"Not guilty. Your Honor," they said quietly.
"Is the presence of that animal in this courtroom necessary?" he asked, testily pointing to Wizard, who was sitting by Peter's side.
"Yes, Your Honor," said Jasper, rising. "Wizard is Mr. Kellogg's guide dog."
"Oh, indeed." It was obvious that Peter's deficiency had not been mentioned, nor had he heard the sly jibe circulating in town that Wizard had escorted Peter to the wrong bed one night.
The county prosecutor, Emmett Hasbrough, was an average-looking man with an above-average reputation for court-room fireworks and results. His prefacing remarks were few, as he merely stated that he could easily prove that the charges were true and would like to proceed by calling the first witness. The judge waved assent and settled back in his chair, apparently far more engrossed in the water damage on the ceiling.
The delivery-room nurse, looking both frightened and important, took the stand and gave the oath, her name, her occupation, and her current place of employment.
"On the morning of August 15, 1976, at 8:02 A.M., did you assist at the birth of twin girls?"
She nodded.
"To whom were these children born? Will you identify the mother if she is in the courtroom?"
"She is. She's sitting right there," said the nurse, pointing to Patricia.
"Now, is the father of the children in the courtroom?" Hasbrough glanced sideways at Jasper as if he expected an objection.
"Yes," said the nurse, and pointed at Peter.
"How do you know he is the father of the children?"
"I was still in the nursery where I had taken the children after their birth when he, and the other woman there, came to see them. He said he was their father."
"Thank you."
Smiling broadly, Hasbrough excused her and asked the admissions clerk of the hospital to take the stand.
"Were you on the admissions desk the morning of August 15, 1976, at the Mount Pleasant Hospital?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you admit as maternity patient any woman seated in this court?"
Pat was duly pointed out.
"By what name was she admitted?"
"As Mrs. Cecily Kellogg."
Hasbrough shrugged as if to underscore his point and gestured toward Jasper that the clerk was his to cross-examine. Jasper rose, his pose thoughtful.
"Sir, I don't believe that you have reported that incident truthfully."
"Huh?" The clerk, clearly startled, glanced toward the prosecutor. Hasbrough shrugged again.
"Did this woman answer the questions herself?"
"Oh, well, no. Not actually. Uh, she was in labor, you see…
"Come to think of it" - the clerk was embarrassed - "Mr. Kellogg did all the talking."
"Think carefully, now. When you asked him the patient's name, what precisely was his answer?"
The clerk thought a moment, confused. "But she's listed as Cecily Kellogg."
The judge advised him to answer the question to the best of his ability.
"It was some time ago…" Then his face brightened. "Yeah. He said, 'My wife's name is Cecily Kellogg,' but I thought he meant her!" And again the man pointed to Pat.
"So Mr. Kellogg did not actually say that the woman he brought to you was Cecily Kellogg? Nor did she?"
"Well, no, put like that, I guess he didn't. But who else would I expect it to be?"
Jasper was finished making the point. Other members of the hospital staff were called, all substantiating the fact that Pat had been delivered of twins, and that Peter had openly admitted to being the father of the twins.
"That, Your Honor, is the case for the prosecution," said Hasbrough, not particularly bothered by the clerk's recital.
Judge Forsyth sighed, pursed his lips, and then turned inquiringly to Jasper. Beside me Cecily had torn the border from her handkerchief and was knotting it so tightly around her index finger that it was nearly cutting off the circulation. I carefully released it, and she smiled wanly at me.
"Your Honor, I move for a directed verdict," Jasper said, and Hasbrough gave a start of amazement.
"On what grounds. Counselor?" demanded the judge, frowning.
"On the grounds that no incestuous fornication or adultery has yet been proved by the prosecution," replied Jasper, all innocence at the judge's reaction.
Judge Forsyth leaned toward him. "You have heard the testimony of several witnesses that Patricia Kellogg was delivered of two children whose paternity her brother, Peter, has not denied - in fact, has openly and unashamedly admitted. And you have the unutterable gall to tell me that no incest or adultery took place? I'm all ears, Counselor," he said.
"I claim, Your Honor, that no incestuous fornication has been proved by these statements. The witnesses have confirmed that Patricia Kellogg gave birth to twins, the father of whom is Peter Kellogg. No one has proved that Peter Kellogg fornicated and committed adultery with his sister."
"If you can give me another logical explanation that satisfies my credulity, I wish you'd proceed. However, I will point out that consanguinity is also a felony in this state," and while the judge leaned back he was challenging Jasper to prove there was no inbreeding.
"Very well. Your Honor. I will now prove, irrevocably, that there was no act of fornication or adultery, nor are they guilty of producing children within the criminal degrees of consanguinity."
"Proceed, by all means," said the judge, steepling his fingers.
Jasper called Patricia to the stand. She took the oath with quiet dignity.
"Were you delivered of twin children on the morning of August 15, Miss Kellogg?"
"I was," Pat answered bravely and unashamedly.
"Who was the father of these children?"
"Peter Kellogg." The quiet answer fell on the silent room.
"Who was the mother?"
"Cecily Kellogg."
There was an audible reaction of disbelief from the prosecution's side.
"You, can, of course," the judge drawled slowly, "substantiate that second statement?"
Jasper went on. "These are the separately kept records of Drs. Allison Seymour Craft, obstetrician of this town, and Charles Irving Henderson, consultant obstetrician of New York City. They have all been time-stamped, you will notice, on the hospital's time clock."
The judge made a moue of appreciation for that point and gestured for them to be brought to him. He leafed through several pages in each, frowning at the clinical details.
"The initial chapter," Jasper said, "in both accounts describes the process of exogenesis by which this birth was made possible. The actual propagation took place in the hospital operating room with both women under anesthesia and the father of the children in an anteroom, scarcely in a position to commit fornication and adultery with his sister. Even with the help of a guide dog."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Johnson," the judge admonished him sternly, closing the record books with some force.
"Your Honor, I must object to the way this court's patience is being tried by the inclusion of these alleged records as proof of the innocence of the defendants. It's a preposterous alibi for an incredibly obscene act," said Emmett Hasbrough, on his feet with indignation.
"I shall admit the evidence. However, Mr. Johnson, I'm afraid this court is by no means convinced."
"I'll proceed with further evidence. Your Honor. Will Dr. Samuel Parker take the stand?"
Jasper quickly established Dr. Parker as the serologist of the University Medical School Hospital, thoroughly qualified to testify on his specialty. Dr. Parker admitted taking blood samples from Patricia, Cecily, and Peter Kellogg, as well as from twin girls, four days old, whose footprints corresponded with those taken at the births of the Kellogg children. Dr. Parker admitted that he had been asked by Mr. Johnson to type these blood samples.
"Will you please tell the court the results of your tests?"