52. Three Mountains Motel

Summary

• Judge Sims begins the court session with the defense, led by Mr. Milton, calling Sarah Singletary, a clerk from Piggly Wiggly market to testify. She mentions frequently seeing Kya, the defendant, alone in the market.
• Sarah confirms she saw Kya at the Trailways bus stop on October 28, last year at 2:30 P.M. and then saw her return two days later.
• After Sarah's testimony, Eric, an attorney, accepts the fact that Kya got on the 2:30 bus on October 28, 1969, and returned at about 1:16 on October 30, 1969, implying that this claim doesn't harm the prosecution's case.
• Mr. Lang Furlough, the owner of Three Mountains Motel in Greenville, then testifies Kya stayed at his motel during those same dates (October 28 to 30, 1969). He also confirmed that he did not see her leave her motel room on the night of October 29, the night Chase Andrews died.
• After lunch, Scupper, Tate's father, attends the trial to support Tate who he knows has still had feelings for Kya, the woman now facing murder charges.
• Tate’s father, Scupper, then enters the courtroom to support his son and indirectly Kya whom he has now realized has faced prejudice due to her upbringing. Scupper is proud of both his son and Kya for excelling against great odds.
• Tom calls Robert Foster, a senior editor for Harrison Morris Publishing Company in Boston, as his next witness. Foster verifies that he met Kya multiple times in Greenville around the same dates in question.
• Foster testifies that after their meetings and dinner, he drove Kya back to her motel at 9:55 P.M. on October 29. Foster saw Kya again the following day when they had breakfast together.
• Eric questions Foster about why Kya stayed at the Three Mountains Motel instead of the better, more recommendable Piedmont Hotel. Foster confirms Kya herself requested the Three Mountains Motel.
• Eric checks the tourist map of Greenville and points out that the Three Mountains Motel is closer to the bus station than the Piedmont Hotel, suggesting Kya might have chosen it to make a quick escape to the bus station.
• Tom calls the sheriff as his next witness who confirms that it would have been tight, but possible for Kya to move to and fro within the given time boundaries without any more questions being asked.
• Eric's cross-questioning reveals that Kya could have gone by land to the tower or taken advantage of water currents to swift the boat ride and save time.
• Tom asks the sheriff for any evidence of either a current or strong wind on the night of October 29, decreasing boating time or Kya going to the tower by land to which the sheriff replies in negative.