Cue Bad Boys

Damn! Now I can't get that song out of my head.

Before you say it, no, that's not Johnny Depp's photo on the left. Does look like him though. I wonder why...

This week, Professor Alex Taylor discusses this guy's terminal criminality. Could it have been prevented if he'd been show a little love early on? Would it have gone differently if his gatekeepers showed this former nobody a modicum of compassion instead of throwing the book at him? Or, is this truly a case of one's fabric being cut from the cloth of evil? Truth or excuse? Question marks or statements?

;)

Published to the Gainesville Times January 31, 1989.
See a note that follows.

Nearing the end, folks! Alex Taylor's Tuesday Crime Stories only has a few left, so we're going to take a short break and resume the column on December 7th, 2021.  See you then!

 

Won't Leave You Hanging

 

Florida's current chair
('scuse the pun)

Published to the Gainesville Times January 24, 1989, Retired Detective and Criminology Professor Alex Taylor electrifies the history of Old Sparky. What most people today do not realize is that this form of execution remains an option in several states, including Tennessee, who last used their chair on Nicholas Todd Suttman, February 2020. 
Some folks are really opposed to taking shots!

Commentary follows the column.

Dad told me once that his school field trips were the best part of teaching. The classroom was great for discussion -- academia -- but the field brought out the best and worst of his subject matter. Imagine your first observation of an autopsy, taking notes off to the side while a prostitute works an urban shopping mall, or actually sitting in that electric chair after walking past real Death Row inmates. It's a fact that some sociology professors, especially today, disbelieve in deterrents, citing an increase in prison recidivism. I wonder how society would be if all students were shown the real, often graphic consequences of crime.

Your Fascination with Lawyers

It's your fault you know. Drama. You love a good drama.
Heck, you love bad dramas too. Tiger King outed us all on that. As long as the drama contains high drama, and by that I mean the lowest, evil skullduggery versus angelic highs. Oops, don't need that part, actually. Wanton stupidity often suffices. Anyway, the point is, we love drama. Well, so long as it's not ours. Lawyers know this too. 

Originally published to the Gainesville Times, January 17, 1989, Alex Taylor discusses our love affair with trial lawyers. Oh, and there's a bit on Bolita, towards the end. 

 

Factoid 1: Frank Ragano's Mob Lawyer provided a few inspirational nuggets woven into Bolita where artistic license mandated. Interesting but subjective read, and I'll leave the veracity part to its omnipotent critics.

Factoid 2: Melvin Belli's career included actual acting, including his appearance in Star Trek's Original Series as Gorgon (The Devil), who.. um.. had a thing for kids.