Behave yourself in Court, Barb!
Don’t give the judge any of your lip! There are worse punishments than being hanged naked, you know..
It doesn't go well for Barb...
‘Court’ is held in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the Washington County courthouse. It is here where women have their day before the judge to find out
that they are assigned to do their term at Tree’s prison if they are going to be sent to the Women’s Correctional Institute.
These young women in their fancy prison garbs are about to learn they will serve their sentences in Tree’s prison.
Be assured that before they leave the courthouse the dignity of even the ill fitting prison gowns will be removed from their bodies and they will be interned wearing nothing more glamourous than shackles and maybe handcuffs-
if they survive their prison terms!
Barbara’s time waiting for her court appearance is less hospitable. She is held in a cell, naked of course, while the young women of the University of Arkansas are being sentenced to serve their time at Tree’s Women’s Correctional Institute.
When her time to appear in court comes, she is dressed only in handcuffs locking her arms behind her back. Even the judge notes that Barb’s wardrobe enhances her figure as Barb is presented virtually naked in her honor’s court.
Tree, as her prosecutor, wastes no time pointing out that Barbara not only has been (unfairly) convicted of felony drug charges in Missouri, but she attempted to escape his prison with another female convict. Tree explained the other woman has since been hanged to death for her escape attempt but that Barbara certainly deserves an execution more worthy of her crimes.
Barb’s defense comes from an attorney whose best argument is that Barbara should be hanged lest Arkansas gets a reputation for being an overly harsh place to serve a sentence for criminal behavior.
Torn between Tree’s call for a more suitable execution and the state-hired attorney’s call for a more (-or is it Moore) merciful execution of Barbara Moore by a simple hanging, the judge calls the two men to her bench along with her bailiff.
The bailiff explains that if Barbara had been a prisoner of the state the most she could get was an extension of her sentence and because the Washington County court would be extending her sentence, Arkansas would have to cover the twenty dollars per day that Tree would get for holding her for a longer time. Then the bailiff leans forward and in a whisper she adds “Mr. Tree just wants to adequately execute Barbara. Since the
Crus Chronicle is paying to film her execution, we don’t have to authorize
how he does it. It won’t cost us a thing!”
The judge says “Mr. Tree has prevailed! This court is adjourned!”
Barbara is brought back to Tree’s prison. She seems relieved she won’t be hanged in public. The Guard escorting her growls “The judge didn’t issue you a stay of execution. Don’t get your hopes up!”
What could he mean?