My presentation on "Starkweather" at History Nebraska in Lincoln Monday night went well. Tickets sold out (90) within three days of going on sale. One wonderful surprise guest: Jim McArthur, who, along with his father, John, represented Caril Fugate pro bono for 18 years, from her trial in 1958 through her parole in 1976. They fought for her relentlessly in state and federal trial and appellate courts, taking her case to the U.S. Supreme Court three times. When Jim was introduced, the crowd broke into applause.
I expected some hostility, or at least some challenges, from attendees. There are a lot of people in Lincoln who still believe fervently in Caril's guilt. If any were there, they stayed silent.
A few people came to the signing whom I hadn't seen since fifth grade at Prescott School in 1954. Strangely, their names sprang immediately to mind.
Julya, my partner in crime and wife, closed the talk with a brief reading from the book.
History Nebraska will post a video of the event on YouTube in a few months.
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