IZ, trA^%, AA^%, Page Sixteen THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE Pae itenTH .MCI .rlil Y k4AvncZIL -unuuy,muyL LA , a Iy f '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 Dial NO 2-9116 CAMPt OPTI2CA 240 Nuckl Ar'ade II -- Look! -getting ready to go home for the summer has this pretty, smart co-ed actually murmuring "Ho, HUM." That's because shes pretty smart ! She simply called GrusN'S s and we delivered a big Handi- Hanper to her. Here she is, dropping in her ski clothes, winter skirts and sowe'aters, caps, mittens, earmuffs, flannel longies-all those things a pretty co-ed wairs to lok prettier. We'll "Microclean" those thinssg 'ccer gently, then store thaeni all summser for just $4.95, plus cleaning, S in our on-the-preiss tstault. Not a pacing Worry - not a starage s trry - omn-going is so easy . . . 1o, hum ..M E N DAILY PICK-UP AT QUADS AND DORMS SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES CALL 516 East Liberty 1213 S. University r5 4 a1 i1