(P75,L11-25,P76,L2-25,P77,L1-16)
SMITH: "Mr. Anderson, will you please state your full name for the record?"
ANDERSON: "Maurice Anderson."
SMITH: "Where do you reside, please?"
ANDERSON: "Keller, Texas."
SMITH: "And are you familiar with the Defendant Al Petty?"
ANDERSON: "Yes, sir."
SMITH: "Do you understand the proceedings here today?"
ANDERSON: "Absolutely."
SMITH: "Is there something that you would like to say addressing the Court on his behalf?"
ANDERSON: "Yes, sir, there is."
ANDERSON: "I'VE KNOWN AL FOR PROBABLY, I WOULD GUESS A LITTLE OVER 35 YEARS, AND I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN HIM TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEING IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
I've been involved in the music business for 45 years and the music business is a pretty close-knit bunch of people, and I'm happy to say that I have known hundreds, if not thousands of musicians that I still consider friends of mine, and I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN, I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ONE PERSON THAT EVER HAD ANYTHING OTHER THAN ADMIRATION AND LOVE FOR THIS MAN, NOT ONLY AS A HUMAN BEING BUT AS AN EXCEPTIONAL AND TALENTED INDIVIDUAL. I KNOW HE'S - - WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF MY LIST AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT HE'S - - THAT HE'S BEEN A PIONEERING GENIUS, AS FAR I'M CONCERNED, IN THE STEEL GUITAR WORLD. Some of the digital things he's come up with is - - and I told him in a letter one time and I'll briefly read that part of it for you. I said the only thing I hate about it, Al, I said I think you're - - EVERYTHING YOU HAD AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE IS 25 YEARS AHEAD OF YOUR TIME, AND WILL BE 20 YEARS BEFORE ANYBODY WILL REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
COMMENT: AGAIN, ANDERSON POINTS UP AL PETTY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT ALSO ILLUSTRATES WHY HE WAS TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE GOVERNMENT. JUST BECAUSE OTHERS MAY SAY "IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE", AND OR, "IT CAN'T BE DONE", DID NOT MEAN AL PETTY "COULD NOT" OR "WOULD NOT" ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER HE DETERMINED HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH!
ANDERSON cont.: . . you're a great musician, a great player. As I said before, I hope you take this as a compliment, but you're years ahead of your time and unfortunately for you, you will not get the appreciation AND RECOGNITION THAT YOU DESERVE UNTIL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
COMMENT: And that principle applies to TELECOM2000!
ANDERSON cont.: I can honestly tell you that you have my appreciation not only as an exceptional human being, which is the most important to me, but as an innovator, musician and steel guitar player.
And in my opinion he is a God fearing man beyond reproach, as far as I'm concerned. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS MAN WOULD EVER BE A THREAT TO ANYBODY, SOCIETY. IT'S JUST BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION THAT SOMEONE OF THE STATURE I PERCEIVE HIM TO BE WOULD BE HERE TODAY WITH US. And I love him like a brother. Love you, Al.
And I just respectfully ask the Court for any leniency that would be in his behalf, and I guess that's all I have to say."
HANNAH: "Any questions?"
MARCHESSAULT: "No, Your Honor, no questions."
HANNAH: "You may step down, sir. Thank you."
*****
FOLLOWING IS HYPOTHETICAL TESTIMONY OF "THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN" WITH TESTIMONY OF MAURICE ANDERSON. (IN CO-ORDINATION WITH MR. ANDERSON)
SMITH: "WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME, SIR?"
ANDERSON: "MAURICE ANDERSON."
SMITH: "AND YOUR AGE?"
ANDERSON: "68 YEARS."
SMITH: "MR. ANDERSON, WHERE DO YOU RESIDE?"
ANDERSON: "I LIVE IN KELLER, TEXAS."
SMITH: "AND WHERE IS THAT FROM HERE?"
ANDERSON: "IT'S IN THE DALLAS-FT. WORTH AREA. DEPENDING ON THE TRAFFIC, IT'S ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS FROM HERE."
SMITH: "WAS IT AN INCONVENIENCE FOR YOU TO BE HERE TODAY?"
ANDERSON: "WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT WAS. I HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR MONTHS, AT THE EXACT TIME THIS MORNING - AT 10 O'CLOCK - OF THE TRIAL."
SMITH: "IT APPEARS THAT YOU CANCELLED THAT APPOINTMENT. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"
ANDERSON: "WHEN MY FRIEND, AL PETTY, CALLED ME AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO BE A CHARACTER WITNESS HERE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THAT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT COULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE ON A HEALTH MATTER OF 'LIFE OR DEATH', I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE. I'VE FOLLOWED HIS SITUATION HERE, AND I KNOW THAT HIS LIFE IS AT STAKE, SO I TOLD HIM I'D BE GLAD TO BE HERE, AND THAT I WOULD DO ANYTHING I COULD TO SHOW THE COURT WHAT KIND OF A PERSON THAT I KNOW AL PETTY TO BE. SO I CANCELLED MY APPOINTMENT. GOT UP AT 4 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC AND HERE I AM. I'M EAGER TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO HELP AL PETTY. FOR ONE THING, I BELIEVE AL PETTY CAN HELP NOT ONLY THE MUSIC BUSINESS AS HE ALWAYS HAS, BUT I BELIEVE HE CAN HELP THE FINANCIAL WORLD, WHICH I FIRMLY BELIEVE HE WAS DOING WITH TELECOM2000."
SMITH: "MR. ANDERSON, THIS COURTROOM IS LIKE ANY PLACE ELSE IN LIFE. THAT IS, WHEN THE JUDGE IS CONSIDERING ANYONE'S TESTIMONY, HE MUST 'CONSIDER THE SOURCE'. FROM LOOKING OVER YOUR RESUME, THAT I ASKED YOU FOR, YOU CERTAINLY ARE A WITNESS WHO IS QUALIFIED TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF YOUR FRIEND, MR. PETTY. HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN MY CLIENT?"
ANDERSON: "WELL, AS A FELLOW MUSICIAN AND STEEL GUITARIST, I'VE KNOWN ABOUT AL PETTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT I'VE ACTUALLY KNOWN HIM FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS."
SMITH: "AS A MUSICIAN, HAVE YOU WORKED WITH ANYONE WE MAY KNOW ABOUT?"
ANDERSON: "WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, I WAS ONE OF THE 'TEXAS PLAYBOYS' WITH BOB WILLS. THROUGH THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK, AND RECORD WITH, MANY OF THE MAJOR ARTISTS."
SMITH: "DO YOU HAVE A BAND OF YOUR OWN?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR."
SMITH: "HAVE YOU PLAYED AT ANY PLACE WE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH?"
ANDERSON: "I THINK SO. I HAVE A 12-PIECE BAND THAT PLAYS IN THE ASTRODOME IN HOUSTON TWICE A YEAR FOR 10 DAYS EACH TIME. WE DO SHOWS EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT 65,000 PEOPLE PER SHOW DURING A BI-YEARLY EVENT THERE."
SMITH: "ANY OTHER PLACES?"
ANDERSON: "WELL, FOR MANY YEARS NOW, EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT I HAVE HAD THE BAND FOR THE 'JOHNNY HIGH SHOW' IN THE DALLAS-FT. WORTH AREA. IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANY TALENTED ARTISTS THERE. 'LEE ANN RIMES' IS A RECENT NAME THAT COMES TO MIND."
SMITH: "DO YOU DO ANY TEACHING?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR, I'M BLESSED THAT STEEL GUITARISTS COME TO THE STUDIO IN MY HOME FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR PRIVATE LESSONS, AND I HAVE SEVERAL AUDIO AND VIDEO MUSIC COURSES OUT ALSO. I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW."
SMITH: "HAVE YOU BUILT ANY STEEL GUITARS?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR, THOUSANDS OF THEM, IN FACT. MY COMPANY, M.S.A., STARTED MANUFACTURING STEEL GUITARS OVER 30 YEARS AGO. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF OUR INSTRUMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE, AND YOU HAVE HEARD THEM ON MANY RECORDINGS. I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR PEDAL STEEL GUITARS."
SMITH: "HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY AWARDS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC?"
ANDERSON: "YES, SIR. AMONG OTHER THINGS, I AM A MEMBER - AS IS AL PETTY - OF THE TEXAS STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME. BY THE WAY, AL PETTY WAS ONE OF THE FEW STEEL GUITARISTS WHO WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE TEXAS STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME."
SMITH: "HAVE YOU WORKED IN ANY MOVIES OR T.V. SHOWS THAT WE MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT?"
ANDERSON: "YES, SIR. I'VE WORKED IN SEVERAL MOVIES AS WELL AS ON THE 'DALLAS' T.V. SHOW, YOU KNOW, WITH ANOTHER J.R., J.R. EWING."
SMITH: "WELL, ONE THING IS CLEAR. YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO GIVE US AN EXPERT OPINION AS TO WHETHER AL PETTY HAS BEEN A 'BLESSING TO THE MUSIC WORLD', OR WHETHER HE WOULD BE A 'MENACE TO THE MUSICAL SOCIETY', DON'T YOU THINK?"
ANDERSON: "YES, NO ONE CAN QUESTION THE IMPACT THAT AL PETTY HAS HAD ON THE MUSIC WORLD. AND NO ONE WHO KNOWS HIM, LIKE THESE WITNESSES TODAY, AND OF THE PEOPLE IN TELECOM2000 - THAT IS - ANYONE WHO KNOWS AL PETTY WILL TELL YOU THAT HE IS A 'GIVER', NOT A 'TAKER'. LIKE VERN COLDIRON AND AL PERKINS SAID, ONLY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW HIM WOULD EVER ACCUSE HIM OF BEING A 'MENACE TO SOCIETY'. AND, IF I MAY SAY SO, I SEE A PARALLEL IN THIS CASE HERE BETWEEN WHAT VERN WAS SAYING AND AL'S PRESENT SITUATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT. VERN WAS SAYING THAT - MOST OF THE TIME - THE PEOPLE THAT AL HELPED MOST - LIKE THE CLUB OWNERS HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY FOR - THEY'RE THE VERY ONES WHO - INSTEAD OF APPRECIATING HOW MUCH AL DID FOR THEM - THEY, INSTEAD, BECAME JEALOUS AND TRIED TO HURT HIM. LIKE, I BELIEVE IT WAS JUDY HAMILTON WHO SAID THAT AL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING ABOUT $12,000,000 A YEAR IN TAXES, MOSTLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S A TRAGEDY AND A SHAME THAT THE SAME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW DEEPLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN DEBT - THAT BEFORE AL WAS HELPING THEM IN SUCH A BENEFICIAL WAY, THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM. BUT, WHEN HE STARTED CONTRIBUTING, FAR ABOVE THE AVERAGE BUSINESS, AND TO THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE - GETTING MANY OFF OF DEPENDING ON SSI & FEDERAL CHECKS, BUT ENABLING THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PAYMENT OF, RATHER THAN 'ADD TO' THE DEBT OF, THE GOVERNMENT - I CAN SEE A REPLAY OF THE SAME PATTERN OF AL'S LIFE HERE. INSTEAD OF APPRECIATING WHAT AL WAS DOING FOR THEM AND THE CITIZENS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW TRYING TO 'HURT HIM TO THE MAX' BY PUTTING HIM AWAY FOR LIFE. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL TO ME, BUT - I'M SORRY TO SAY - IT DOES GO RIGHT ALONG WITH WHAT VERN AND AL PERKINS DESCRIBED AS THE WAY SOME JEALOUS PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS TREATED AL PETTY. THAT IS, THE ONES HE HELPS THE MOST ARE THE ONES WHO TURN ON HIM - LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW DOING - AND TRY TO DESTROY HIM!"
MARCHESSAULT: "OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. MR. PETTY HAS BEEN CONVICTED BY A JURY. THIS WITNESS IS ATTEMPTING TO 'RETRY THE CASE' AND SHOW THAT AL PETTY IS NOT GUILTY OF WHAT HE HAS ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED OF. IT'S A FACT THAT AL PETTY IS A CRIMINAL!"
HANNAH: "IN DUE RESPECT TO THE PROSECUTION, IT MAY APPEAR TO YOU THAT MR. SMITH AND MR. ANDERSON ARE ATTEMPTING TO 'RETRY THE CASE' BY ESTABLISHING MR. PETTY'S INNOCENCE. HOWEVER, I THINK THEY ARE MAKING A SINCERE, AND EFFECTIVE, CASE THAT, IN THEIR OPINION, AL PETTY NEVER HAS BEEN, AND NEVER WILL BE, A MAN WHO COULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE A 'MENACE TO SOCIETY'. THAT'S MR. SMITH'S JOB HERE TODAY AND I INTEND TO GIVE HIM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO HIS JOB. IF YOU HAVE ANY VALID OBJECTIONS TO THE TRUTH OF THIS WITNESS' STATEMENTS, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION HIM ABOUT IT ON CROSS. THEREFORE, YOUR OBJECTION IS OVERRULED. CONTINUE RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT OFF, MR. SMITH."
SMITH: "MR. ANDERSON, I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE AN AD OR ARTICLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COURT?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR. THIS IS A FULL PAGE FROM A MUSIC PUBLISHING MAGAZINE CALLED THE 'TRACKER'. THIS WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, IN 1993. A PERSON COULD NOT READ THIS AND NOT KNOW THAT AL PETTY IS A 'GIVER' TO SOCIETY, NOT A 'MENACE'. THE PERSONS WHO ARE QUOTED IN THIS AD ARE ALL PERSONS WHO ARE A PART OF - AND WHO KNOW - THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. JUST LET ME READ WHAT PEOPLE WHO 'KNOW THE SCORE' HAVE TO SAY ABOUT AL PETTY AND THAT GREAT INSTRUMENT HE SACRIFICED 7 YEARS TO CREATE - THE 'STEEL GUITORCHESTRA', AS WELL AS ABOUT AL PETTY'S MUSICAL TALENT AND ABILITIES."
ANDERSON READS AD:
"RECORDING EVOLUTION: OR REVOLUTION?
WHAT ARE THE TOP PROFESSIONALS SAYING ABOUT AL PETTY AND HIS STEEL GUITORCHESTRA?
CHUCK DIXON: Tracker Promoter and 9-Time "Cash Box Promoter of the Year", Top Writer and Producer says: "Al, of the hundreds of Hit Recordings that I have promoted during the past 20 years, very few Productions have been equal in Quality and Creativity to what you Produce. In promoting Ken Lattimore's 'The Old Cattle Trail' - from His 1st album-to #19, and his current 'Give Me A Heart Bypass' into the top 5-as well as Your Orchestral arrangement of 'God Has A Plan' (from his new album). I have received nothing but praise from the Radio M.D.'S and D.J.'S for your Productions. They all-and I can see why-all think that the recordings were made by a 10 to 50 piece Nashville Bank!"
EDDIE RUSSELL: Host of the world wide broadcast "Willie Nelson & Friends, OUTLAW FOR PEACE" Radio Show: "The best part was listening to the impressive sounds you produce from you Steel Guitorchestra. When compared to the 'run of the mill-by the numbers sound' that one normally hears, I found what you produce to be much more colorful, & unpredictable. This sound, in my opinion, greatly enhances the VOCALS, and certainly makes the lyrics sound BELIEVABLE, a lost art that has given way to a boring 'assembly line' feel in so many of Today's Recordings. Needless to say, I like what you do a lot."
HOWARD VOKES: "Traditional" Artist, "Promoter of the Year", Song Writer, "Country Boy" Records: "I listened to the cassette of 14 songs on Ken Lattimore's "Heart Bypass" Album. You did a fantastic job on those songs. It's just amazing that one musician could be playing ALL of those 'Sounds\Musical licks\Instruments, etc. I wish I could take your recordings to all of the Studios that I've recorded in during the past 40 years; play your tapes for them and watch them 'bang their heads against the wall' when I tell them that one Musician played all of the Music. They'd never be able to figure out how that you could possibly Arrange, Produce, Engineer, Master and PLAY all of those Hit Sounds! I'm including your Promo Material in the hundreds of mail outs that I do all over the U.S. and some 60 foreign Countries. I take my Hat Off to you, Ol' Buddy!"
RUDY GADDIS: Featured Artist of T.V. Special "The Songwriter's Guru", writer of over 2,000 songs, one of Country and Gospel Music's most respected Song Writers says: "Al Petty understands my Songs! There are very few Producers, Arrangers, Engineers, and-especially-Musicians that are capable of 'Gleaning' the true meaning and feeling that a Song Writer experienced at the time they were writing the Song. Al Petty can 'get inside' the Writer's Mind, and translate the Writer's thoughts and feelings into Every Phase of the Production. He also has a very unique ability-and the patience-to work with the Vocalist until that singer can interpret the song in a way that enables the listener to 'feel' the true emotion and meaning of the Song. Al has the experience to work with the Artist until-As Hank used to say-They are able to 'SING THE SONG".
AL PETTY RECENTLY HAD 3 RECORDS - THAT HE PLAYED ALL OF THE MUSIC ON - IN THE "TRACKER TOP 50" AT THE SAME TIME: THE ONLY PERSON TO EVER DO THIS!"
SMITH: "THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, MR. ANDERSON. HAVE YOU IN ALL YOUR YEARS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY - EVER SEEN AN ARTICLE JUST LIKE THAT?"
ANDERSON: "NO SIR. BUT THEN I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE EVER SEEN A MAN LIKE AL PETTY, AND I KNOW I'VE NEVER SEEN AN INSTRUMENT LIKE HIS STEEL GUITORCHESTRA!"
SMITH: "IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU ALSO VOICED AN OPINION IN THAT ARTICLE, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR YOU READ YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STEEL GUITORCHESTRA JUST NOW. HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND SINCE YOUR QUOTE?"
ANDERSON: "NO SIR, NOT AT ALL."
SMITH: "WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE OPINION YOU EXPRESSED IN THAT ARTICLE FOR US NOW?"
ANDERSON: "WELL, I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY COVERED MY 'CREDENTIALS' AT THE BEGINNING OF MY RECOMMENDATION, DO I HAVE TO READ THOSE AGAIN?"
SMITH: "I APPRECIATE YOUR HUMILITY, MR. ANDERSON. DO YOU MEAN WHERE THE ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT YOUR BAND IN THE ASTRODOME, AND YOUR RECORDING, TV AND MOVIE CREDITS?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR, THAT'S NOT ALL THAT IMPORTANT."
SMITH: "WELL, IT IS SIR, IN THAT IT GIVES YOU CREDIBILITY WITH THE COURT, BUT YES YOU CAN SKIP THAT PART IF YOU WANT TO. JUST READ WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT AL PETTY AND HIS STEEL GUITORCHESTRA TO THE COURT, PLEASE."
ANDERSON: "THANK YOU. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THIS IS A QUOTE FROM A LETTER I SENT TO AL SOME TIME AGO. A LOT OF TIMES AL WOULD SEND ME TAPES AND C.D.'S OF SOME OF THE RECORDINGS THAT HE ENGINEERED AND PLAYED ALL OF THE MUSIC ON. LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'M HONORED THAT HE SEEMED TO ALWAYS VALUE MY OPINION OF HIS MUSIC."
SMITH: "WELL, WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE RECORDINGS - I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY - WHEN DID YOU HAVE TIME TO LISTEN TO THEM? WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD PUT THE TAPE OR CD INTO YOUR CAR'S PLAYER AND LISTEN TO IT WHILE YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE. JUST CURIOUS, RIGHT?"
ANDERSON: "NO SIR, NOT QUITE. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR ME TO LISTEN TO IMPORTANT MUSIC IN THAT WAY."
SMITH: "I DON'T GET IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"
ANDERSON: "WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T MISS A NOTE OR A BEAT. THAT'S WHY, WHEN I LISTENED TO AL'S MUSIC, I WENT INTO A ROOM - MADE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNEW NOT TO DISTURB ME - TOOK THE PHONES OFF THE HOOK - AND THEN I LISTENED TO EVERYTHING I'M CAPABLE OF HEARING!"
SMITH: "WOW, THAT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL, BUT I GUESS SOME OF YOU MUSICIANS ARE A BIT UNUSUAL. ANYWAYS, HAD YOU LISTENED LIKE THAT TO MANY OF AL'S RECORDINGS BEFORE YOU WROTE THAT LETTER?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR. THEY'RE ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE."
SMITH: "OH, I ALMOST FORGOT! GO AHEAD AND READ FOR US WHAT YOU SAID IN THE LETTER TO AL THAT WAS REPRINTED IN THE ARTICLE YOU WERE JUST READING."
ANDERSON: "I'D BE GLAD TO . I WROTE 'YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW MUCH I ADMIRE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU ARE A GREAT MUSICIAN AND A GREAT PLAYER. AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU ARE YEARS AHEAD OF YOUR TIME AND, AND THE ONLY SAD THING IS THAT, YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE FAR - REACHING CREDIT YOU DESERVE! YES, UNFORTUNATELY, IN MY OPINION, IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE THE TRUE IMPACT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS FELT! YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD OF STEEL GUITAR, AND RECORDING, IS 'CHISELED-IN-STONE' AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN, BUT 'THE EAGLE HAS LANDED AT TRANQUILITY BASE' AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO THIS POINT ARE STAGGERING TO EVERYONE WHO CAN COMPREHEND THE COMPLEXITY OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!"
HANNAH: "MR. ANDERSON, I MUST SAY THAT THAT'S ABOUT AS ELOQUENT A TRIBUTE AS I'VE EVER HEARD! AND YOU SAY THAT, HERE 10 YEARS LATER YOU STILL FEEL THAT WAY?"
(PROSECUTOR) MARCHESSAULT: "YOUR HONOR, THIS SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER TO ME. I OBJECT TO YOUR VOICING YOUR OPINION OF A WITNESS'S STATEMENT LIKE THIS."
HANNAH: "MR. MARCHESSAULT, SEVERAL TIMES DURING MR. PETTY'S TRIAL YOU AND MS. KENNER RAISED OBJECTIONS TO STATEMENTS BY WITNESSES AND I SUSTAINED THEM. AT OTHER TIMES, I HAVE HAD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WITNESSES WERE NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY, AND I HAVE REPRIMANDED THEM, AND HAD THEIR COMMENTS STRUCK FROM THE RECORD AND INSTRUCTED THE JURY TO DISREGARD THEM. AS YOU KNOW, I AM NOT OBLIGATED TO EXPLAIN MY ACTIONS TO YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE HERE. I'M IN CHARGE OF THIS COURT. BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS - JUST AS I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CRITICIZE, AND STRIKE TESTIMONY BY WITNESSES I CERTAINLY HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO EXPRESS A FAVORABLE OPINION. AND I STILL WILL TELL YOU THAT MR. ANDERSONS TRIBUTE TO MR. PETTY WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. MR. SMITH, YOU MAY CONTINUE."
SMITH: "THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I AGREE WITH YOU AND APPRECIATE YOUR 'CANDIDACY'. MR. ANDERSON, I'M SURE THAT - IN YOUR WILDEST IMAGINATION THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED THAT, JUST 10 YEARS FROM THE TIME YOU WROTE THAT LETTER TO MR. PETTY THAT, INSTEAD OF SEEING HIM ACHIEVE RECOGNITION FOR HIS HARD WORK, TALENT AND INGENUITY, THAT YOU WOULD BE SITTING IN THIS COURTROOM, PLEADING FOR LENIENCY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS COMPLEX FRIEND OF YOURS. THAT, INSTEAD OF APPRECIATION FOR MR. PETTY'S - AS YOU CALLED THEM, I BELIEVE, 'STAGGERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS', THAT THE 'STAGGERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS' OF THIS SAME AL PETTY, JUST 10 YEARS LATER, IN THE LONG DISTANCE, CELL PHONE AND MARKETING BUSINESS WOULD PUT MR. PETTY HERE IN THIS COURTROOM, ON THE VERGE OF BEING 'PUT AWAY FOR LIFE'! ANY COMMENT ON THAT?"
ANDERSON: "YOU CERTAINLY EXPRESSED MY THOUGHTS. I THINK I AM STILL IN SHOCK AT THE WAY AL IS BEING CALLED A CRIMINAL FOR DOING WHAT HE'S ALWAYS DONE - THAT IS CREATING NEW THINGS THAT HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE. I MEAN YOU HEARD WHAT OUR PEERS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS HAD TO SAY - THAT I JUST READ TO YOU; HOW HE HELPED THE SONGWRITER'S SONGS TO BE INTERPRETED AND UNDERSTOOD - AND HOW HE HELPED THE RECORD PROMOTERS DO THEIR JOBS EASIER BY PRODUCING BETTER QUALITY, AND MORE CREATIVE RECORDINGS FOR THEM TO PROMOTE - AS WELL AS THE 'WILLIE NELSON SHOW' DEEJAY - BY HELPING HIM TO HAVE BETTER AND MORE EXCITING RECORDS TO PLAY. YOU ALSO HEARD A MAN, HOWARD VOKES, THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING, PERFORMING AND PROMOTING RECORDS FOR OVER 40 YEARS - YOU HEARD HIM SAY THAT HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW AL PETTY COULD PLAY ALL THE MUSIC ON THOSE RECORDS - AND THAT HE - IN EFFECT - DID NOT KNOW ANYONE WHO COULD UNDERSTAND HOW THAT AL PETTY DID WHAT HE DID. AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING; THEY DIDN'T REFUSE TO PROMOTE AND PLAY AL'S RECORDINGS, JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW HE MADE THEM. AND THE SONG WRITER, RUDY GADDIS, DIDN'T REFUSE TO LET AL PETTY HAVE HIS SONGS TO RECORD THEM FOR OTHER SINGERS, JUST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW AL PETTY PLAYED ALL THE MUSIC ON THEM. NO! THEY ALL TRUSTED AL'S TALENTS - TOOK WHAT HE HAD TO OFFER - 'RAN WITH IT' - HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE - AND MADE MONEY FROM IT. ISN'T THAT WHAT LIFE'S ALL ABOUT - MAKING A LIVING AND HELPING OTHERS. IF THESE PROFESSIONALS HAD WAITED UNTIL THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW AL PLAYED ALL THAT MUSIC BEFORE THEY ACCEPTED IT, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES AND OTHERS THE WAY THEY DID!
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT EVERY TELECOM2000 BUSINESS OWNER DID! THEY KNEW THAT WHAT AL WAS DOING WORKED, AND THEY WERE NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO INSIST ON GOING TO COLLEGE TO UNDERSTAND HOW AL WAS DOING IT BEFORE THEY BOUGHT THEIR BUSINESSES. THEY JUST MADE THEIR PURCHASE, MADE A LOT OF MONEY, AND HELPED OTHER PEOPLE DO THE SAME. ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT THE SONG WRITERS, DEE JAYS AND PROMOTERS DID? AND, JUDGING FROM WHAT ALL THESE WITNESSES THAT REALLY KNOW AL PETTY SAID, AS WELL AS THE WITNESSES AT HIS TRIAL SAID, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT AL HAS BEEN DOING ALL HIS LIFE. LIKE I SAID, I'M STILL IN SHOCK THAT NOW, WHEN HE WAS HELPING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER, THAT - AT 70 YEARS OLD - THE GOVERNMENT, THAT HE WAS ALSO HELPING, IS TRYING TO PUT HIM IN PRISON FOR LIFE. THIS ALL SEEMS SO WRONG!"
MARCHESSAULT: "OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. HE'S BEEN TALKING FOREVER, AND HE STILL HASN'T ANSWERED MR. SMITH'S QUESTION - NON-RESPONSIVE!"
HANNAH: "I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY - GUESS I'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE QUESTION WAS. MR. SMITH, WOULD YOU ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN, PLEASE?"
SMITH: "I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR, I WAS SO INTENT ON WHAT MR. ANDERSON WAS SAYING THAT I GUESS I ALSO FORGOT THE QUESTION. LET ME LOOK AT MY NOTES - - -"
ANDERSON: "I BELIEVE THE QUESTION WAS 'IF I WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT, OVER 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WROTE AL THAT LETTER, THAT - INSTEAD OF AL BEING APPRECIATED IN THE NEXT 15 OR 20 YEARS - THAT, INSTEAD OF HIM BEING APPRECIATED, THAT I WOULD BE HERE IN A COURT ROOM PLEADING FOR MERCY FOR AL BECAUSE HE WAS HELPING A LOT MORE PEOPLE! I BELIEVE THAT WAS, BASICALLY, THE QUESTION(?) WELL, OF COURSE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO!
SMITH: "THANK YOU SIR. NOW I BELIEVE THERE WAS ALSO A 'NOTE FROM AL PETTY' AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT ARTICLE. WOULD YOU READ THAT FOR US?"
MARCHESSAULT: "OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A WASTE OF THE COURT'S TIME. DO I NEED TO REMIND THE COURT THAT AL PETTY'S TRIAL IS OVER AND HE IS NOW A CONVICTED CRIMINAL?"
HANNAH: "AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU, BUT I WILL, MR. MARCHESSAULT, THAT THIS IS NOT THE TRIAL, BUT THIS IS THE 'SENTENCING HEARING'. THE TRIAL IS ONE THING - BUT THAT DIDN'T PUT AL PETTY IN PRISON. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO TESTIMONY THAT I WILL USE IN DETERMINING IF, WHEN, AND 'HOW LONG' HE WILL BE IN PRISON. THIS IS THE LAST WITNESS - I'M GOING TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT MR. ANDERSON'S TESTIMONY, I'LL GIVE YOU AS MUCH TIME AS YOU NEED TO CROSS EXAM HIM. MEANTIME, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO 'THINK TWICE' BEFORE YOU INTERRUPT MR. ANDERSON AGAIN. MR. ANDERSON, GO AHEAD AND READ THE PART OF THAT ARTICLE THAT MR. SMITH ASKED YOU TO READ, OBJECTION OVERRULED."
ANDERSON: "THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I'LL BE GLAD TO READ WHAT AL HAD TO SAY - HE PROBABLY EXPLAINS WHAT HE WAS DOING BETTER THAN ANYONE, SO HERE GOES:
"A PERSONAL NOTE FROM AL PETTY, CREATOR OF THE 'STEEL GUITORCHESTRA'.
HE SAID, "After a Lifetime of Performing as an Entertainer, Musician, Singer, Writer, Producer and Engineer, I am finally capable of Producing Recordings that accurately reflect the Ultimate Creative abilities of the songwriter, as well as the Singer, AND, I can do this at a price that is a fraction of the normal cost for "World-Class" Production! From July '86 to July '93, I devoted 7 days and nights per week for 7 years - NO TIME OFF - into developing what is now called by many 'The Most Complete Musical Instrument in the World". My lifetime of experience in EVERY Phase of the Music Industry enabled me to assemble 700 to 800 Instruments and Sounds. The IMPORTANT thing is that EACH INSTRUMENT SOUNDS "EQUAL-OR SUPERIOR-TO" the actual instrument itself, once you "put a Mic" on it. Also, my Studio contains the very latest "State of The Art" ALL DIGITAL Equipment. This assures that your C.D.'s as well as Cassette Albums, will be of the Very Highest Sound Quality. Please get in touch with me for more information, including Demo Tapes and C.D.'s. My Unique Set-Up could be exactly what you need to enable you to afford the Quality Recording that you must have in order to compete in today's lucrative-but highly competitive-Market. I can handle-or advise-you in all areas of our business; from the Selection of your Songs, to helping you to sing them at your very best, To Playing all of the Music, and getting your CD's and Cassettes, as well as advising you about ALL of the many facets of the business (Publishing, Contracts, Royalties, Management, Bookings, etc.) that are a "MUST" if you are to succeed in your career.
CONTACT: AL PETTY, LOVE RECORDS, BOX 308, 903-834-3986, OVERTON, TX. 75684
SMITH: "THANK YOU, MR. ANDERSON. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE THE AL PETTY YOU KNOW, OR HAS HE SUDDENLY CHANGED HIS PERSONNA?"
ANDERSON: "WHAT HE SAID THERE JUST CONFIRMS THE MAN I KNEW THEN AND THE AL PETTY WHO'S SITTING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME NOW. LIKE I READ FROM THE ARTICLE, AL HAS HELPED UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF PERSONS, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD ONE NEGATIVE STATEMENT ABOUT HIM FROM ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO KNOW HIM."
SMITH: "DID I HEAR YOU READ THERE A MOMENT AGO THAT MR. PETTY HAD '3 RECORDS IN THE TOP 50' AT THE SAME TIME?" SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS ABOUT 50 YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?"
ANDERSON: "IT TELLS ME A LOT! MORE THAN I'VE GOT TIME TO TELL YOU HERE!"
SMITH: "WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SHARE THE FIRST COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COME TO YOUR MIND WITH US?"
ANDERSON: "FIRST OFF, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SONGS RECORDED EVERY WEEK. ONLY 3 OR 4 NEW ONES GET IN THE 'TOP FIFTY'. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY NUMBERS ON IT, BUT PROBABLY MANY THOUSANDS OF MUSICIANS ARE USED TO PLAY THE MUSIC ON THOSE RECORDS. IN COUNTRY MUSIC, THE FANS AND DEE JAYS ARE - WHAT YOU MAY CALL - 'PURISTS'. THEY DON'T GO FOR SYNTHESIZERS AND IMITATION SOUNDS. IF IT'S A FIDDLE, IT BETTER SOUND LIKE A FIDDLE, OR A BASS OR DRUMS, IT HAS TO SOUND LIKE BASS AND DRUMS. IT'S A FACT THAT COUNTRY RECORDS HAVE BEEN MADE NOW FOR OVER 75 YEARS - TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM - AND THAT, NOT UNTIL AL PETTY CAME ALONG WITH HIS STEEL GUITORCHESTRA AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE LATE 80's AND EARLY 90's, NOT ONE RECORD HAD BEEN MADE - THAT GOT IN THE CHARTS - THAT ONLY ONE MAN PLAYED ALL OF THE MUSIC ON. WE HEARD ONE OF THOSE RECORDS AWHILE AGO - REV. A.J. LEWIS'S - BY THE WAY, AL SENT ME THAT CD WHEN HE CUT IT, AND IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE - EVEN TO ME - THAT ONE MAN PLAYED ALL OF THAT MUSIC, AND DID ALL OF THAT HARMONY ON IT, WITHOUT ANYONE SINGING A NOTE OF HARMONY. ANYWAY, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RECORDS MADE, THAT NO ONE BEFORE AL EVER EVEN HAD ONE COUNTRY RECORD IN THE CHARTS THAT THEY PLAYED ALL OF THE MUSIC ON - AND THAT AL PETTY HAS HAD MANY RECORDS IN THE TOP 50 AND UP TO 3 AT THE SAME TIME; WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT - ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO GET A CHART RECORD - IT JUST BLOWS YOUR MIND! IT JUST PROVES ONCE AGAIN WHAT EVERYONE WHO KNOWS HIM SAYS ABOUT HIM - HE JUST SEEMS TO NOT KNOW HOW TO STOP UNTIL HE DOES EVERYTHING HE DOES THE BEST HE CAN - AND THAT'S USUALLY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HAS EVER DONE IT?"
SMITH: "JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS NOW, IF YOU WILL. MR. ANDERSON, I'VE DID SOME CHECKING AROUND, AND VERY FEW - IF ANY - STEEL GUITARISTS ARE HELD IN ANY MORE - OR AS MUCH - OR HIGHER ESTEEM THAN YOU ARE. A LOT - AND I'M SURE THAT SOME FOLKS IN THIS COURT WOULD SAY 'MORE THAN ENOUGH' - HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT AL PETTY'S STEEL GUITORCHESTRA. BUT CAN YOU TELL US, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THAT INSTRUMENT?"
ANDERSON: "LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. BACK IN '86 OR '87, LONG BEFORE AL 'FINISHED' THE STEEL GUITORCHESTRA IN '93, AL GAVE A CONCERT AT SCOTTY'S INTERNATIONAL STEEL GUITAR CONVENTION IN ST. LOUIS. THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT HE DEMONSTRATED IT AT THE CONVENTION. WELL, I GOT THERE LATE - RIGHT AFTER AL GAVE HIS CONCERT. LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS HIS FIRST YEAR WITH THE INSTRUMENT, AND AL WAS VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE. WELL, HE HAD A DEMONSTRATION ROOM THERE AND WHEN I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM, HE WAS JUST WHEELING IT INTO HIS ROOM ON ONE OF THOSE LITTLE FLAT BED 'TRUCKS'. WELL, WHEN HE PULLED IT THROUGH THE DOOR, HE BUMPED IT AND KNOCKED PART OF IT OUT. I HAD HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT IT ALREADY, SO I COULDN'T WAIT TO HEAR AND SEE HIM PLAY IT. SO, AFTER HE SET IT UP, I ASKED HIM TO PLAY - JUST ANYTHING - FOR ME. HE WAS RELUCTANT AND TOLD ME THAT ONLY HALF OF IT WAS WORKING. BUT HE DID HIT A FEW NOTES OF 'MISTY' ON IT FOR ME. THEN HE SAID, LIKE I TOLD YOU, ONLY HALF OF IT IS WORKING. I THINK MY REPLY PROBABLY TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT WHAT I THINK OF THE STEEL GUITORCHESTRA. I TOLD HIM, 'WHEW, I'M SURE GLAD ONLY HALF OF IT WAS WORKING. IF THE WHOLE THING HAD BEEN WORKING, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE IT. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO PLAY THINGS LIKE THAT FOR 50 YEARS. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M HEARING AND SEEING!"
SMITH: "I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION THAT PROVES WHETHER YOU LIKED IT OR NOT IS, 'DID YOU BUY ONE'?"
ANDERSON: "I SURE DID. IN FACT, I BELIEVE, I BOUGHT THE SECOND ONE OF THE FIRST SYSTEM AL DEVELOPED. THEN HE DEVELOPED A BETTER SYSTEM AND I BOUGHT THE SECOND SYSTEM HE SOLD OF THAT SYSTEM."
SMITH: "DID YOU 'DO ANYTHING WITH THEM'?
ANDERSON: "YES, I GAVE A CONCERT AT A COLLEGE DEMONSTRATION. IT, AND I USED IT TO PLAY VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS ON DURING RECORDING SESSIONS."
SMITH: "THEN MR. PETTY WAS ACTUALLY MARKETING IT?"
ANDERSON: "YES SIR, HE SOLD SOME ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND I HELPED HIM BY ALSO SELLING SOME OF THE SYSTEMS FOR HIM MYSELF. BUT, AS I SAID BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, AL PETTY IS SIMPLY TOO FAR AHEAD OF HIS TIME, SO HE DIDN'T SELL NEARLY AS MANY AS HE SHOULD HAVE SOLD."
SMITH: "MR. ANDERSON, YOU HAVE REALLY BEEN HELPFUL."
ANDERSON: "I FEEL LIKE VERN - I HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN 'SCRATCHED THE SURFACE', BUT IF WHAT I'VE SAID CAN HAVE ANY POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THE COURT FOR AL PETTY, IT WAS MY PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE."
SMITH: "IN CLOSING, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?"
ANDERSON: "THANK YOU, SIR. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE OTHER WITNESSES HERE TODAY, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ON VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF AL PETTY'S CHARACTER. EVEN THOUGH EACH OF OUR EXPERIENCES WITH AL HAVE BEEN UNIQUE, I SEE SEVERAL COMMON THREADS RUN THROUGH EVERYONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH AL. FIRST OF ALL WE KNOW HE IS AN EXTREMELY HARD WORKER. SECOND WE KNOW THAT HE IS EXTREMELY TALENTED IN MANY AREAS. THIRDLY WE ALL AGREE THAT HE'S PROBABLY A GENIUS. FOURTHLY WE KNOW THAT - WHATEVER HE DECIDES TO DO, HE SEEMS TO NEVER STOP UNTIL HE HAS DONE IT BETTER THAN ANYONE HAS EVER DONE IT. 'FIFTHLY' WE AGREE THAT HE IS VERY GENEROUS. 'SIXTHLY', (IF THERE IS SUCH A WORD?) EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM BENEFITS FROM IT - NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY, BUT THEY LEARN A LOT ABOUT BEING A BETTER PERSON. AND, AS IT RELATES TO WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, CERTAINLY WE ALL AGREE THAT AL PETTY NEVER HAS BEEN - AND NEVER WILL BE - A 'THREAT OR MENACE TO SOCIETY'. HE HAS ALWAYS, TO THE CONTRARY - BEEN A "BLESSING TO SOCIETY' IN EVERY WAY - BOTH TO THE CITIZENS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND - ESPECIALLY RECENTLY THROUGH TELECOM2000 - TO THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF! ALSO SEVERAL OF US HAVE TESTIFIED AS TO HOW AL - AS MOST PEOPLE AHEAD OF THEIR TIME ARE - HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD REPEATEDLY. I BELIEVE IT WAS VERN WHO SAID THAT 'AL PETTY IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PERSON HE HAS EVER KNOWN'. I SINCERELY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS TREATED HIM THE WAY IT HAS. I WANT TO - FOR ALL OF US - THANK YOU MR. SMITH, AND YOU, JUDGE HANNAH, FOR GIVING US FRIENDS OF AL PETTY'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO CORRECT THESE MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF OUR FRIEND THAT WE ALL LOVE, AL PETTY. I HAVE FAITH IN GOD, AND YOU, YOUR HONOR, THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER WHAT WE HAVE SAID FROM OUR HEARTS, AND THAT YOU WILL ALLOW AL TO REMAIN FREE SO THAT HE CAN WORK WITH AN ATTORNEY ON HIS APPEAL. IT CERTAINLY SEEMS CLEAR, YOUR HONOR, THAT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG BY DOING THAT. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, YOU'LL BE DOING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THIS COURT, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENS THAT IT IS SWORN TO PROTECT, THAT YOU'LL BE DOING EVERYONE - ALL INCLUSIVE - A FAVOR BY DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT - IF IT CAN BE DONE - THAT AL PETTY REMAINS FREE TO CONTINUE, AS HE ALWAYS HAS, TO BRING GOOD INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN. THIS IS MY PRAYER AND PLEA ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE WHO KNOWS, OR WHO HAS DONE BUSINESS WITH, AL PETTY. THANK YOU AGAIN, YOUR HONOR.
SMITH: "I PASS THE WITNESS."
HANNAH: "MS. KENNER, DO YA'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ANDERSON?"
KENNER: "NO, YOUR HONOR! MAY HE BE EXCUSED, AND ARE WE FINISHED NOW WITH CHARACTER WITNESSES FOR MR. PETTY?"
HANNAH: "YES, RECESS TIME. BACK IN A HALF HOUR."
