Q:         You bought your freedom from Mrs. Kuick?

A:         Not me myself, sir. It was Mr. Gathercole, who was minister when this meetinghouse was still the Paradise church.

Q:         Yes, I've heard that story. And the deceased was?

A:         My mother.

Q:         And she also worked for the accused, Mr. Wilde?

A:         Yes, sir, we started work there on the same day. She took care of the house and looked after Miz Dolly and the baby, once she come along.

Q:         What kind of employer was Mr. Wilde?

A:         Fair. Even handed. A God-fearing man.

Q:         Your mother was happy in his employ.

A:         For the first time in her life, yes, sir.

Q:         Mr. Wilde stands accused of your mother's murder. What is your opinion on that?

A:         Pardon my language, sir, but that's damn nonsense. He couldn't have had nothing to do with it. He was in Johnstown, him and Miz Callie and me, the three of us. The two of them stayed with Mr. Wilde's cousin, you could ask him, Mr. James Guthrie, a cobbler. When we drove off from here Mama was standing in the door, waving. That's the last we saw her breathing. He couldn't have had nothing to do with it, and it wasn't in him neither.

Q:         So I'm told by everyone I've interviewed. And what is your opinion of the new Mrs. Wilde?

A:         I wouldn't take her name in my mouth, no, sir.

Q:         You think she may have been involved in the death of your mother?

A:         I don't want to say nothing about that. Best you ask the other white folks.

Q:         Now Levi, before the first Mrs. Wilde died, did you ever witness any special connection between Mr. Wilde and the younger Widow Kuick?

A:         No, sir. He never paid her no mind, as far as I could see. She never come to the orchard house, you can be sure of that. Missus Kuick never could abide Miz Dolly, and my ma would have chased her off, anyhow.

Q:         Yet Mr. Wilde married her, not a month ago. How do you explain that?

A:         Loneliness, I suppose, and the other thing.

Q:         Other thing?

A:         I don't like to talk that way in front of ladies, sir. The thing that men wants from women.

Q:         I see. Now what of the first Mrs. Wilde, Levi? Other witnesses have testified that she was out of her mind. You saw her every day. Would you agree?

A:         No, sir, not exactly. Seem to me she was all tangled up in her mind, like she was a prisoner inside herself.

Q:         Do you think she was capable of violence? Might she have hurt your mother, maybe in a fit of some kind?

A:         Why, no. It just don't seem possible. I seen Miz Dolly weeping over a dead bird more than one time, sir. Stroking it and talking to it, like maybe a kind word would be enough. No, sir, Mrs. Wilde—the first Mrs. Wilde that was—she couldn't have hurt Mama. I'd swear on it.

Interview with Mr. Nicholas Wilde

Q:         Mr. Wilde, all charges against you in connection with the death of Cookie Fiddler have been dropped for lack of evidence. But we would like to ask you some questions about this sad business before we discharge you.

A:         I've got nothing to say except, may God bless Cookie Fiddler and keep her. She was a good woman.

Q:         Well, then. Let's start with your wife. Your first wife. Dolly Smythe, I believe was her name before you married. Your wife was unwell for the last few years?

A:         Since the birth of our daughter, yes.

Q:         And can you describe that illness?

A:         No.

Q:         You can't or you won't?

A:         Both. I didn't understand it then and I don't now. Dr. Todd didn't know what was wrong with her and neither did Curiosity Freeman or any of the others who tried to help her, and nor more do I.

Q:         Was your wife ever violent?

A:         No. Never.

Q:         She never struck you or anyone else, to your knowledge?

A:         Never.

Q:         No fits or apoplexies?

A:         None. I would never have left her alone with Cookie if there had been any danger to either of them. Haven't you had testimony about this from Curiosity Freeman?