The folks gathered outside
The locked courthouse that day
Where “Hangin’” Judge Quinn
Was known to be on his way .
They talked of the crime
And the trial soon to start
Of Mrs. Anthony ‘s murder
And of who stopped her heart .
“Frank done choked her, aright”
Said ol’ Roy, with a grin
Toothless and whiskered
As they waited for Quinn .
“Well, she had it comin’”
Becky Fuller replied
“A woman like that,
Takin’ men to her side.”
“Her husband was heated
’bout that, I’d expect”
Added “Roper” O’Dell
“Few men she’d neglect.”
(And Roper could talk
Unbeknownst to the others
The cowboy himself
Had been one of her lovers !)
“Well, drinkin’ and dancin’
Abidin’ by all those men
Pure sin’s what it was ”
Becky spoke up again .
“‘Deb’s her own woman’
I oft heard Frank say”
Fat Bill Lolly then shared
“Said: ‘She made her own way.’”
“No feminist, that one”
Scoffed Becky, “Not she
Not a church-married woman
Bedding men for a fee!”
“Now, that’s just a lie! ”
Roper O’Dell shot back
But went silent right quick
Least he come under attack .
“No lie a’tall” she returned
With a voice like ice-water
“And acting like that!
What about her sweet daughter?”
“The young dear is taking it
Quite hard, it seems
She’s the one found her
Hung from the beams.”
*
A carriage rolled up
At nine, on the chime
It was Judge Quinn
Precisely on time .
The crowd parted, now hushed
Studyin’ the Judge with rapt awe
His deep-set dark eyes
The strong line of his jaw.
“Yep, the husband’s the killer”
Smilin’ Roy said once more
As the Judge strode inside
Through the now open door .
*
Frank Anthony sat
His back to the gallery
Wrists and ankles in chains
With his lawyer, Bob Mallory .
A slight man and pale
And a notorious sot
Frank was nonetheless piqued
‘Though facin’ the knot .
“I never did it!”
He hollered right out
Judge Quinn banged his gavel
And echoed the shout :
“You will be in order!”
The Judge loudly commanded
“Or back to your cell
You will be remanded!”
“Quiet, you fool!
His power is rife!”
Bob Mallory hissed
“This man holds your life!”
“But I didn’t. I loved her”
Frank’s tone now but sad
“Since she was girl
And I just a lad.”
“I know” Soothed his lawyer
Giving his shoulder a pat
“And as we proceed
I’ll prove all of that.”
*
But that ” proof,” as promised
Was too long on its way
And it was well past four
Before Frank had his say .
He took the stand timidly
Under the mob’s wrathful glare
Now nervous and frightened
As if in a choleric bear’s lair .
“The Prosecutor claims
It was you killed your wife”
Bob Malloy said
“Did you take her life? “
“It sure wasn’t me!”
Frank answered with spunk
“I’d been drinkin’ all day
I was passed-out, dead-drunk.”
“I slept through the night
Behind a saloon
Jake’s Dancehall, by God
until well after noon!”
“What proof have you, Frank
Of this fine alibi?”
Asked his slick lawyer
A gleam in his eye .
“Why, I don’t rightly know
I’s asleep, like I said
I didn’t wake up
‘Till after she’s dead!”
“Exactly!” Bob Mallory
Exclaimed with great zest
Nodding at Judge Quinn
His thumbs hooked in his vest .
“You call that proof?”
The judge asked with frown
“If you’ve no more than that
Then kindly step down.”
“I’ve heard all I need”
Judge Quinn promptly declares
As Frank and his lawyer
Return to their chairs .
“You’re definitely guilty
Of that I’ve no doubt”
And Frank and the crowd
At the same time cried out .
“Murderer! Hang him!”
The mob screamed in entreat
While poor Frank, in tears
Collapsed in his seat .
“I will have order!”
The judge demanded again
When the courtroom door opened
And a young girl walked in .
“I’m Frank Anthony’s daughter”
She said without smile
And approached the bench
Walkin’ slow down the aisle .
“T’was I found my Ma
Hung from the roof
And of Pa’s innocence
I do have the proof!”
Judge Quinn and the mob
Taken aback with the shock
Watched her in silence
Fetch a note from her smock .
“This I found, too
When I discovered my Ma”
The judge took the small sheet
And guess what he saw?
“It’s just a man’s world”
He read aloud from the note
“And I’ll live in it no longer
If I can’t have a vote.”
“Clearly a suicide
It turns out to be”
Judge Quinn said to Frank
“Sir, you may go free!”
The crowd then erupted
And quite gaily indeed
Now very pleased
That Frank was to be freed .
“So you, young lady”
The judge asked with a smile
“Shall you give your first name?”
And she said without guile:
“Certainly, Sir
Most happily
I ‘m called for my Granny
My name ‘s Susan B.”
(AUTHOR’S NOTE:
This story’ s but fiction
As I trust you surmise
But an honor for me
Of incredible size
Was to write of this real Hero
So brave and so wise.)