On the day of Sadie’s trial, the town of Whiskey Hill had a carnival atmosphere. By this time, the news of Sadie’s shooting of Tempest had gone out beyond Whiskey Hill’s borders to surrounding towns, and many were gathered there for the trial. The hotels and boarding houses were full. Temporary betting booths and gambling dens were set up, and even a cowboy who called himself the Sagebrush Troubadour had been hired to stroll around town with his guitar singing his newly written folk song about the famous madam of Whiskey Hill who shot a w***e to keep her secret from being told. The song was poignant and haunting and designed with a tear in the tune to elicit sympathy.
By this time word had leaked got out that someone called Gentleman Joe was going to defend Sadie, and people began to stre
