At this moment Coleman knocked at the door of the jail. The sheriff hurried away to answer the summons.
Casey took the opportunity to write a note for the Vigilantes which he gave to the marshal. It read:
"To the Vigilante Committee. GENTLEMEN:—I am willing to go before you if you will let me speak but ten minutes. I do not wish to have the blood of any man upon my head."
On entering the jail door Coleman and his companions bowed formally to the sheriff.
"We have come for the prisoner Casey," said Coleman. "We ask that he be peaceably delivered us handcuffed at the door immediately."
"Under existing circumstances," replied Scannell, "I shall make no resistance. The prison and its contents are yours."
But Truett would have none of this. "We want only the man Casey at present," he said. "For the safety of all the rest we hold you strictly accountable."
They proceeded at once to Casey's cell. The murderer heard them coming and sprang back from the door holding his long knife poised. Coleman walked directly to the door, where he stopped, looking Casey in the eye. At the end of a full minute he exclaimed sharply:
"Lay down that knife!"
As though the unexpected tones had broken a spell, Casey flung the knife from him and buried his face in his hands. Then, and not until then, Coleman informed him curtly that his request would be granted.