Sleepers Page #14

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I'll look up our friend and collect the money he owes me.

He owes you something more than money.

Ain't nothing worth more than the green.

-This is. -What, old man?

What's this guy owe that means more than dollars?

He owes you Rizzo. He's the man that killed your brother.

They said he died of pneumonia.

They said.

What is the relevance of this?

So, Ralph Ferguson is a Sunday school teacher?

I don't know, counsel. What you're asking is highly unusual.

I understand that, Your Honor. Again, I need to put a face to the victim.

Otherwise it's just another name in the obituaries.

Mr. Snyder, any objections?

I don't have a problem with that.

Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call Ralph Ferguson to the stand.

-Good morning, Mr. Ferguson. -Good morning.

I'd like to thank you for coming, I understand it's been a long trip for you.

I'm just sorry it had to be for something like this.

You and the victim, Sean Nokes, were such good friends.

I think your testimony as a character witness will be very valuable.

We were great friends. It would be hard to find a better friend.

-Would you say you were his best friend? -I was his closest, that's for sure.

-How long did you know each other? -About years.

And did you see each other often?

As often as we could... weekends, holidays, vacations.

-What kind of man was Sean Nokes? -He was a good man.

He was too good to be shot dead by a couple of street punks.

Objection, Your Honor, statement is one of opinion not fact.

He was asked his opinion.

Overruled. Please proceed.

Mr. Ferguson...were you aware of any enemies he might have had?

Sean Nokes had no enemies.

Thank you, Mr. Ferguson. I have no further questions.

Is that a prison?

No, it's a juvenile facility for young boys.

Your function was what at this facility?

Standard stuff.

Keep the boys in line, make sure they got to classes on time....

Keep an eye out for trouble, put them down for the night.

As guards, were you and Mr. Nokes allowed to use force to...

...as you put it, "keep the boys in line"?

What...what do you mean, force?

Were you allowed to hit them?

Of course not.

Were any of the boys hit by any of the guards any time at the Wilkinson home?

I'm sure something like that may have happened. It was a...

...big place, but it wasn't the common practice.

Let's narrow the place down.

Did you or Mr. Nokes ever hit any of the boys under your care...

...at the Wilkinson Home for Boys?

Would you like me to repeat the question?

No.

Then answer it, please. And remember, you're under oath.

A few of the boys who we considered to be discipline problems...

...were hit on occasion.

And how were they hit?

-I don't know what you mean. -A fist?

Open hand? Kick? Baton, maybe?

-Depends on what the situation called for. -Who determined that situation?

The guard on the scene.

That's a lot of power to have over a boy, isn't it?

-It came with the job, sir. -Did torture come with the job?

Boys were tortured, weren't they, Mr. Ferguson?

Define torture.

Well, let's define torture.

Cigarette burning...

...random beatings...

...solitary confinement with no food and no light.

-Say that took place? -On occasion.

-Who tortured them? -Guards.

Which guards?

I can't remember all of them.

Remember one.

Remember one.

This line of questioning better lead somewhere having to do with this case.

-It will, Your Honor. -For your sake.

Mr. Ferguson, was there ever any sexual abuse at the Wilkinson Home for Boys?

Was there ever any sexual abuse at the Wilkinson Home for Boys?

Yes, I heard that there was.

I'm not asking what you heard.

I'm asking...what you...saw.

Please, Ferguson, don't do this.

I thought you boys liked it.

Yes, I saw.

Did you and Sean Nokes ever force yourself on any of the boys?

Did you and Sean Nokes ever rape...

...any of the boys at Wilkinson Home?

Counselors...approach.

I just f***ed your little friend, Johnny.

Counselor, what the hell is going on here?

I guess I called the wrong character witness.

Counselor, I've given you wide latitude in calling this character witness...

...now, it's blown up in your face.

Please Mr. Ferguson, don't do this, please.

Mr. Ferguson, please answer the question.

-Mr. Ferguson, Sean Nokes... -I like it nice and slow.

...visited your home on numerous occasions, is that correct?

Did you ever leave Sean Nokes alone with your child?

A child?

Yes, in other words, would your ex-wife ever leave Sean Nokes alone...

...with your child?

There would be no reason for that.

There would be no reason for him to be alone with our child. It wouldn't come up.

Never came up? Did she ever voice any concern?

We have a statement explaining why she would never allow...

...Sean Nokes to be in a room alone with your son.

-Objection! -Sustained.

You ain't gonna touch me ever again!

Yes....

Yes?

Yes, what?

Yes, Sean Nokes had experiences with some boys.

-Were you there? -Yes.

-Did you observe these experiences? -Yes.

Did you do more than observe?

I was drinking then....

Were there any other guards around during these experiences?

Yes.

-With you and Mr. Nokes? -Yes.

-On more than one occasion? -Yes.

Mr. Ferguson, do you still think that Sean Nokes was a good man?

He was my friend.

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