was so upset that she jumped up and started pacing. “I don’t know how all of you can sit there and calmly quote Biewel verses when your own flesh and blood is in trouble. It is my understanding that Lawrence was not part of the fight, but was attempting to stop the fight and hold Kyle off.”
Adam got up to place an arm around her waist and bring her back to her seat. “Calm down, little mother. We’ve only just heard the news and we don’t know all that has happened. I have faith that the Sheriff will act in a responsible manner and do what is right for all concerned.”
“For all concerned.” She spat out the words, “The Englisch have no right to be given consideration because they are the ones who always make fun of our Amish clothing, speech and the way we live.” She jumped up again.
“Ja,” Jacob agreed nodding his head, “but that doesn’t excuse us if we lose our temper and cause more hard feelings or trouble for others.”
Charity stamped her foot. “Why must we always be the ones who back down and be the peacemaker?”
Her mother calmly walked to Charity. “Because we believe in the Word of our Lord and do everything we possibly can to live by it.”
Jacob looked sadly at Charity. “Your temper is not acceptable for a good Amish woman.”
“Daed, I’m sorry, but I’m so worried and afraid.”
Adam cleared his throat and stated: Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall, but You, oh God, will bring down the wicked. (Psalm 55: 22-23)
“Now you’re doing it,” Charity was almost sobbing. “We’re sitting around doing a lot of talking and quoting Biewel verses when we should be out doing something about the unfairness to our community.”
“What would you suggest we do, dochder?” Jacob asked calmly.
“Find those Englisch boys and their parents and have a good talking to them.”
Grossmudder (grandmother) spoke which was unusual for her. Do not repay evil for evil. Do not take revenge. It is mine to avenge; I will repay says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19)
Charity sat by her mother and looked tight-lipped, but said nothing more.
They talked awhile longer and prayed more. Jacob and Adam said that they would go to court when the young men were brought before a judge.
It is true, they did not believe in taking anyone to court or being involved in a trial. In rare cases the Bishop might give someone permission to appear in court as a witness. However, if arrested, there is no getting around appearing in court as charged.
Jacob led his family in prayer again. Jenna Mae offered to feed everyone, but Adam wanted to get home. He was proud of Charity, but was a little uneasy that she spoke out, and to men, as Amish women do not do.
Chapter Five
Micah Fleming’s wife, Anita, offered to drive her car and take them to court on the day assigned. Jacob, Amos Snader, Isaac Slabough and Moses Yoder gratefully accepted her offer and dressed in their best to be in town.
Each wore the traditional black trousers, white shirt and black hat. They didn’t know what to do about money until the judge would tell them if there was to be a fine.
The men sat stoically on a bench behind the Amish young men. Lawrence was ashamed to look at his father and knew what he would have to face at home when, and if, he got out of here. Kyle was so battered that Jacob thought it would be impossible to charge him with an assault. The others sat with heads down and showing fear of the unknown. They knew they had been taught not to lift a hand in anger or say anything in an angry manner.
The young men from town were brought in and seated on another bench on the same side of the room as the Amish. Darren Kennedy smirked as he passed the Amish. Conrad Bolling, Denver Whitmore, Ashley Wilkins, Douglas Winthrop, Marshall Porter, Alan Barkley, Earl Staunton, Abner Washington and Liam McDonald walked in looking smug and satisfied with themselves. After all, they lived in the town and those Amish were not wanted and had no business being in town, they thought.
The bailiff called the court to order and announced that Judge Melinda Pierson would be presiding. The Amish men look startled that a woman was on the bench. They began to feel doubtful about the outcome. Surely a town woman would favor the town boys.
Judge Pierson cracked the gavel and announced that she would not stand for any disrespect toward the court or toward anyone in the court. She reminded them that this was not a trial but a meeting to decide if there would be a court case and what would be expected. She asked the bailiff, Bill White to bring Sheriff Micah Fleming to the stand.
It was difficult to tell from the sheriff’s face how he felt. He gave his full name and title. The judge asked him to proceed.
“Last Saturday, July 23rd, I was working on my report to the town council when Pete Mulanaugh came rushing into my office. Pete owns the Tasty Bite Restaurant across the street from the court house. He said there was a big fight going on and he had observed young men from town harassing and taunting some Amish boys. He didn’t see how the fight started but was sure the Amish had not started it because everyone knows they are peaceful. I got my hat and ran out calling for Deputy John Lynn and Deputy Roy Braun to follow. When I ran the two blocks and got where I could see, I saw one young man haul off and kick the stuffing out of a young man on the ground. He was Amish and badly hurt. I ran up and ordered them to stop. A couple of the boys from town ran and I didn’t get them. My deputies came with two vehicles and I arrested everyone until I could make sense out of the disgraceful brawl. The Amish young men have been respectful and mannerly. The town young men have been arrogant, loud, quarrelsome and hard to contend with.”
The judge thanked the sheriff and dismissed him. He left the witness stand and sat in the court room. The judge looked sternly at all the boys on the front benches. She then asked the bailiff to call Pete Mulanaugh to come to the witness chair.
Pete got up from the back of the court room and came forward. He, too, was sworn in and settled nervously to answer questions.
He knew if he angered the town parents, his business would suffer, but he also knew that God had commanded to not give false testimony.
The judge smiled and said, “Mr. Mulanaugh, we apologize for taking you away from your business, however, I need for you to tell us how you first observed this --- this--disgraceful occurrence.”
“Yes, your honor, I’ll be happy to tell you what I can. I own the Tasty Bite Restaurant across the street from the courthouse. I’m thankful to have such good business from both the people in town and the Amish. I even have two Amish girls as waitresses.” He turned to smile at the judge, but faced front and continued talking much too rapidly in his nervousness.
“Mr. Mulanaugh, please talk so that the Court Reporter can take your statement.”
He gulped. “Yes, your honor. Well, I was at the front counter taking money from a customer that was just leaving. A man and a woman. The woman had started out the door but turned around to say that there was a big fight going on about a block near the Feed and Tack Store. The man rushed to join her and I was right behind them. I saw there was indeed a fight. This is unusual, so I called to one of the waitresses to tell her that I would be back shortly. I ran toward the fight
