Chapter 8 The Trial of Moth Potter Summer vacation was fast approaching.
The next thing Tom knew, school was over and his days were free again.
The Fourth of July came and went with little fanfare.
Tom began to find his precious vacation time hanging heavy on his hands.
First, Becky Thatcher had left town with her parents for a summer vacation.
Then Tom came down with the measles.
During two long weeks, Tom lay in bed, a prisoner, dead to the world and its happenings.
When he finally got to his feet, the town of St.
Petersburg had started to come back to life.
Muff Potter's murder trial was ready to begin, and it soon became the talk of the town.
Every mention of the death of Dr. Robinson sent a shudder straight to Tom's heart.
He didn't see how he could be suspected of knowing anything about it.
But he still didn't feel comfortable in the midst of all the gossip.
Just hearing the name Muff Potter kept him in a cold shiver.
Tom ached to be rid of this terrible secret and to tell the truth.
One day he took Huck aside for a private talk.
Huck, he started gravely.
Have you ever told anybody about that?
About what?
You know what.
Oh, of course I haven't.
Not a word?
A single word so help me.
What makes you ask?
Well, I was afraid.
Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out.
You know that.
Tom paused for a moment.
I reckon Muff Potter's a goner.
Don't you feel sorry for him sometimes?
Most always, Huck responded.
Muff Potter ain't ever done anything to hurt anybody.
Just fishes little get money and loafs around, but we all do that.
He's kind of good and he gave me half a fish once when there wasn't enough for two, and lots of times he stood by me when I was out of luck.
Well, he's helped fix kites for me when they got torn.
Tom added and he tied fish hooks onto my fishing line when I couldn't do it.
I wish we could get him out of jail.
My, we couldn't get him out, Tom.
And besides, it wouldn't do any good.
They'd catch him again.
They probably would, Tom agreed.
I just hate to hear how they abuse him so, especially as he hadn't done anything.
I do too, Tom.
I hear him say that Muff's the bloodiest looking villain in the country and they wonder why he wasn't ever hung before.
The boys kept on talking, but it brought them little comfort.
Tom went home miserable that night, and his dreams were full of horrors.
The next two days he hung about the courtroom, drawn by an almost irresistible urge to go inside.
Huck felt the same way, but both boys were too afraid, and they even avoided looking at each other.
Outside the courthouse.
All the talk that Tom heard was about how things were looking bleak for Muff.
At the end of the trial's second day, Injun Joe's evidence stood firm.
There was not the slightest doubt as to what the verdict would be.
Tom was out late that night and came to bed through the window.
He was in a terrible state of excitement and couldn't get to sleep for hours.
The next morning, the entire village flocked to the courthouse for this was to be the great day.
After a long wait, the jury filed in and took their places.
Shortly afterward Potter, looking pale and sleepless, was brought in with chains upon him and seated where everyone could stare at him.
No less visible was Injun Joe, calm as ever.
Once the judge arrived, the usual whisperings among the lawyers and shuffling of papers followed.
All these details and delays in beginning the trial worked up an even greater feeling of suspense inside the courtroom.
Finally, a witness was called who testified that he had found Muff Potter washing in the creek at an early hour of the morning, that the murder was discovered and that Muff had sneaked away immediately.
After the prosecutor finished with his questions, it was time for Potter's lawyer to examine the witness.
No questions, he said coolly.
The next witness said that he had found Muff Potter's knife near the dead body, but again, Potter's lawyer didn't ask the man a single question.
A third and a fourth witness testified without Potter's lawyer doing anything.
Meanwhile, members of the court audience became angry and many started to wonder about what was really going on.
Did Muff's attorney mean to throw away his client's life without an effort?
A final witness was called, and he testified to Potter's guilty behavior at the scene of the murder.
Again, there were no questions from Potter's lawyer.
The crowd was quite restless now, and the judge had to tell everyone to settle down.
Finally, the prosecutor ended his case against Moff saying By the oaths of the citizens, whose word can't be doubted, we have proof that this awful crime was carried out by the unhappy prisoner before you.
A groan escaped from poor Potter and he put his face in his hands, rocking his body softly to and fro, while a painful silence filled the courtroom.
Muff's lawyer then rose from his seat and said Your Honor, at the beginning of this trial, we stated our intent to prove that our client did this fearful deed while under the influence of a blind and irresponsible confusion caused by his dizzy spells.
We have now changed our mind and shall offer proof of our client's innocence.
We call Thomas Sawyer to the stand.
Every face in the courthouse, including Muff's, took on a look of puzzled astonishment as Tom rose and took his place in the witness stand.
After the scared-looking boy raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth, Potter's lawyer looked him right in the eye.
Thomas Sawyer, where were you on the 17th of June, about the hour of midnight?
Tom glanced at Injun Joe's iron face, and his voice failed him.
The audience listened breathless, but the words refused to come.
After a few moments, he finally spoke in a weak voice.
In the graveyard.
An evil-looking sneer passed across Injun Joe's face.
Were you anywhere near Hoss Williams' grave?
Yes, sir.
Speak up, just a little louder.
How near were you?
As near as I am to you.
Were you hidden or not?
I was hid.
Where?
Behind the elms on the edge of the grave.
At that moment, Injun Joe's entire body seemed to tighten up, and the sneer on his face vanished.
"'Anyone with you?'
"'Yes, sir.
I went there with—' "'Wait a moment.
Never mind your companion's name.
We will introduce him at the proper time.
Did you carry anything with you?'
Tom hesitated and looked confused.
Speak out, my boy.
The truth is always respectable.
What did you take out there?
Only a potion.
A potion to cure warts.
There was a ripple of laughter in the crowd.
Now, my boy, tell us everything that occurred.
Tell it in your own way.
Don't skip over anything and don't be afraid.
Tom began, slowly at first, but as he warmed to his story, his words flowed more and more easily.
In a little while, every sound ceased except for his own voice.
Every eye was fixed only on him.
The tension inside the court reached its high point when the boy said and just after the doctor picked up the board and hit Muff Potter, and Muff fell, Injun Joe jumped up with a knife and Crash.
Quick as lightning!
Engine Joe tore his way through the crowd, sprang for the window, and was gone.
