Snow Falling on Cedars

Content Warning: This guide references violence, combat, and anti-Japanese racial prejudices.

Kabuo Miyamoto—the defendant in the murder trial of Carl Heine—watches the snow fall outside the courtroom. He has been in custody for 77 days; it is now December. Several reporters from surrounding towns are present, including local reporter Ishmael Chambers. Ishmael knows both Kabuo and his wife, Hatsue. He tried to speak with Hatsue earlier, but she refused.

County Sherrif Art Moran testifies as to the circumstances of Heine’s death. Moran had been notified by deputy Abel Martinson that Heine’s fishing boat was floating along shore. Moran and Martinson searched the boat, finding no sign of Heine. The boat’s lights were on despite it being after nine o’clock, and the engine was working. They checked pulled up the gill net and found Carl Heine’s body caught in the net. Moran and Martinson raised him out of the water, discovering a gash on his head.

Defense attorney Nels Gudmundsson cross-examines Art Moran. He asks about the boat’s lights, which Moran confirms were on when he arrived. Moran states that there was fog the night before, but it was not quite as thick at five o’clock when he awoke.