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Page Sixteen
THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE
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'Anatomyof aM
Voelker Presents an Accurate Study
Of Murder and Courtroom Procedure
ANATOMY OF A MURDER. By derer is known within the first few sight into the case. Nothing per-
Robert Traver (John D. Voel- chapters and the facts of the case tinent to the murder case has been
ker), 439 pp. New York: St. are unfolded by the defendant's omitted by Traver. It is a thorough
Martin's Press. $4.50. attorney. and anatomical study of the work
By DOUGLAS VIELMETTI Anatomy of a Murder is a care- of the defense attorney in a
ful and complete study of a mur- criminal case.
OBERT TRAVER, in his best- der and the ensuing trial. The eni-
selling novel Anatomy of a tire case is seen through the eyes EXPERIENCE entitles Traver to
Murder, presents a "whodunit" of defense attorney Paul Biegler. write competently from the
with a unique approach. It is a The reader learns Biegler's inner- viewpoint of the defense attorney,
murder mystery in which the mur- most thoughts and thus gains in- for he is John D. Voelker, cur-
--- . . .i
/o Sprin uulc an t mer
ORDER YOUR
STYLISH
SUN GLASSES
rently associate justice of the THERE is no doubt that Voel-
Michigan Supreme Court, who ker's background and experi:
has disguised himself with a pen ence with a similar case has a
name, great deal to do with the book's
Voelker's legal experience ex-
tends back to 1928 when he was greatest virtues-realism and sus-
graduated from the University Law pense. Because Paul Biegler tells
School. After a few years of prac- the story, we know the defense at-
tice in Chicago, Voelker moved torney's problems in establishing
back to his home town in the Up- the defense of his client. His ques-
per Peninsula, where Anatomy of tinning of the truth of the wit-
a Murder has itsrsetting. nesses' statements and his pene-
He served as prosecuting attor- trating search for any scrap of
ney of Marquette County for ten evidence or legal material helpful
years, compiling an outstanding to the case shows the mature and
record of convictions. It was a few realistic tone of the book.
years after Voelker lost his pro- With realism and suspense,
secutor's job to young Edmund Voelker poses a novelist's question
Thomas that the particular ex- on the pursuit of truth. The wit-
perience occurred which makes nesses' testimony was all offered
Voelker unusually qualified to as truthful evidence. The only way
write "Anatomy of a Murder." validity could be established was
from the circumstances, and the
JOHN VOELKER, in the fall of credibility of witnesses.
1952, brilliantly defended an This is similar to the method
Army lieutenant stationed at Big truth is determined in most in-
Bay, a tiny village on the shore of stances, for often reliance is placed
Lake Superior. The lieutenant had on what others offer as being the
killed a tavern-keeper who al- truth.
ledgedly had raped the officer's
wife There always exists the problem
These events tend to make the of properly discerning and finally
novel almost autobiolgraphical, for arriving at the apparent truth.
these are the same incidents, Biegler, the judge snd the jury
nearly the same case, dealt with in all reached conclussons from the
Anatomy of a Murder, apparent truth.
Paul Biegler has just been de-
feated in the race for county pro- [7OELKER has done an out-
secuting attorney by young Mitch standing job in handling the
Lodwick. events of his story and in crest-
An unexpected phone call from ing tone and atmosphere, but he
a Mrs. Laura Manion brings him does fall down in writing style.
the most interesting and involved He alternated from old cliches
case of his career. Mrs. Manion's to pretentious words to legal jar-
husband, Lt. Fredric Manion, is gon with rather distracting re-
in jail, charged with murder. sults.
Although realizing chances for Tie good points of Anatomy of
collecting fees from a jailed Army a Murder certainly over-balance
lieutenant who has no savings are the bad, for John Voelker has
about nil, Biegler takes the case. managed to produce an accurate
The trial begins with no doubt and suspenseful document on the
in anyone's mind as to the iden- role of the defense attorney, trial
tity of the killer. The crucial step procedure and the legal profes-
for the defense is to establish the sion.
mental condition of Lt. Manion Anatomy of a Murder provides
at the time of the murder. For interesting and enlightening read-
after careful "law-looking" Bieg- ing for anyone casually interested
ler's lawyer-assistant, Parnell Mc- in the workings of the courts, the
Carthy, finds Michigan statutes law and the individual personality.
showing temporary insanity as It is a rare novel which can give
grounds for finding a person not real insight into the fascinating
guilty of murder. profession of law.
of
JS
DNS
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