Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
The Court of Last Resort - The True Story of a Team of Crime Experts Who Fought to Save the Wrongfully Convicted - cover

The Court of Last Resort - The True Story of a Team of Crime Experts Who Fought to Save the Wrongfully Convicted

Erle Stanley Gardner

Publisher: Open Road Media

  • 0
  • 2
  • 0

Summary

Edgar Award Winner: True stories of miscarriages of justice, legal battles, and landmark reversals, by the creator of Perry Mason.    In 1945, Erle Stanley Gardner, noted attorney and author of the popular Perry Mason mysteries, was contacted by an overwhelmed California public defender who believed his doomed client was innocent. William Marvin Lindley had been convicted of the rape and murder of a young girl along the banks of the Yuba River, and was awaiting execution at San Quentin. After reviewing the case, Gardner agreed to help—it seemed the fate of the “Red-Headed Killer” hinged on the testimony of a colorblind witness.   Gardner’s intervention sparked the Court of Last Resort. The Innocence Project of its day, this ambitious and ultimately successful undertaking was devoted to investigating, reviewing, and reversing wrongful convictions owing to poor legal representation, prosecutorial abuses, biased police activity, bench corruption, unreliable witnesses, and careless forensic-evidence testimony. The crimes: rape, murder, kidnapping, and manslaughter. The prisoners: underprivileged and vulnerable men wrongly convicted and condemned to life sentences or death row with only one hope—the devotion of Erle Stanley Gardner and the Court of Last Resort.   Featuring Gardner’s most damning cases of injustice from across the country, The Court of Last Resort won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime. Originating as a monthly column in Argosy magazine, it was produced as a dramatized court TV show for NBC.  
Available since: 04/11/2017.
Print length: 333 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Murder Most Texan - cover

    Murder Most Texan

    Bartee Haile

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    A chronicle of sixteen ruthless killings from Lone Star history and the dirty details that have shocked and bewildered Texans for decades. 
     
     
      
    Texas has long boasted of its iron fist and strict treatment of criminals. Nevertheless, a number of homicidal scoundrels and fiends have slipped through the state's justice system despite even the best efforts of the legendary Texas Rangers. 
     
     
      
    In 1877, Texas saw its first high-profile murder case with the slaying of a woman in Jefferson and the subsequent "Diamond Bessie" trial. More than a century later, state legislator Price Daniel Jr., was shot in cold blood by his wife at their home in Liberty, TX. True crime writer and historian Bartee Haile unburies these and other stories from Texas's murderous past. 
     
     
      
    With these stories and more—from senseless roadside murders to political assassinations—discover the seedy underbelly of the Lone Star State's murderous past.
    Show book
  • The Astonishing History of Assassins - From Ancient Killers to Modern Hitmen - cover

    The Astonishing History of...

    John Harpoon

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Throughout history, the act of assassination has been a tool of power, vengeance, and politics, often carried out in the shadows and shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient world to modern times, assassins have played pivotal roles in shaping the course of history. Yet, the nature of assassination has evolved, reflecting the complex interplay of politics, culture, and technology across the centuries. This book seeks to unravel the astonishing history of assassins, exploring their origins, their methods, and the lasting impact they have had on world events. 
      
    In ancient civilizations, assassination was often a political tool, employed by rulers, rebels, and conquerors alike. It was a means of securing power, removing enemies, or solidifying control over vast empires. The first known assassins operated in ancient Egypt, Persia, and Rome, where rulers and military leaders sought to eliminate their adversaries in the most covert and deadly ways possible. Over time, the practice would evolve, becoming more organized and ritualized, with the establishment of secretive cults like the Hashashin, who would later influence both the Crusades and the broader history of the Middle East. 
      
    As time progressed, the nature of assassination became more sophisticated. In the medieval world, political intrigue was rife, and assassins found themselves at the heart of royal courts, hired to remove monarchs or their rivals in clandestine operations. The Italian Renaissance, with its complex web of political factions, provided fertile ground for the rise of professional assassins. Meanwhile, during the Age of Revolution, assassination became both a tool of rebellion and a strategy for suppressing dissent, influencing the outcomes of revolutions that reshaped Europe and the rest of the world.
    Show book
  • Mafia Mysteries: Secrets from the Underworld’s Shadowy Realm - "Unlock thrilling audio tales of Mafia secrets for a captivating journey into the underworld’s hidden stories!" - cover

    Mafia Mysteries: Secrets from...

    Orson Bexley

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    "Mafia Mysteries: Secrets from the Underworld’s Shadowy Realm" 
    ⭐️⭐️ Simplified Guide & Explanations Included ⭐️⭐️ 
    Are you eager to advance in your understanding of the Mafia's deep-rooted secrets and complexities within its dark realm?  
    Searching for a complete guide that covers all the essential elements to uncover the hidden truths of power and betrayal?  
    Your quest ends here! 
    This guide serves as your ultimate companion for enhancing your knowledge, applying essential skills, and engaging in practical exercises. With this resource, you're set for success. 
    Updated to reflect the most current insights into Mafia mysteries. 
    Key features of this enhanced guide: 
    - In-depth insights into the hidden truths of power and betrayal 
    - Detailed explanations of the intricate workings of the Mafia 
    - Effective strategies for navigating and understanding this shadowy world 
    Our guide stands out with its thorough exploration, which is crucial for your triumph in understanding these mysteries. Concepts are not just touched upon; they are explored in depth with clarity. 
    With a clear structure and easily comprehensible language, our guide ensures a seamless flow between topics. Say farewell to complicated jargon and embrace content that is straightforward, accurate, and engaging. 
    So, why wait? Click the BUY NOW button, secure your guide, and embark on your journey to uncover the secrets of the Mafia! 
    Uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows and dive into the complexities of the Mafia today!
    Show book
  • Defying Silence - A Memoir of a Mother's Loss and Courage in the Face of Injustice - cover

    Defying Silence - A Memoir of a...

    Hera McLeod

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Two weeks after giving birth to her son Prince, Hera McLeod discovered that everything she knew about her son's father was a lie. After a 12-month custody battle, full of terrifying evidence she uncovered, Prince's father murdered him during one of the first court-ordered unsupervised visitations. Determined to get justice for her son, Hera embarked on a mission to hold both the killer and the system that enabled him accountable. This story takes you through Hera's experience as the romantic target of a serial killer and the deep fractures in the American justice system that routinely leave women and children vulnerable. It will arm you with the knowledge necessary to join the fight, ideas for reform, and the inspiration to speak out against the silence.
    Show book
  • The Curse of the Turtle - The True Story of Thailand's "Backpacker Murders" - cover

    The Curse of the Turtle - The...

    Suzanne Buchanan

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. In 2014, Koh Tao was the site of the brutal double murders of two British backpackers, but theirs weren't the only suspicious backpacker deaths.My name is Suzanne Buchanan. I am the former owner and editor of the Samui Times, a news publication on Koh Samui, and covered the stories of the so-called "backpacker murders" and other suspicious deaths. Although I am a British citizen, because of my investigation and stories, as well as my support for the two Burmese migrant workers sentenced to death for the murders, I had to flee Thailand for my own safety. There is currently an active warrant for my arrest should I return to Thailand, which had been my home for more than twenty years, and I continue to receive death threats.In "THE CURSE OF THE TURTLE" readers can make up their own minds on who is responsible for the murders that so devastated the victims' families. Were the Burmese migrant workers responsible? Or were the powerful, tribal families who run Koh Tao involved? And if so, were they aided by corrupt law enforcement?
    Show book
  • Killer Moms - True Stories - cover

    Killer Moms - True Stories

    Amanda R. Woomer

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    A mother is supposed to be loving, protective, caring, and kind. She's supposed to nurture and guide her children from infancy into childhood and adolescence. The very thought of murdering a child—much less their own child—is not only bizarre but perhaps the most disturbing thought a parent could have! Exploring the ultimate betrayal of a mother's duty, Killer Moms: True Stories recounts thirty-one harrowing tales of motherhood gone wrong, including . . . 
     
     
     
    ● Rachel David, who believed she was married to God 
     
     
     
    ● Andrea Yates, who systematically executed each of her five children by drowning them 
     
     
     
    ● Magda Goebbels, one of the most powerful women in Nazi Germany, the propaganda minister's wife and a Hitler favorite 
     
     
     
    ● The ambiguous Casey Anthony case, whose acquittal shocked the public 
     
     
     
    ● Melissa Drexler, aka "The Prom Mom," who hid her pregnancy from everyone 
     
     
         
    An unflinching look into humanity's dark side, Killer Moms is an unnerving listen that delves into the twisted paths, the chilling motives, and the devastating consequences of maternal malice!
    Show book