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The Witness
Daniel Knott, a bookkeeper in Paradise, Colorado, sees something he wishes he had never seen, and it involves his employer, the town's leading citizen Amos Burch. What he sees soon becomes the key to a court action, and Knott discovers that he is under terrible, unspeakable pressure to avoid telling the truth on the witness stand. This is a novel about moral courage, one courageous man's determination to do what is right, no matter how terrible the cost.
- GenresWesterns
298 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2000
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4 people want to read
About the author
Richard S. Wheeler
124 books66 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
There are other authors with this name. One writes Marine Corps history. Another, Civil War history. Another writes in the political sciences.
Richard S. (Shaw) Wheeler was born in Milwaukee in 1935 and grew up in nearby Wauwatosa.
There are other authors with this name. One writes Marine Corps history. Another, Civil War history. Another writes in the political sciences.
Richard S. (Shaw) Wheeler was born in Milwaukee in 1935 and grew up in nearby Wauwatosa.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 8, 2021
This is a fine novel, but not your ordinary western. It is a book about honor and integrity. It is set in the west, but there are no cowboys. Nobody rides a horse. Only one shot is fired in the entire book and only one gun is pulled. The only fight has one blow struck. So, if you are looking for a western action novel-- look elsewhere.
However, this novel is a page turner. First, the author sets the stage, describing the glory of Amos Burch, pillar of society. Burch is the banker, owns a number of businesses in town, supports the local charitable institutions and is often called upon to lead public prayers and make speeches.
Daniel Knott is his employee. A teller in the bank, his honesty and integrity is beyond reproach. One time, his count was off and he took funds from his own pocket to make up for the error. One night he returns to the bank and unexpectedly walks into an awkward situation. The banker is "entertaining" a widow in his office. Knott excuses himself and leaves promptly.
However, the next day he is called into the office and offered a huge promotion and salary increase. No mention is made of the embarrassing moment, but Knott accepts the position because refusal will cost him his job. However, despite being elevated in position and economic benefit, Knott is tormented because deep in his heart he knows he did not deserve the promotion-- that it is nothing more than a bribe. He decides to remain in the position for a period, to gain experience, and then to seek employment elsewhere.
However, when pushed, he is forced to admit what he saw to Burch's wife and testify in a divorce proceeding. In an attempt to cover his embarrassment, Burch immediately begins to put pressure on Knott-- eventually even framing him and threatening him with prison. Throughout this trial, Knott struggles with the temptation to alter his testimony, but instead remains firm.
The morale of the story is something I learned a long time ago. Never lay aside your integrity for anybody. They can threaten your well-being, your position, etc. Never let them take your honor.
Okay, the conclusion all works out a bit too neatly, but the novel's strength is its focus on the struggle of Knott and of Burch with their own honor and integrity. The contrast between the two men is a marvelous study.
However, this novel is a page turner. First, the author sets the stage, describing the glory of Amos Burch, pillar of society. Burch is the banker, owns a number of businesses in town, supports the local charitable institutions and is often called upon to lead public prayers and make speeches.
Daniel Knott is his employee. A teller in the bank, his honesty and integrity is beyond reproach. One time, his count was off and he took funds from his own pocket to make up for the error. One night he returns to the bank and unexpectedly walks into an awkward situation. The banker is "entertaining" a widow in his office. Knott excuses himself and leaves promptly.
However, the next day he is called into the office and offered a huge promotion and salary increase. No mention is made of the embarrassing moment, but Knott accepts the position because refusal will cost him his job. However, despite being elevated in position and economic benefit, Knott is tormented because deep in his heart he knows he did not deserve the promotion-- that it is nothing more than a bribe. He decides to remain in the position for a period, to gain experience, and then to seek employment elsewhere.
However, when pushed, he is forced to admit what he saw to Burch's wife and testify in a divorce proceeding. In an attempt to cover his embarrassment, Burch immediately begins to put pressure on Knott-- eventually even framing him and threatening him with prison. Throughout this trial, Knott struggles with the temptation to alter his testimony, but instead remains firm.
The morale of the story is something I learned a long time ago. Never lay aside your integrity for anybody. They can threaten your well-being, your position, etc. Never let them take your honor.
Okay, the conclusion all works out a bit too neatly, but the novel's strength is its focus on the struggle of Knott and of Burch with their own honor and integrity. The contrast between the two men is a marvelous study.
October 22, 2011
Amos Burch owns the bank, several business and ranches, and is the most admired man in Paradise, Colorado.
So his young, naive teller Daniel Knott is stunned when he blunders into an office he though was empty and find Amos "caught in the act" with a woman definitely not his wife. Daniel flees the bank.
The next day, expecting reprisal, he is advised by Amos that he is being promoted to bank manager with a fat raise. Hesitating, he is told "Take the position or leave my employ. I don't like indicisive men." Daniel has a wife and three kids to support; he shuts up.
But then Amos' wife, Myrtle, files a divorce action. Dan cannot bring himself to perjure hiself under oath; he tells what he saw. A few days later, a sperate case comes up--Dan is accused of embezzling almost $10K from the bank. Now Dan has a choice--commit perjury in the divorce case and the embezzling charge will be dropped. Or stick to his true testimony--and go to jail for embezzlement. Amos has the judge in his pcket; he owns the newspaper; he has power and money and means to have his way.
This is billed as a Western--Colorado, 1880's--but could be set in any small town. No shoot-outs or blazing guns; this is a character driven story. Wheeler does a good job of showing the points of view of the major characters, and I found it an interesting read. The ending was interesting--I won't say more. It is well worth a read.
I wonder when I read things like this--if I were facing jail, and all I had to do to save myself years in prison was to commit perjury, would I have the guts to tell the truth?
Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
So his young, naive teller Daniel Knott is stunned when he blunders into an office he though was empty and find Amos "caught in the act" with a woman definitely not his wife. Daniel flees the bank.
The next day, expecting reprisal, he is advised by Amos that he is being promoted to bank manager with a fat raise. Hesitating, he is told "Take the position or leave my employ. I don't like indicisive men." Daniel has a wife and three kids to support; he shuts up.
But then Amos' wife, Myrtle, files a divorce action. Dan cannot bring himself to perjure hiself under oath; he tells what he saw. A few days later, a sperate case comes up--Dan is accused of embezzling almost $10K from the bank. Now Dan has a choice--commit perjury in the divorce case and the embezzling charge will be dropped. Or stick to his true testimony--and go to jail for embezzlement. Amos has the judge in his pcket; he owns the newspaper; he has power and money and means to have his way.
This is billed as a Western--Colorado, 1880's--but could be set in any small town. No shoot-outs or blazing guns; this is a character driven story. Wheeler does a good job of showing the points of view of the major characters, and I found it an interesting read. The ending was interesting--I won't say more. It is well worth a read.
I wonder when I read things like this--if I were facing jail, and all I had to do to save myself years in prison was to commit perjury, would I have the guts to tell the truth?
Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
June 24, 2021
a wonderful author;
September 16, 2012
This one is billed as a western but you won't find any shootouts, square-jawed rugged gunfighters, lost gold mines, etc. Rather, this is a character-driven novel about one man's honor and what it takes to stand up to enormous pressure from powerful men. It takes place in the town of Paradise, Colorado in the 19th century, but really, it could take place anywhere, and during almost any time period in history. It's a quick read, and the author does a good job of getting you to read "just a few pages more." Just when I thought the plot was following a telescoped path to the end...it didn't. I was all set to write about a predictable plot when it turned out to be just the opposite.
I will say there were a few times when the characters were a bit single dimensional and/or just too naive to be believable. And the writing won't blow you away. But overall these issues weren't enough to ruin an otherwise good story. Fundamentally, it touched me on a basic level, one most of us have faced ourselves, albeit to a lesser extent: that of standing up to an absolutely unfair situation that no matter what actions you take, things just get worse. And just how much would you be willing to stick to your principles, no matter the consequences?
This is my third book by Wheeler so far and I plan to look for more.
I will say there were a few times when the characters were a bit single dimensional and/or just too naive to be believable. And the writing won't blow you away. But overall these issues weren't enough to ruin an otherwise good story. Fundamentally, it touched me on a basic level, one most of us have faced ourselves, albeit to a lesser extent: that of standing up to an absolutely unfair situation that no matter what actions you take, things just get worse. And just how much would you be willing to stick to your principles, no matter the consequences?
This is my third book by Wheeler so far and I plan to look for more.
August 10, 2016
This synopsis belongs to "Restitution." I want to write a review of this great book later.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews