"You brought it in," Paul told Hadley.  "I can't limit the cross examination once you bring it in if it's within the scope of cross, and it is."

The jury was seated again.  Eagan, improbably, began a series of questions to identify the people who might have a grudge against Zeigler as a result of the James trial.

Q (EAGAN): You were arrested there in your bar by agents of the Florida State Beverage Department?

A (JAMES): Yes, sir.

Q: And it was against these agents that Mr. Zeigler was going to help you get information that they were protecting loan sharks, is that right?

A: Say that question over, sir.

Q: Who were the agents or law enforcement officers concerning whom this man brought you information? Who are they?

A: Officer Williams was one, on the Winter Garden Police Department.

Q: Of what police department?

A: Winter Garden Police.

Q: The Winter Garden Police Department.  And who was the other one?

A: Agent Baker was one.

Q: Of the Florida Beverage Department?

A: Right.

Eagan elicited the fact that the jury in James's criminal trial returned a guilty verdict.  Hadley, on redirect, established that the judge in the case had withheld adjudication, that James had kept his liquor license, and the Winter Garden officer, Stoney Williams, had later been convicted of a crime.

The value of James's appearance may have been slight for the jury, since Hadley did not develop the revenge theory beyond a few questions. But for students of the record, it presents the remarkable tableau of the presiding judge,  Maurice Paul, listening to testimony that one of "these loan sharks or law enforcement people who are seeking revenge" included the man for whose character he had vouched under oath just one year before.

*

During the rest of that Monday, Hadley brought on a assortment of witnesses who sniped at the state's case.

Rhonda Hull, the ex-wife of defense witness Thomas Hale, testified that Hale was a frequent liar who often exaggerated to make himself important.

Hadley got the same from Sonja Barker, who said that she had known Hale for eight years.