The Smoking Gun: Day by Day Through a Shocking Murder Trial with Gerry Spence

by Gerry Spence

Book Overview

The prosecutor had a photograph that showed defendant Sandy Jones with a smoking gun in her hands. And the prosecutor had an eyewitness who said she saw Sandy Jones shoot the man the instant the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743246969
• ISBN13: 9780743246965
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A Gerry Spence masterpiece

Gerry Spence has succeeded Robert Traver (John Voelker), Louis Nizer, Jake Ehrlich, and Francis Wellman as the popular author of real life legal battles. Spence writes his own stuff - unlike Vincent Bugliosi who's had collaborators - and Spence is as candid as Pepys was to his diary. If you're not put off by Spence telling, in every other book, the anguish and ecstacy of his personal life, or how good he is, no legal work, fiction, non-fiction, and certainly not the case reports, can match Gerry's writings. Despite what you star givers write, "The Making of a Country Lawyer," Spence's autobiography, is his best book. Only Reginald Hine's "Confessions of an Uncommon Atorney" can compete. Read Spence's story and, if you've ever gone into business for yourself or tried to bang a buck out of the law while maintaining those "hostages to fortune" at home and yet still struggled to get ahead, see if you don't agree. With the "The Smoking Gun" Spence got it all right again. This one's not as well-known as "Helter Skelter" was nor as riveting but I can't think of an "ordinary" murder case that's been so absorbing story as "The Smoking Gun." Not "An American Tragedy," not "Compulsion," not any of Bugliosi's minor books and certainly nothing by Ann Rule or any of those Texas murder trial accounts. For one, "A Smoking Gun" is a story about a fear that slithers though everyone's subconsciousness and sometimes surfaces in nightmares: being charged with a serious crime one didn't commit and being prosecuted by over zealous DAs who seem to want a conviction more than justice. In addition there's the uncooperative defendant, the courageous judge (Harl Haas of Portland, Oregon), and, of course, Superman to the rescue. But Superman does write masterfully, it's a great story, and I highly recommend it.

Who COASTDA really is

I, for one, thought the book was true to the account. Especially of what Ulys Stapleton and Josh Marquis were telling the public in Newport Oregon at the time. As a long time resident of Newport, to this day I'm appalled at the lack of responsibilty on the part of these two men and this book brought all that back to life. COASTDA is one of them, the latter if I'm not mistaken. In fact, I think it's pathetic that his only recourse is to attack Gerry Spence in this forum after already FAILING in all other attempts to bar him from speaking his piece in this case. I say to these men only, it's been 19yrs...isn't it time to grow up and take responsibility for your actions?

A First Rate and Admirable Work

This narrative, about two extraordinary trials in the State of Oregon during the mid 1980's, is superb. Gerry Spence's account keeps you glued to the book throughout, and he is masterful at presenting behind the scenes activities and trial experiences. He was part of an exceptional defense team representing defendants who were accused of murder, the circumstances of which are described in heart wrenching detail. The book portrays the teamwork, investment of time and the wisdom required to provide a worthy defense against overwhelming odds. Mr. Spence writes with sensitivity and compassion in describing the perserverence of many individuals determined to have justice and truth prevail. Courage and resourcefulness are central themes of this inspirational story.

An Inexhaustable Defense of the Innocent

Gerry Spence, the Dean of the Criminal Defense Bar, gives a fascinating account of an innocent woman's hellish, almost neverending, journey through the criminal justice system. He exposes the frightening, unethical, efforts of the prosecutors to convict Sandy Jones. For those who've been charged with a serious crime, that assistant district attorneys intimidate witnesses, berate crime lab technicians who come to the "wrong" conclusions, slander defense counsel in the newspapers, and "cook" the evidence, this poor woman's story will come as no surprise. For most readers, this sometimes exhausting, but riveting book will expose a truth -- that prosecutors, the flawed human beings compromised by the very power bestowed upon them, are hardly the white knights of the criminal justice system. By the end of the book, it's clear that without an energetic, caring, skilled and unintimidated attorney, Sandy Jones would have spent the rest of her life in a concrete coffin.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH

This week I had the chance to attend a book signing for The Smoking Gun in Salt Lake City and to hear Gerry Spence talk about his latest book. It was interesting to get the skinny straight from the horse's mouth.Much has been said about this book and whether Mr. Spence has taken liberties with writing about the case in question. In the long run I believe that any report of factual occurrences boils down, in the end to perspective. As I listened to Spence discuss his perspective I concluded that he has provided an honest representation of the facts in this case according to his own perspective. What more can be asked of an author?More than a recap of a specific trial, The Smoking Gun is a fascinating account of how one of the nation's greatest attorneys approaches the trial for crime and offers the reader a chance to go inside the Spence legal intellect. Spence, famous for his devotion to the right of everyone to counsel, does what he does best, taking on the big guns of state government and big business in an effort to see that justice is served despite the prosecution's efforts to ensure that state and business personnel come out smelling like roses--even at the expense of possibly railroading innocent people.Spence is an excellent writer and narrator and The Smoking Gun is a compelling read regardless of whether you agree with Spence or not.Douglas McAllister