Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands

At nine minutes till 11:00 pm, Luther’s truck pulls into the driveway. He quickly tells everyone that Warren and Robert should be close behind, but they finally arrive a little after 11:30 because they had to change a flat tire. The men tell the story of their frightening adventure.

When they reached the building, they were surprised to see that, on the outside, the headquarters was disguised as weathered clapboard; on the inside, the space was elaborately decorated with tongue-in-groove cypress. Everything, including a throne, was painted in red, black, and gold. After a few minutes of tapping on the walls, they finally find what they are looking for—the hidden Klan roll and attendance records.

As they waded through the lake on their way back to their vehicle, the two men encountered a terrifying water moccasin that caused them to stop dead in their tracks. When they examined the books, Armetta discovered a layout of Harry Moore’s house, which is incriminating information of the gravest kind. They also discover that the Klan roll is much longer than they originally thought. Warren puts the evidence in Agent Jameson’s pouch and gives it to Luther to mail in the morning.

The next day, Ren goes to the café in order to spy on Emmett Casselton. Casselton does not seem to recognize Ren in his Dodgers hat, but he belittles the Dodgers for allowing a Black man like Jackie Robinson to play. When Ren tells Reesa about this encounter, she upbraids him. He does not know how much trouble they could all be in if Casselton connects the McMahon family with the theft.

At school the next day, everyone is aware of the news: Klan members have been subpoenaed to court. Mrs. Finney takes the opportunity to give the class a lesson in states versus federal rights and their separate jurisdictions. Robbery, assault, battery, and murder are states’ concerns while constitutional rights are federal concerns. She predicts that all the Klansmen will be set free.

Luther’s choir members hear the news from their employers’ wives. During the testimony, Reed Garnet perjures himself by denying his membership in the Klan. When he sees they have the official rolls, he realizes his dilemma and calls Lucy, his wife, who then commits suicide with pills and alcohol. A fracas soon ensues over where their daughter May Carol will go, and Reed insists she will go with his fractious mother.

At the beauty shop, the women discuss the primaries in the national politics. Senator Kefauver of Tennessee is running against Georgia Senator Russell. The stylist and the customers argue about which man should win the presidential nomination. One wants Kefauver, who will challenge President Eisenhower. Her son is in Korea, and she wants him to come home. The women joke about the red color of Mrs. Kefauver’s hair. Miz Lillian says it is the same color as hers, meaning she’s a Kefauver fan. Governor Warren of Florida is forcefully trying to keep Kefauver out of the state.

Warren instructs Luther on how to vote for his man, Kefauver, the favorite of all the McMahons. Russell wins, but just barely; his followers nonetheless see his defeat of Kefauver as a victory but the margin of votes is small.

The newspaper headline reads, “The Trail of Violence Laid by the Klan.” Their indictments include murder, beatings, burnings, and bombings. Reesa waits patiently for Marvin’s case to be mentioned, but her waiting is futile.

In the middle of the McMahon’s Sunday dinner, Luther and Armetta arrive with important news. The grand jury has recessed and the alleged Klansmen have returned home until court reconvenes. During this time, they have put their heads together and determined that Warren is the most likely person to have stolen the Klan rolls. His life is now in grave danger. He refuses Doto’s demand that the family leave the area. Luther advises him to keep his gun and dog with him at all times, to never go out at night and, if he must go out at night, to take his family with him. The Klan does not like anyone to witness their crimes.