John Chapman

The Trial of the Lean and the Downright Mean John Chapman

THIS STORY WAS TAKEN FROM A REAL EVENT IN THE WEST AS REPORTED BY THE NEW YORK LEDGER NEWSPAPER IN THE YEAR 1859. THE AUTHOR HAS TAKEN POETIC LICENSE THROUGH HIS OWN DARK SIDED, TWISTED MIND TO CREATE A MUCH DEEPER STORY WITH TWISTS, TURNS AND UNEXPECTED RESULTS. HENRY MERCHAM WAS A MAN OF SMALL STATURE, WHO OWNED THE MERCANTILE STORE IN BELTON, TEXAS IN 1859. HE LIVED IN THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE STORE WITH HIS SWEET DEMURE WIFE LULABELL AND HIS DAUGHTER. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS SWEET LULABELL HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH MANY PHYSICAL AND PERSONALITY CHANGES. SHE HAS BECOME DOWNRIGHT MEAN, AND BEING TWICE THE SIZE OF POOR HENRY SHE HAS BEAT HIM MERCILESSLY ANY TIME SHE WAS OF A MIND TO. ON THIS PARTICULAR AFTERNOON SHE BEAT HIM THEN THREW HIM OUT OF THE SECOND STORY WINDOW ABOVE THE STORE. REALIZING HE HAD NOT SUSTAINED ANY SERIOUS INJURY HE DUSTED HIMSELF OFF, WENT INTO THE STORE AND LOADED HIS 45 CALIBER LONG COLT PEACEMAKER. THEN HE WENT UPSTAIRS AND UNLOADED IT INTO POOR LULABELL''S CHEST. HENRY WAS IMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND PUT IN JAIL. FOLLOW HENRY'S DEFENSE INVESTIGATORS AS THEY TRY TO FIND THE WITNESSES THAT CAN JUSTIFY HENRY'S ACTIONS AGAINST LULABELL. GO WITH THEM TO BOSTON WHERE HENRY AND LULABELL GREW UP AND MET. BE WITH THEM AS THEY DISCOVER WHAT PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS HORRENDOUS CRIME AND HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THEIR POWERS AGAINST THEM. MEET HENRY'S LONG TIME FRIEND AND HIGH POWERED ATTORNEY FROM DALLAS, WHEN HE COMES TO BELTON TO HELP BUILD A DEFENSE CASE FOR HENRY. FIND OUT THE EXTREMES AND LENGTHS HE IS WILLING TO GO TO AID HENRY IN OBTAINING HIS FREEDOM FROM THE LAW. BE THERE WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN THE COURTROOM. WILL HENRY GO FREE FOR MURDERING HIS WIFE, OR WILL HE RECEIVE HIS JUST DESERTS IN ANOTHER FORM OF WESTERN JUSTICE?