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Authors: James D. Best
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together.”
He raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Nevada capital. I was sure he was assessing my political influence. I may have been dressed in trail clothes, but I had told him my family was consequential, and he surely had noticed my educated speech.
“ Were you able to make this business arrangement with Mr. Campbell?” he asked, seeming a bit more cautious.
“ Unfortunately, no. We arrived yesterday, and I didn’t have the opportunity to seek an introduction. I had intended to come to you in the hopes you might provide that service.”
Frémont physically relaxed after hearing that I had been merely seeking an introduction to one of his associates. I assumed that he felt comfortable handling such simple matters.
“ Then this is your loss as well. Mr. Campbell was astute at business. In fact, he was helping me with a few issues.”
I wondered how to ask him to help me free his friend’s murderer. I guessed that I’d need to find out as much as possible before he learned that fact.
“ Governor, I need a good lawyer. Can you make a recommendation?”
“ Of course.” He looked pleased. Politicians always want people beholden to them, and a recommendation was an easy way to curry favor. “George Blanchet is the best in the territory.”
“ What are his specialties?”
“ Government relations, deeds, claims, and business transactions. If you want to do business in the territory, you want Blanchet on your side of the table.”
“ Does he have any experience with criminal cases?”
“ Not really.” Frémont laughed. “Do you intend to commit a crime?”
“ No. My friend has been wrongly accused of a crime.”
Frémont must have guessed, because he immediately stiffened. “What friend? What crime?”
No use equivocating any longer. “Jeff Sharp has been accused of murdering Elisha Campbell.”
The governor leaped to his feet, almost spilling the remainder of his breakfast. “Elisha was a friend of mine!”
“ Be that as it may, Jeff Sharp didn’t kill him.”
“ I can’t get involved with this. Please leave.”
“ Governor, I know it’s been many years, but the Dancy family was critical to furthering your political career. I only want a fair hearing.”
“ The Dancys furthered my political career? Do you see where I am?” Frémont reached into his pocket and threw a few coins on the table. “There, that ought to repay everything I owe for this grand posting.” He plopped into his chair and waved his fingers, dismissing me. “Please, go.”
I started to leave the pathetic old man but stopped with one hand on the door. “Just one more question, and I’ll leave. Did Campbell ever mention the Edison Electric Light Company?”
Frémont was back on his feet. “Get out before I call capitol troopers. Now!”
I took that as a yes.
Chapter 13
After leaving the governor, I went to see Bob Brow at the Palace. I needed a lawyer, and in my experience, saloon owners knew all about the townspeople. I hoped that he could direct me to a lawyer who didn’t just trade favors with politicians. Saloon owners weren’t early risers, but he had come in while I was eating breakfast, so he might still be around. But when I entered the Palace, Brow was no longer in sight. I was about to ask the barkeep for his whereabouts when I spotted Doc Holliday eating alone. It was mid-morning, and gamblers seldom stirred before noon. The thought struck me that everyone got up early in this town.
I ordered a cup of coffee from the bar and walked over to Holliday. “May I join you?”
“ No.” He gave me a curious look. He continued in his easy Southern drawl. “Ah’ll excuse your rudeness because you’re new to town, but Ah do not abide being interrupted at breakfast. Everybody else knows it. Now you do too.”
I bowed slightly. “I apologize, Doctor. Is there a time I could see you?”
“ About what?” There was curiosity in his voice.
“ I need legal help for my friend.”
“
He raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Nevada capital. I was sure he was assessing my political influence. I may have been dressed in trail clothes, but I had told him my family was consequential, and he surely had noticed my educated speech.
“ Were you able to make this business arrangement with Mr. Campbell?” he asked, seeming a bit more cautious.
“ Unfortunately, no. We arrived yesterday, and I didn’t have the opportunity to seek an introduction. I had intended to come to you in the hopes you might provide that service.”
Frémont physically relaxed after hearing that I had been merely seeking an introduction to one of his associates. I assumed that he felt comfortable handling such simple matters.
“ Then this is your loss as well. Mr. Campbell was astute at business. In fact, he was helping me with a few issues.”
I wondered how to ask him to help me free his friend’s murderer. I guessed that I’d need to find out as much as possible before he learned that fact.
“ Governor, I need a good lawyer. Can you make a recommendation?”
“ Of course.” He looked pleased. Politicians always want people beholden to them, and a recommendation was an easy way to curry favor. “George Blanchet is the best in the territory.”
“ What are his specialties?”
“ Government relations, deeds, claims, and business transactions. If you want to do business in the territory, you want Blanchet on your side of the table.”
“ Does he have any experience with criminal cases?”
“ Not really.” Frémont laughed. “Do you intend to commit a crime?”
“ No. My friend has been wrongly accused of a crime.”
Frémont must have guessed, because he immediately stiffened. “What friend? What crime?”
No use equivocating any longer. “Jeff Sharp has been accused of murdering Elisha Campbell.”
The governor leaped to his feet, almost spilling the remainder of his breakfast. “Elisha was a friend of mine!”
“ Be that as it may, Jeff Sharp didn’t kill him.”
“ I can’t get involved with this. Please leave.”
“ Governor, I know it’s been many years, but the Dancy family was critical to furthering your political career. I only want a fair hearing.”
“ The Dancys furthered my political career? Do you see where I am?” Frémont reached into his pocket and threw a few coins on the table. “There, that ought to repay everything I owe for this grand posting.” He plopped into his chair and waved his fingers, dismissing me. “Please, go.”
I started to leave the pathetic old man but stopped with one hand on the door. “Just one more question, and I’ll leave. Did Campbell ever mention the Edison Electric Light Company?”
Frémont was back on his feet. “Get out before I call capitol troopers. Now!”
I took that as a yes.
Chapter 13
After leaving the governor, I went to see Bob Brow at the Palace. I needed a lawyer, and in my experience, saloon owners knew all about the townspeople. I hoped that he could direct me to a lawyer who didn’t just trade favors with politicians. Saloon owners weren’t early risers, but he had come in while I was eating breakfast, so he might still be around. But when I entered the Palace, Brow was no longer in sight. I was about to ask the barkeep for his whereabouts when I spotted Doc Holliday eating alone. It was mid-morning, and gamblers seldom stirred before noon. The thought struck me that everyone got up early in this town.
I ordered a cup of coffee from the bar and walked over to Holliday. “May I join you?”
“ No.” He gave me a curious look. He continued in his easy Southern drawl. “Ah’ll excuse your rudeness because you’re new to town, but Ah do not abide being interrupted at breakfast. Everybody else knows it. Now you do too.”
I bowed slightly. “I apologize, Doctor. Is there a time I could see you?”
“ About what?” There was curiosity in his voice.
“ I need legal help for my friend.”
“
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