Day 2 began not unlike day 1; Still dark, still stormy.Fortunately this go-around there wasn’t a line, as we all just came and signed in. There weren’t any preliminary introductions this time. I guess if we didn’t get the procedure after day 1 we probably weren’t ever going to get it.
So I just came in and sat down to my book. I settled for a seat along the wall, as all the couches were taken. There were more early birds then there were worms.
Not much of note happened for the first hour or two. I read and people-watched, sometimes at the same time.
There was one white-haired fellow who talked with a group of thirty-somethings about his days in the service. A long-haired, mustachioed man discussed electronics with the guy next to him.
And I listened somewhat intently as Newt Gingrich prescribed his remedies for “Winning The Future”.
I eventually made my way over to a free seat next to a familiar face.
The face belonged to Monsignor Gregory Gier of Holy Family Cathedral. I wasn’t a full-time parishioner at that particular church, though it’s kind of an unwritten rule that Tulsa Catholics go to Holy Family on Christmas Eve, regardless of their parish. But we had never formally met.
I was introduced to him as a Cascia Hall alumnus, so that’s what we talked about at first. We also talked a bit about the whole jury duty process.
Mngr. Gier told me how he was picked for a criminal docket, but was excused. The collar gives me away, he said.
It’s funny. Somehow, someway, the death-penalty denouncing Priest always seems to get called for a criminal docket.
I eventually got around to asking Mngr .Gier the question I had wanted to ask since yesterday, concerning his nephew Mark Fowler, executed in 2001.
Mngr. Gier was surprisingly forthcoming, and I suspect this was a story he was used to telling at this point (See Link).
Four months before the execution was scheduled, the Tulsa World published a personal-piece by Ginnie Graham, titled “There’s always those left behind”, recounting the whole ordeal with emphasis on Mngr. Gier’s perspective.
Mngr. Gier expected the story in the metro section of the Sunday edition. However, he was caught
completely off guard when he saw his face on the front page. (Picture reprinted on right)“I almost didn’t say Mass”, he confided to me.
He suspected that it made the front page because of a wonderful photo by Michael Wyke of him in front of the beautiful stain-glassed windows at Holy Family.
Despite the artistry of the photos, the effect was nevertheless jarring.
Mngr. Gier ultimately did say Mass that Sunday. His sole condolence being a steadfast hope that no one read the paper on Sunday before 8 a.m.
While Mngr. Gier and I were speaking a criminal docket for Judge William C. Kellough had been announced. Given I was batting about 0-5 at this point, I just kept right on yapping.
As I was doing so, more names were being called, and one guy even yelled “Bingo” in response. She was getting towards the end, as the group assembled was taking up more and more space.
“Hunter Howe Cates”
Did I hear that right? Had I just been called?
“Present” I yelled back.
“Thank you”, came the reply.
I was called. For a criminal docket! It was a miracle! Now was I my opportunity to become a real-life immersive reporter.
Not only that, but I was about to do my civic duty! And it was a criminal trial too! I was to decide another human beings fate!
How exciting! How enthralling! How, how….yikes!
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