Free The Fugitive by John Grisham Page B

reluctant to dominate the discussions. He didn’t want to appear to be a know-it-all.
    Mr. Mount said, “Good question. Extradition is a legal process whereby a person who is arrested in one state is sent back to the state where the crime occurred. Obviously, this person does not want to return to the place where he’s in trouble, so he often tries to block the transfer. It’s always a waste of time because eventually the courts see to it that he gets shipped back. The only time it gets sticky is where one state has the death penalty and the other state does not. But even then, the defendant loses. It’s more of a problem between countries because the United States does not have extradition treaties with all other countries. You guys ever see the movie
The Great Train Robbery
?
”
    A few hands went up.
    â€œIt’s the true story of a train robbery in England, around nineteen sixty or so. This gang stopped a train loaded with money and made a clean escape. Eventually they all got caught, with the exception of one guy who made it down to Brazil, the same place Duffy was headed. At the time, Brazil did not have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom, and so this guy was able to live a pretty good life down there and the British police couldn’t touch him.”
    â€œWhat happened to him?” Darren asked.
    â€œHe eventually got homesick and returned to London. I think he died in prison.”
    â€œI have another question,” Woody said. “My dad says it’s unheard of for a guy charged with murder to be able to post a bond and stay out of jail while he’s waiting on his trial. Somehow Pete Duffy got around this, and look what happened. He was rich, so he got a special deal, right? My dad says anyone else would’ve been locked up and not able to run away. I don’t understand this bond thing.”
    Mr. Mount looked at Theo again. Theo said, “Well, your dad is right. Most judges will not even consider a bond in a murder case. For other cases, say for example embezzlement, say you got caught stealing money from your boss, a serious crime but nothing violent, then, your lawyer would ask the judge to set a reasonable bond. The prosecutor always wants a high bond, the defendant a low one. Say the judge sets the bond at fifty thousand dollars. You would then go to a bail bondsman and put up ten percent in cash. He writes the bond, you get out while you wait for your trial, and everybody’s happy. If you don’t show up in court, the bail bondsman has the right to track you down and bring you back.”
    â€œWhat’s the difference between bail and bond?” Woody asked.
    â€œNothing really. Lawyers use either word. They say ‘My client’s bond is five thousand dollars,’ and they say, ‘My client’s bail is five thousand dollars.’ They mean the same thing.”
    â€œSo how did Duffy get a bond?”
    â€œHe had money. His bail was set at a million dollars, and he put up some land worth that much. He didn’t go through a bail bondsman, but his lawyer arranged the deal with the court.”
    â€œWhat happened when he disappeared?”
    â€œThe county took his land. Just like that.”
    â€œDoes he get it back now that he’s been found?”
    â€œNo. He lost it forever. According to my dad, the county plans to sell the land and keep the cash.”
    â€œCan he get another bond now?”
    â€œNo, not after jumping bond the first time. No judge would consider bail for an escapee.”
    â€œCan we watch the trial again, Mr. Mount?” asked Ricardo.
    Mr. Mount smiled and said, “We will try, that’s all I can promise. I doubt if it will happen anytime soon.”
    â€œI wonder how they caught him,” Brian said.
    If you only knew,
Theo said to himself.
    During afternoon study hall, Theo asked Mr. Mount if he could be excused for a few minutes. He needed to run some vague errand.