Trial direct examination

What’s your relationship with Lennie?

• I known him since he was a baby, and we been trav’lin together fer years now. 

Did you ever expect this to happen?

• We done screwed up in Weed and in plenty a’places before, so it was a matter a’time

What did you tell Lennie about Curley’s wife?

• I said I seen jail bait before but I never seen no tart worse’n her

How did Lennie react to seeing Curley’s wife for the first time?

He say she was purty, all right, and he keep lookin’ at her

Were you expecting Lennie to listen when you told him to stay away?

Ya see, I thought’eed listen ‘cause he listens at alla bad times. But I guess I knows he’d cause trouble

Describe Curley’s wife

Ugh, I knows she was a tart from the minute I saw her. Wandr’in aroun’ without her husban’... She was jus’ askin’ fer trouble

Has Lennie done this kind of thing before?

Yeah, in weed

Describe it?

He touched some lady’s dress and he wouldn’ stop. So the men run us outa there real quick. He been doin’ stuff like this for a long time.

What happened between Lennie and Curley?

(sigh) Curley try to get handy with Lennie, and Lennie done bust up his han’. That’s how it always goes with Lennie. Ain’t nobody want to mess with him.

What do you mean?

I mean Lennie’s so strong that he jus’ hold Curley’s han’ a little tight, an’ it done bust. 

Does that scare you?

Yeah, sometimes. He done some terrible things with it. I know him a while and I still get scairt.

What did you tell people about Curley’s hand?

We say it was some machinery, but ain’t nobody believe us really. Lennie ain’t a good liar.

When you say that, do you mean everyone on the farm knew?

Yeah, pretty much.

But Curley’s wife didn’t know, did she?

–Now hol’ up a sec, when I say erryone know I mean ev’rybody. Including that (spits disgustedly) tart.

Would Lennie have wanted Curley’s wife to tell anyone?

No, ‘cause he knows that I wouldn’ let ‘im tend no rabbits if we get run outa the ranch.

What would happen to you if Curley’s wife told the boss?

I said, we’d get run outa the ranch

And would Lennie do anything to protect you?

Yes, ma’am. He coulda killed someone to protect me. Especially ‘cause he know I don’ like that tart anyways.

Did he do that?

I think he killed Curley’s wife so we could stay outa trouble. Now, he didn’t realize that we’d get in more trouble, but that’s jes’ Lennie.

Speaking of, let’s pivot to the actual case. Did Lennie have a gun on him at the time?

Nope. I had Carlson’s Luger and Curley had his gun on ‘im, and ain’t no other gun that Lennie woulda found.

So how did Lennie kill Curley’s wife, if he didn’t have a weapon?

I tol’ you, Lennie’s strong. He coulda broken her neck easy with his bare hands.

How does that make you feel?

Well, ain’t nobody feel good around someone who could kill ‘em without no gun. I’m scairt, and I been trav’lin with ‘im for a while.

Do you think it’s safe to let Lennie off easy?

No. I known him for a long time and even I don’ know what he’s gon’ do next.