Ghosts of Mississippi Page #7

Well, it is the way

to a woman's heart.

But if you could pull this off,

it'd do Mississippi a whole lot of good.

And if I don't?

I'll pretend I never met you.

I have renewed faith

in the institution of marriage.

I can't get enough

of my hunk of burning love.

Not now, Clara May!

Clara Mayfield.

-It's Jerry Mitchell.

-I'll take it.

-I know you have the gun.

-We've been over this.

I know you found it

in Russel Moore's den.

There'll be a story about how the

D.A. Iied to the people of Jackson...

...and how Bobby DeLaughter

lied to Myrlie Evers.

I'm calling to see

if you care to comment.

You've explained why

you lied to the press.

You still have not explained

why you lied to me.

I told you. Jerry Mitchell

is a loose cannon.

This case was so delicate,

I didn't want to take chances.

I'm the last person on earth who

would jeopardize this investigation.

There's something

you're not telling me.

I swear to God, there is no cover-up.

You fully intend to seek

an indictment and a new trial?

That's what we've

been working toward.

I thought so, Mr. DeLaughter.

I thought so.

This latest revelation only proves

what we've suspected all along.

Peters and DeLaughter are just putting

on a show for the black community.

As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing

but a pair of lying racists...

...who never, I repeat, never...

...had any intention

of prosecuting this case.

You wanted to see me?

Come on, sit down.

You don't mind being seen in

the same room with a "lying racist"?

I don't mind if you don't.

You know Pat Bennett?

Sure, she's one of the best

lawyers in the state.

Why are we talking about her?

I thought she might be able

to help you on the case.

I've got it under control, Ed.

You have your share of

the 93 capital murder cases...

...we have waiting for trial

under control?

What new excuse would

you suggest I give...

...to the families as to why those

who've murdered their loved ones...

...have yet to see a courtroom?

I'm just curious.

The fact that Pat Bennett is black...

...wouldn't have anything to do

with this, would it?

I'm not gonna dignify that.

Whatever you may think,

this is not the Bobby DeLaughter case.

This is a case against the peace

and dignity of Mississippi.

Monday morning, I'm making a change.

You're about to hear the testimony

of a fingerprint expert...

...concerning evidence he claims

to have identified in a certain glass.

You're entitled to consider...

... the prosecution's failure to make

the glass available to the defense.

It is permissible that for one fact

alone to raise a doubt in your minds...

... that will require

Mrs. Savage's acquittal.

-Can he do that?

-This is my case, damn it.

How dare they say

I'm putting on a show?

Only two people care about

this case, and I'm one of them.

If anybody's putting on a show,

they are. The only thing they' re--

They're only trying to stir up

emotions and position themselves...

...as the saviors

of the black community.

Where you going?

This is Bobby DeLaughter.

I hope I didn't disturb you.

This won't take but a minute, ma'am.

When I started off,

I had nothing more than...

...a couple of pages

in an old police report.

I spent the better part of a year

bumping up against dead witnesses...

...and tracking down live ones.

My car's been vandalized,

my son's been in a fight...

...and I've been called ugly things

by every racist in Mississippi.

Now, when there's a chance

for an indictment...

...I've gotta fight off

black politicians too.

I'm sorry I lied about the gun,

but I've made a commitment to this case.

I'll be goddamned--

Pardon me, if I give it up

to some special prosecutor...

...I don't care if he's

black, green or blue.

I'm committed and I'm asking you

to make a commitment to me.

If you do, I'll ride this thing

to the finish line...

...or collapse

heading in that direction.

Thank you for your call,

Mr. DeLaughter.

The hell with her!

She's like all the rest.

The white world hasn't gone out

of its way to make her trusting.

When does it start?

What do I have to do?

We had a real chance to send

a message to this country...

...that Mississippi isn't

a bunch of redneck racists.

My mother was right. We should

separate and let the South rise again.

-You don't believe that.

-Why not?

She doesn't want my help.

I'm just another white man

putting her in her place.

She sees no difference

between me and Beckwith.

-You didn't tell her about the gun.

-Right.

If I had it to do over again,

I still wouldn't have told her.

IKeeping the discovery of the murder

weapon a secret was a good strategy.

It wouldn't bother her a lick if I was

black. I'd just be a smart lawyer.

You can't have it both ways.

What do you mean by that?

You said the reason you didn't

tell her about the gun...

...was that you were afraid

she would leak the story.

You can't expect her to trust you,

if you don't trust her.

I want you to meet with Pat Bennett

and bring her up to speed.

Fine.

It's for the best.

If you say so.

I'm going out.

You want something?

I'd like a Mercedes convertible,

but I'd settle for a Dr. Pepper.

There are four important

things in my life:

Medgar, Walter...

...my children...

...and this...

...the original

court-certified transcript.

I've kept this for 27 years...

...through three district attorneys.

Once I give this up...

...I know that it may be gone forever.

I don't believe you'll find

anymore opposition...

...to your continuing

to handle this case.

Thank you, ma'am.

It's truly appreciated.

Let's get the son of a b*tch.

My pleasure.

The decision by the D.A.'s office...

...to re-open the 27-year-old murder

case of Byron De La Beckwith...

...continues to cause controversy.

Citizens of Jackson are concerned...

... that taxpayers' money is being

used to dig up the past.

The grand jury handed down an

indictment of Byron De La Beckwith...

...in the murder of

civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

Extradition in the Beckwith case...

...is seen as a stumbling

block for the D.A.'s office.

I plan to fight repossession--

What's the word?

Extradition tooth, nail and claw!

In an attempt to replace

a lost autopsy report...

... the D.A.'s office of Hinds County

today received permission...

...by the Evers family

to exhume the body...

...of slain civil rights leader

Medgar Evers.

The body, buried in

Arlington National Cemetery in 1963...

... was found in remarkably

near-perfect condition.

After 18 months, extradition was

finally granted...

...in the case

of Byron De La Beckwith...

... the man accused of slaying

civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

Beckwith will face murder charges

30 years after the initial two trials...

...for the same offense

ended in hung juries.

Thank you, son.

" I first received the call...

...at 9 :
42 p. m...

...on the night of June 12, 1963.

My partner and I responded

and proceeded to the crime scene...

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