Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? The Original Trial of Caryl Chessman

Kunstler, William M.

Published by William Morrow & Company, New York, NY, 1961

About this Item

Cover Art; This book is in Very Good condition and has a Good dust jacket. The book and its contents are in generally clean, bright condition. There is rubbing and sunning to the spine ends and very edges of the book covers. The text pages are clean and bright. The dust jacket has several edge tears, nicks and chips, with associated rubbing and wrinkles. "In 1974 1975, Kunstler defended a prisoner charged with killing a guard during the Attica Prison riot. Under cross-examination, Kunstler forced Correction Officer Donald Melven to retract his sworn identification of John Hill, Kunstler's client, and Charles Pernasilice (defended by Richard Miller) , admitting he still retained "slight" doubts that he confessed to investigators at the time of the incident. Kunstler focused on pointing out that all the other prosecution witnesses were testifying under reduced-sentencing agreements and called five prison inmates as defense witnesses (Miller called none) , who testified that other prisoners hit the guard. Despite Justice King's repeated warnings to Kunstler to "be careful, sir", Kunstler quickly became "the star of the trial, the man the jurors watch most attentively, and the lawyer whose voice carries most forcefully". Although the prosecution was careful to avoid personal confrontation with Kunstler, who frequently charmed the jury with jokes, on one occasion, Kunstler provoked a shouting match with the lead prosecutor, allegedly to wake up a sleeping jury member. " (from Wikipedia). Seller Inventory # A45595

Bibliographic Details

Title: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? The Original ...

Publisher: William Morrow & Company, New York, NY

Publication Date: 1961

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Illustrated by Larry Hoffman

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Good

Edition: 1st Edition; 1st Printing.