Sycamore Row

Lucien spends time with Ancil in the hospital, playing cards and talking about Clanton and the mystery surrounding Sylvester Rinds’s death. Ancil eventually admits who he is and learns Seth left him $1 million. Lucien informs Jake, but advises not telling Judge Atlee yet, since Ancil can’t leave Alaska. Jake’s team debate amongst themselves about whether the jury should be told the value of Seth’s estate. Harry Rex and Lucien think it will cloud their judgment, but Jake argues for transparency. Jake gets a tip that a man on the jury, Frank Doley, has a prejudice he withheld. His cousin’s daughter was kidnapped and assaulted by a group of Black teenagers and later killed herself.

On the second day of trial, both Jake and Lanier give convincing opening statements. Jake presents his case first, calling various witnesses who establish the facts surrounding Seth’s death by suicide and final written communications. Jake introduces the burial instructions found at Seth’s home, the letter Seth wrote to Jake, and the holographic will as evidence. Copies are given to every juror and displayed on a large screen as they’re referenced. During a recess, the foreman and another juror agree that Seth seems to have known exactly what he was doing.