Agnodice
Court had now continued, the room was filled with townspeople once again. Sebastian is in his seat next to Samuel. Agnodice sat alone completely defeated. Warren still had not returned.
“Alright, now that we are all back, let us continue.” The judge spoke. “Are there any more witnesses to be seen?” The judge looked at both lawyers.
The county lawyer said no, that he was finished with his witness. Samuel was going to say the same, not having any witnesses to begin with. He felt a tap on his shoulder, it was Warren. He leaned down and whispered something in his ear, the father and daughter looking at each other, confused.
“Is there something you would like to share with us, Mr. Halmil?” The judge asked, impatient. “I don’t like secrets being kept in my courtroom.”
“Sorry, your honor! But it’s for good reason! My uh,” Samuel glanced at Warren then looked back at the judge. “My assistant has found my witnesses!”
People in the courtroom gasped, immediately talking, wondering who the surprise witnesses could be.
“Order, order!” The judge banged his gavel several times. “Approach!” The two lawyers quickly made their way to the judge's table. “And who are these last-minute witnesses you have to bring to my courtroom?”
“We had trouble locating them the night before but my assistant was able to find them during the recess! If you will forgive our unpreparedness and let them speak, I promise this won’t take up any more time.”
The judge looked at the county lawyer. “Do you have an issue with this?”
“None whatsoever. I don’t think anything they could bring now would make a difference in this case.” The defense lawyer gave Samuel a cocky grin, confident that he could add this case to his win tally.
“Very well. You may be seated. Bring up your witnesses.”
Agnodice looked at Warren. “What’s going on? What witnesses?”
Warren just smiled. “I don’t want to ever hear you giving up on yourself or what you do ever again.” He didn’t wait for her response. He rushed to the doors and opened them. A small crowd of women, holding infants, toddlers, and small children came marching in, stone-cold and fierce expressions on their faces. The defense lawyer's jaw went slack. He glanced over at his previous witnesses, their faces matching his.
One of the male witnesses from before stood up, pointing at one of the women. “Beatrice! What are you doing here? I told you to stay in the house!”
“Oh shut up, Robert! I am so sick of you trying to tell me what to do all the damn time! You ain’t my daddy and you damn sure ain’t my husband!”
The brother and sister began to argue, yelling and cursing at each other. The group of women witnesses began to yell at Robert as well, causing the male witnesses to join in. It was an all-out blame game, some of the topics having to do with why they were in the courthouse.
In a futile attempt to settle everyone down, the judge banged down his gavel, calling for order. The defense lawyer began to complain to the judge, now demanding that the women witness be removed from the courtroom, causing Samuel to shout how it was unethical and ridiculous for him to now have an issue with the women witnesses.
The chaos of the courtroom continued for some time before a gunshot had pierced through the noise, silencing everyone instantly. Agnodice stood next to the court officer, his gun in hand, pointed at the roof. She looked at the judge and told him she would pay for the damages later. She returned the gun to the officer and then stood in front of the courtroom. “I think this has gone on for long enough. I told you my father is innocent and I meant that.” She looked at the men who had testified against her father. “I am the one who has been in your home at night with your wives. I have been the one at all hours of day and night, successfully delivering your children to you! Me! Not my father! He has had no part in this whole affair.”
“That’s horseshit! There ain't no way a woman could have delivered those children!” One of the men shouted, the other roaring in agreement.
“Oh put a sock in it!” A woman holding two babies stepped forward from the crowd of women. “We are all the proof you need that she performed these miracles! The miracles that no other doctor in town had been able to do! I have both my daughter and son with me here today because of her! You have your sons and daughters, grandchildren, and so forth because of her!”
An older woman stepped forward as well. “Marcus.”
The judge looked at the old woman, a shocked look on his face. “Martha! What are you doing here?”
“I am here to tell you how ridiculous you are! To entertain such an idea that Mr. Magna or even his daughter would bring harm to the pregnant women of this town when she is the reason why you have your grandchildren today!”
Beatrice spoke again. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves! God brings a gift to you, someone who can do what others have failed to do: keep your wife and child alive and you try to destroy it! You try to destroy what you do not wish to see as a gift! None of us would be here if it wasn’t for her and we will not allow you to punish her for what she has done!”
Agnodice turned to the judge. “You can punish me for impersonating a doctor all you want, I don’t care about that but please, find it in your heart to let my father go! He was only trying to protect me, you shouldn’t fault him for that.”
The judge paused, looking from the women and men to Agnodice and Sebastian. “No, I suppose I shouldn’t. Under normal circumstances, I would give out a sentence for such a crime but these aren’t normal circumstances. I will be dropping all charges against Sebastian Magna.” The judge banged his gavel and the courthouse erupted into cheers. Agnodice rushed to her father who stood with open arms. The two wrapped their arms around each other, both beginning to cry.
“As for you, Ms. Magna,” the judge started. The room became silent again, the tense air that had just left quickly returning. “I understand what you had done was in good faith but I cannot let the impersonation of a doctor go unpunished. And for that, I sentence you to 10 years in jail,” protests began but the judge kept talking. “But, after reviewing the evidence and hearing the testimonies, I have decided that you have done time served for up to 11 years.” He looked at the jurors. “Does this seem fair?”
All 12 members of the jury gave their agreements and the judge banged his gavel. “I hear by deem this case dismissed.”