North of Sacramento, there are a number of small county seats that look like time stopped there a century ago. There aren't many murders on Northern California. When one takes place, the trial isn't handled like it would be in the big cities.

In the early morning hours of November 19, 2002, a young man shot a police officer in Red Bluff, California. The officer was refueling his patrol car at a gas station, and the out-of-state man shot him as a "political statement." It was the first time a police officer had been killed in that county in 100 years. The trial took place in neighboring Colusa County in March and April, 2005. The young man admitted he shot the police officer, so the jury deliberations took only 25 minutes.

When the jury reached a "guilty" verdict, a bell tolled on the roof of the county courthouse.

So, that's my question - is this a common practice, to have a bell on the courthouse and to use it to announce a jury verdict? Are courthouse bells used for other purposes?

Seems like there should be songs about courthouse bells if this is a common practice. Was it a courthouse bell that Nellie hung onto to save her father?

-Joe Offer-