I rolled my eyes, feeling the tide begin to turn against us.
Tennie turned to the opposing counsel with a smile and said, “Now go on. You may cross-examine me as much as you like. I never knew the colonel to use any violence toward Mother. He treated her too kind. In fact, I don’t know how he stood all of her abuse. My mother and I always got along together until Mr. Sparr came into my house. Benjamin Sparr has been trying to blackmail people through my mother.”
It was Judge Ledwith’s turn to look exasperated. “This is altogether irrelevant. If it is objected to, I will rule it out.”
Mr. Townsend nodded. “I object, but I can’t stop her from talking.”
Tennie reached into her reticule and produced the letter from the man in Ohio. “I demand that it be publicly acknowledged that I am not a
