Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - 7:30 AM

The witness, Caleb Hamilton, is a thirty-seven-year old male who works for the city. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Samantha Murphy
Detective Ted Armstrong
Caleb Hamilton

Caleb Hamilton: Hi Army.  So we meet again, eh?

Detective Armstrong: Before we begin, please tell us you name and address for the record.

Caleb Hamilton: Okay. I'm Caleb Hamilton and I live 1124 South 16th street, here in town.

Detective Armstrong: Thanks. The boss says you called in because you had remembered something.

Caleb Hamilton: Yes, I had totally forgotten about this because everything was so chaotic at the park that day. You know. The police and all.

Detective Armstrong: What have you remembered?

Caleb Hamilton: Well, as I was running to see what all the commotion was about, I saw a man running in the other direction. He wasn’t going the same way everyone else was.

Detective Murphy: Did you know him?

Caleb Hamilton: I can't be too sure, but it kind of looked like Mr. Plum.

Detective Murphy: Mr. Plum?

Caleb Hamilton: Yeah, you know Albert, don't you? He owns the Ace Hardware Store. I'm not totally sure, but it reminded me of him.

Detective Armstrong: Do you know Albert very well?

Caleb Hamilton: No, not well, but I buy all our tools and supplies from Albert, so I know him in that way.

Detective Armstrong: Do you have any idea why he was running?

Caleb Hamilton: Gosh, I don't know. I've heard some rumors about him, but who knows how much truth there is in that stuff.

Detective Armstrong: What have you heard? We don't pay a lot of attention to rumors, Albert, but this is a serious case and we check out every bit of info we get.

Caleb Hamilton: Me and Odell was in Rooster's Blues House to hear "Blind Mississippi" Morris, because Odell is a big fan, and I heard a couple of guys talking about Albert. I edged a little closer and I heard one of them say that he saw Albert and Pauline at the Boure, sharing a dish of Blueberry Pandowdy. They thought it was funny, I guess, because they were laughing.

Detective Murphy: Pauline? Pauline who?

Caleb Hamilton: Pauline Jones! You know who she is. A widow woman, lives right here in Oxford and I know she was at that big reunion. So was Albert.  I just thought that might be important. Everyone is talking about Albert having a big fight with that guy that was murdered. Maybe it had something to do with Pauline. I read in the paper about the Marshall family reunion. There was a long list of people who attended.

Detective Armstrong: That's interesting, Caleb.

Caleb Hamilton: And that ain't all the talk that’s keeping everyone on their toes. I keep my ears open because I get around town a lot, you know.

Detective Hamilton: What else have you learned, Caleb?

Caleb Hamilton: Old Albert seems to have been a busy man, Army, if what I'm hearing is true. The other day when I was at the grocery store, I saw Elizabeth Barton buying some pickled pig’s feet and there were a couple of other ladies standing nearby, whispering something. And so, as I got nearer, one of them said something about Albert and Lizzie being at the Main Squeeze one night.  So, it looks like Albert is shopping for a wife or something.

Detective Murphy: Why do you think any of this has any bearing on the case, Caleb? Gossip isn't always true and you just added to the rumors with your last statement. You don't know that Albert is shopping for a wife, do you?

Caleb Hamilton: No, but that makes sense, don't it? Not only that, but the paper had Lizzie's name in that list of people at the reunion. I'm just saying it looks mighty interesting to me.

Detective Armstrong: It probably doesn't mean a thing, but we'll check it out. Thank you for coming in and helping out.

Caleb Hamilton: Don't you want to hear the rest?

Detective Murphy: Is it something besides gossip?

Caleb Hamilton: Yes, this I saw with my own eyes.

Detective Murphy: What did you see, Caleb? I hope this is something useful.

Caleb Hamilton: Everything I told you was useful. Anyway, as I was cleaning the park last week... I can’t remember the exact day...but I saw Lizzie and Jimmy drive by the park and they was looking towards the pond.

Detective Armstrong: There's been a lot of traffic in that area ever since the body parts were discovered and then the dragging of the pond, but we'll keep all your information in the records and check it all out. Thanks again.

Caleb Hamilton: You're welcome. I'll keep my ears to the wall and if I hear anything else, I’ll call you.

Detective Armstrong: You do that. Have a good day.

Caleb Hamilton: Bye

Interview ends:  8:10 AM