Thursday, November 15, 2007, 8:30 AM
Detective Armstrong and Detective Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department interviewed the witness, who is the victim’s attorney. 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
Thomas J. Eldon III
Detective Armstrong: Please state your name and address before we begin.
Thomas Eldon: My name is Thomas Eldon the third and my address is 25 David street here in Oxford.
Detective Armstrong: Thank you. Let's get started. How long have you known Victor Jennings?
Thomas Eldon: Five years
Detective Murphy: Would you consider Victor a friend or merely a client?
Thomas Eldon: Client
Detective Armstrong: Five years and you weren't friends?
Thomas Eldon: That is correct. Victor and I ran in different circles. We had absolutely nothing in common.
Detective Murphy: Did you get along well with Mr. Jennings?
Thomas Eldon: We tolerated one another.
Detective Murphy: You were representing Mr. Jennings in the Hawke Blackmail case, is that correct?
Thomas Eldon: Yes, I was.
Detective Armstrong: Was that the only case he was involved in prior to his death?
Thomas Eldon: No, I was also working on settling a property dispute with his neighbor.
Detective Armstrong: That all?
Thomas Eldon: Well, there was another neighbor who was always threatening to sue
Victor for disturbing the peace. Victor had recently informed me that a young man came to his doorstep with a baseball bat planning to use it on him.
Detective Murphy: Names?
Thomas Eldon: Zina Jacinto and Kyle…can’t recall his last name…sorry.
Detective Murphy: Did he say why?
Thomas Eldon: Something about some girl crying rape. He said he didn't need to pay me to do anything because Carl had already handled it.
Detective Armstrong: Did he pay you to cover things up?
Thomas Eldon: Absolutely not! Everything I was paid for was completely legal. I am not a crooked lawyer, believe it or not. I do my utmost best to positively represent our legal system.
Detective Armstrong: Were you always paid for your services Mr. Eldon?
Thomas Eldon: Eventually. I knew that Victor would pay me when someone else wasn't paying. It always worked itself out.
Detective Armstrong: When was the last time you saw Victor?
Thomas Eldon: I saw him on October twenty eight. I took some legal papers over to obtain his signature.
Detective Murphy: Oh? How did he seem to you that day, did you notice anything unusual?
Thomas Eldon: He was agitated, perhaps anxious about something. I inquired as to what was on his mind and he promptly informed me that his mind was none of my business.
Detective Armstrong: Did he always talk to you like that?
Thomas Eldon: He talked to everyone in that manner. Victor was a very angry, intolerant person.
Detective Armstrong: Did you happen to notice any cars or suspicious people around Victor’s house?
Thomas Eldon: Suspicious, ha ha. Yes, Carl was having coffee with Vic in the kitchen when I arrived. He is certainly a suspicious fellow.
Detective Murphy: Carl and Victor were good friends?
Thomas Eldon: I would surmise that Carl was the closest thing to a friend that Victor had. I have witnessed them, on a couple of occasions getting very loud and aggravated with one another. They had a strange relationship.
Detective Armstrong: Hmmm. No vehicles parked near the house?
Thomas Eldon: Funny, I do recall a black sedan going past the house when I arrived and then again as I was leaving.
Detective Armstrong: Did you notice the model?
Thomas Eldon: No, I didn’t pay it much attention. In fact, I forgot all about it until just this minute.
Detective Murphy: Were there any other legal actions that Victor had asked you to handle for him?
Thomas Eldon: He had mentioned that a woman, I believe her name was Daniels, yes, Barbara Daniels, who might be causing some problems for him in the near future. Before you ask, he did not tell me what type. He said he would tell me more if and when the time came. I am due in court in 20 minutes I really must be going.
Detective Murphy: All right. We’ll contact you if need be.
Thomas Eldon: Thank you, good day.
Interview ends: 9:10 AM
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