Robert Kennedy, Camarillo CA,USA

It was good seeing you and Rose-Marie at L.A.con IV.

So, in a second trial Andrea Yates was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. She did kill her children and she was guilty. I think that we need a new verdict—something like Guilty, but Insane (or if you like something more PC, “Mentally Incompetent”). The result would be the same, but the verdict would be more accurate.

I have mentioned this in another fanzine. But, given Guy’s occupation it may be appropriate to include here too. The A&E Channel has an excellent program—“Cold Case Files” (the real thing and not fiction). On July 1 they presented the case of Michael Crowe. In January 1998 in Escondido, California, 12 year old Stephanie Crowe was murdered during the night and the police were sure that her brother, 14 year old Michael, was the killer. Police officers browbeat, harassed, threatened, and lied to Michael. Michael became thoroughly confused and under extreme pressure he confessed just so that the police would stop. His confession, though, left a great deal to be desired as a confession. Among other items he stated that he had no recollection of having committed the murder, but must have done it as the police said that he did it. Two of Michael’s friends were also charged. It became obvious to any reasonable person that Michael and his friends were innocent and that another person was the prime suspect. The police involved, however, ignored the prime suspect. Michael and his friends were charged, but not brought to trail although it was left open for them to be tried later. Subsequently, one good Escondido police officer picked up the case and became convinced that Michael and his friends were innocent and of the identity of the real murderer. He put his own job in jeopardy by following the case. Fellow police officers told him to back off. The District Attorney refused to review the case. Finally, the California Attorney General’s office took over the case and the real murderer was convicted. I believe that the police officers involved (not the good one) and the District Attorney should have been sent to prison. This production was very unusual in that A&E has always before and since presented the police and law enforcement in general as the good guys. (And, in the other cases they have presented, that is true.) In this case they showed the bad side. A Google search will bring up lots of sites concerning Michael Crowe. By the way, A&E repeated the Michael Crowe case on August 12 so they may do it again as there are a lot of repeats.

In a phone call, Joe Major made me aware that a book (paperback) has been published about the case—Shattered Justice: A Savage Murder and the Death of Three Families’ Innocence by John Philpin, (2006, Avon Books, $7.99).

The case of “The Empty Man” (see Challenger #14) was recently dramatized on A&E. His lawyer – me – was not featured.

Now for #24.

“I voted for Al Gore, like most Americans in 2000.” (p. 5) Well now, most Americans didn’t vote in 2000 or any other year, they were too young or didn’t care. If you meant to say most voters it still would not be correct. Gore received a plurality of votes, not a majority. Most voters didn’t vote for Gore or for anyone else. Incredibly, in 2004 George W. Bush did receive a majority of votes. That’s the first time a Presidential candidate received a majority of votes since Ronald Reagan. Neither George H. W. Bush nor Bill Clinton received a majority of votes.

For those not enamored of many of the candidates in either major political party, here in California we have six parties on our ballot. They range from Marxist to Libertarian. Take your pick. Only a Democrat or Republican will usually win. But, voting for candidates in the other parties feels very good.

For anyone truly interested in factual information concerning vote fraud, I recommend the following books: Dirty Little Secrets: The Persistence of Corruption in American Politics by Larry Sabato (1996) and Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy by John Fund (2004). And, if your heart can stand reading about vote fraud in Florida, VOTESCAM: The Stealing of America, by James M. Collier and Kenneth F. Collier (2000).

Mike Resnick’s article “Where Do You Get Your Crazy (Novel) Ideas?” (p. 25) was quite interesting and that’s first time that I can remember an author covering the subject. It’s normally a question that one does not ask an author.

Finally, Joe Major has an article on one of the subjects I was hoping he would write about — “The Life of Tony” (p. 55) —Tony the fraud. How about some more by Joe on cases like Michael Crowe’s, the McMartin’s, satanic ritual cases, false memory cases, etc.

As an amateur conspiracy buff I found “The Law of Conservation of Karma and Other Conspiracy Theories” by Richard Lynch (p. 59) a fun read.

These may be the only articles I’m commenting on. But, I thoroughly enjoyed #24 and thank you for sending it to me. I look forward to #25.

This summer -- #26 -- with a cover by Ken Mitcheroney.

Everyone – be part of it! Send me a LOC!