasn't too interested but said he would look for the captain.

Another time, I was ordered by the army to try to find Mayor Seamore's runaway little slave girl. Mendez and I thought it is cruel to send soldiers after a little child. I was riding my horse by the cove ln the middle of a horrible storm when I saw Sarah huddling over the little girl. I led the soldiers away from them. I don't know what happened to them next.

Later, R.J. and Miss Sarah came to Mendez and me with a plan to help the little black girl escape. I gave Mendez my Arab turban, dressed him like me, and let him give the little black child-dressed like Miss Sarah--a ride on the best camel. They headed toward his home in Mexico where there are laws against slavery.

WITNESS STATEMENT: BELLA

I am Bella, Mayor Seamore's slave. I have been their slave for 15 years. Before that, I was kidnapped from my village in Africa by slave traders and sold away from my family. At first, I was like Sissy. I did not want to be a slave, but they beat me so much that I knew they would kill me if I didn't do what they said. They have always been mean and cruel. I work for many hours a day for no pay, no breaks, scraps to eat, and a shack for a home.

The Seamores bought Sissy in 1856. They treated her like they did me. They whipped that child so much, I just knew they would kill her. Finally, one day, she ran away. I would have been glad, but I knew she would be found. Our skin color always gave us away. Sure enough, she was brought back. They beat her over and over again. I could see she was getting weak, and I was sure she could not bear the whip much longer, so I sent for Sarah. I knew Sarah was her only hope.

Sarah came and listened to me, promising to help. The next day, R.J. brought a basket of clothes for Sissy. She dressed up like Sarah and walked off with R.J. That was the last time I ever saw Sissy Weed. I just hope she's safe.

Even if Sarah had not helped Sissy, Sissy would have left the Seamores as long as she had the strength. Then, when she was finally too weak, she would have left them by dying. They could not have kept that child as a slave, Sarah or no Sarah!

WITNESS STATEMENT: SISSY WEED (through an interpreter)

My name is Sissy Weed. I am eleven years old. Many months ago, I lived with my mother, my father, my older sister and my baby brother in our home on the coast of Africa. My father was the chief of our tribe, and I was a princess. We were happy and peaceful. One night, I heard noises and woke up in time to see many white men running through my village. They killed my father and took my mother, baby brother and me prisoner. They threw us and many others, in chains, into the hold of a ship. For months, we were kept in the hold, never seeing the sunlight, never having fresh air while the ship sailed. My big sister became sick and died. The white men took her body away. When we finally arrived in this strange, new land, the white men made us jump off the ship and swim to shore where I saw the captain hit another white man on the head with his gun and kill him. I was so scared! When my little brother ran off, I ran after him and came face to face with two white children hiding in the tall grass. They looked frightened, too. I didn't say anything, Just grabbed my baby brother and went back to my mother.

Next, we were loaded aboard wagons and taken to a big city. We were all sold to different white people. I don't know what happened to my mother and baby brother, but Mayor and Mrs. Seamore bought me. I was so sad and hurt. I wanted my mother and I wanted to go home. The Seamores were cruel and beat me from the first day I met them.

One day, I was surprised to see a familiar white face--the girl at the cove, Sarah. She made friends with me. I liked her. She liked me.

Bella, an older slave, took care of me, but I wouldn't do as I was told. I DID NOT WANT TO BE ANYONE'S SLAVE. So the Seamores beat me some more. One night, I saw the captain of the ship at the Seamore's house. He scared me, and I dropped the tray of lemonade I was carrying. I screamed and cried the words I had learned: "KILL! KILL!" The Seamores got very mad and beat me horribly with a whip. So I ran away. I ran back to the cove, hoping to go back home somehow. Then a storm hit. I was hiding from white men on horses that were running around the cove when Sarah found me and covered me with her own body. When the soldiers left, she pulled me toward town. We would have to cross the bayou on the rope bridge, but we saw a woman in black cut the bridge! The water in the bayou was rising fast', so I jumped in and swam across. Then I motioned for Sarah to do the same. She motioned that she couldn't swim so I helped her across.

She hid me in a big house with long wooded seats, then left. Suddenly, the roof of the house blew off and water flooded inside. I was so scared. In a few minutes, Sarah came back, wrapped me in her cape, and took me to a smaller house. We went to the top part of the house where she gave me strange, soft, dry clothes and a place to sleep. In the morning, I heard voices and a big white man opened the doors of my bed. After much talk, he took me to the sheriff. I told an Arab who spoke my language that I saw the captain kill the man on the beach. Then, they gave me back to the Seamores.

The Seamores beat me again and again. Bella thought I would die, I think. Finally, she brought me a basket of clothes. I dressed in the clothes and left with the white boy. He took me to the Arab camel man. I got on the camel and rode with the man to Mexico where I was treated well.

I never saw my family again.

If my friend, Sarah, had not helped me, I would have run away again and again. I was not born to be a slave. I would have died trying to escape. The Seamores could not own me.

WITNESS STATEMENT: MAYOR SEAMORE

I am Alexander Seamore, Mayor of Indianola, Texas. I have a large home and many slaves. As mayor, I am required to entertain often, and slaves are necessary to my standard of living and entertaining. My business is a thriving one, made possible only by slave labor. I believe the South must have slavery to thrive. Besides, the law says slavery is legal. You've got to whip them into shape or they're no earthly use to you. Reverend McCluster is the pastor of the church I go to every Sunday. I drop a great deal of the money into the offering plate every Sunday, too. Until all of this happened, he had not mentioned slavery in the pulpit. Now, suddenly, he often speaks of it as wrong.

His daughter, Sarah, started snooping around my house during charm and deportment classes. She evidently made friends with Sissy, my newest little slave girl who is as wild as a hurricane. One day Sissy just up and ran away. I asked the army to go out and look for her for me.

The next morning, the sheriff came and got me and told me that Sarah McCluster found my slave.

When I got to his office, he had some Arab interpreting some crazy story she was telling him. She told him that my friend, the captain of the Glory Star killed the man on the beach! I took her home and whipped her good for running away and telling tales.

In a few days, it happened. Sarah McCluster stole my property away. She gave her clothing to disguise her and arranged to get her to Mexico! Now if that's not stealing, I don't know what is. It was all Sarah's idea. Sissy Weed is my property. Sheriff Duncan wouldn't file theft charges against Sarah McCluster, so I felt it was my duty to file civil charges. Now, I expect the McClusters to pay me the money I paid for her in the first place plus $1000 for the suffering Sarah's meddling has caused me.

Some folks say Sissy Weed is an illegal slave, fresh from Africa. Well, here is the bill of sale from the auction that makes her a LEGAL slave. She might have been brought here illegally, but once she's gold and the bill is signed, the LAW says she's a legal slave. MY LEGAL SLAVE. MY PROPERTY.

WITNESS STATEMENT: MRS. SEAMORE

I am Mrs. Alexander Seamore, wife of the mayor of Indianola, Texas. I am the social leader of the town. I conduct charm and deportment classes for the young ladies of our community. We entertain many important guests. I am charge of our household slaves who are very lucky to be owned by such influential people.

Miss Sarah McCluster has been one of my charm and deportment students for awhile. It has been very difficult for me to tolerate such an uncivilized young lady in my classes. She always insists on talking at parties instead of listening like cultured young ladies. She often skips my classes to go off gallivanting with the young LaSalle boy, R.J. I really don't care for R.J., but we often need dance partners for the young ladies so I often invite him to our soirees. Not long ago, I heard she even punched a boy and gave him a bloody nose! She even tried to make friends with my newest slave and has corrupted Bella, one of my older slaves. I just wouldn't put anything past her. I am sure she was responsible for Sissy Weed disappearing.

WITNESS STATEMENT: THE SHERIFF

I am Abel Duncan, the sheriff of Indianola, Texas. I investigated the murder of a man on the beach on April 30, 1856. He was hit over the head with a blunt object and was found floating in Powderhorn Bayou. R.J. LaSalle and Sarah McCluster told me that they had seen the man camped on the beach in the cove the night before, but I just laughed at them.

One of my main problems is the camels which are running loose all over town, destroying fences and bushes. I heard that the Widow Watson ordered them and then refused to pay for them when they arrived, but that was never proven. The kids in town like to ride the camels when the two camel herders would let them. I didn't see any harm in it.

When Mayor Seamore's little slave girl got away the first time, he asked the army to help him search for her. I thought that was a little extreme, but it wasn't my business. The next morning, Rev. McCluster brought the little girl to my office. He said I needed to hear her story, but she didn't speak English, so I sent for the Arab, Hi Jolly, to interpret for us. Sissy Weed told me that she saw Captain Reed kill the man on the beach because the man saw him and Widow Watson unloading her people from his ship. Mayor Seamore didn't like it that I was listening to this slave girl, but it made sense to me. How else would the little girl know about the dead man? I told the Mayor that I would look into this and try to find Captain Reed and Widow Watson, but he threatened to be sure I would not be re-elected if I did. Later, I found out that the captain and Widow Watson had left town. I decided that no one would believe a little slave girl anyway, so I let it drop.

The second time Sissy Weed escaped, we never found any sign of her. Mayor Seamore told me he thought Sarah McCluster knew where she went, so went over there. Sarah told me that she gave Sissy some clothes and arranged for Sissy to get a camel ride to Mexico. I didn't think I could get a conviction on a 12 year old for stealing a slave when the slave was gone, so I didn't file charges. That's when Mayor Seamore decided to file this civil case, I guess.

WITNESS STATEMENT: TRAVIS LASSITER

My name is Travis Lassiter. I am the editor of Indianola's newspaper, The Weekly Sentinel.

R. J. LaSalle and Sarah McCluster came into my office one day. Sarah told me she was doing some research on slavery for discussion of current events In her charm and deportment class. I gave them a stack of old newspapers to look through. I started telling them about the abolitionists who want to do away with slavery. I told them that I thought abolishing slavery would ruin the economy of the South for sure without their labor in the fields. I also said I didn't know how they would be able to take care of themselves. But, on the other hand, I said I didn't know if it were wrong to own another human being. I told them that the law of 1820 says that we can keep the old slaves and their offspring, but makes it illegal to bring in new slaves. They were really interested in that law. They wanted to know if the law really did keep folks from bringing in new slaves. "Of course not," I told them. "Laws don't stop anything there's money in. Just slows it down a little. Slave traders smuggle them in."

Then they wanted to know what happened to the slave traders who got caught, and I told them "not much, if anything, except in some states which sells the new slaves and gives the proceeds to the informer as a reward."

They seemed really surprised that the illegal slaves were sold anyway. That's the law ln most of the South. When they've been told once, they're legal slaves from then on. They started getting depressed. I suggested they read about the white men who tried to help some slaves escape in Brazoria County. They were all hanged. They looked scared and left. Crazy kids. Say they want something and leave before they get it.