In the first chapter Burrows
discusses the beginning of his new career with the United States Marshals Service and
duties which includes an overview of the file and proceedings in the U.S. District Court
in the Eastern District of Virginia against prisoner Melvin Davis Rees, Jr., convicted of
murdering a family in Virginia, and also that of a high profile Mafia trial
(U.S.-v-Carmine Galante, et al) in New York.
Where is David Probstein
The second chapter describes the nine months
Burrows and three other deputy U.S. Marshals lived with federal witness David
Probstein.
Probstein was vital to Attorney General Robert Kennedy's investigation into the activities
of Jimmy Hoffa and the Marshals were instructed by Kennedy to keep him alive. Here Burrows
describes the lifestyle changes required of the Marshals and the principal (the person
under protection).
Occupation of Ole' Miss
Integration at the University of Mississippi
didn't come easy. A major riot on campus on September 30, 1962 brought death, destruction,
and bad memories to Ole' Miss. The Ku Klux Klan, redneck rebels, and some students refused
to accept James Meredith as a student at the heretofore all white school. U.S. Marshals
and ultimately federal troops were sent in to enforce the U.S. District Court Order to
enroll the first negro student and to maintain peace on campus. This chapter describes
some of the conditions at Oxford, and activities surrounding the assignment with Meredith.
The Kennedy Assignment
The investigation into charges against Jimmy
Hoffa provided many special assignments for the United States Marshals Service. This
chapter describes another such assignment in West Virginia, and how Burrows and his
partner learned of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As a result of the
president's death, Burrows and other deputies were assigned to protect Attorney General
Robert F. Kennedy and members of his family. This chapter describes in detail the
activities and situations with the Kennedy family.
The March From Selma
Chapter Five discusses the Marshal's activities
during the historic march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, and the assignment to protect
the parents of U.S. District Court Judge Frank Johnson in Montgomery.
USA vs. Lynette Fromme
This chapter takes the reader inside the trial
against Lynette Fromme. This is an in-depth account of the matter of "Squeaky"
Fromme being charged with the attempt to kill President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, CA.
This chapter is also very interesting in describing the sequestration of the jury and the
special precautions established at the U.S. Courthouse.
U.S.A. Versus Patricia
Hearst
Chapter seven offers the reader an excellent opportunity to review the charges against
Patty Hearst and the resulting trial in San Francisco. In January 1976 this was to be
"The Trial of the
Century", and the then 21 year old daughter of Catherine and Randolph Hearst was to
be defended by the well known attorney F. Lee Bailey and his partner, Al Johnson. On the
bench, presiding over these most difficult proceedings, was the Honorable Oliver Carter.
Highly respected and admired, Judge Carter ignored the urging of friends, both on and off
the bench, to allow the case to be assigned to another Judge because of Carter's health.
This chapter also outlines the sequestration of the jury and describes their restricted
life style under the supervision of the deputy U. S. Marshals. Interesting, as well as
humorous, side notes give the reader information never released to the press.
U. S. Versus Virginia Russell
The close working relationship of the United States Marshals Service with other law
enforcement agencies is brought to light in chapter 8. The story of Virginia Russell, the
"Mining Grandma of Humbug Creek" shows how the courts can often be
"toyed" with and what it sometimes takes to remove a "squatter" from
federal land, and the difficulty of ridding an employee from federal service.
U.S.A. Versus Kahl, et al
The news of the shoot out between U. S. Marshals and Gordon Kahl and his companions,
including his wife , Joan and son, Yori...known members of the Posse' Commitatus...swept
across the headlines of this countries newspapers faster than a prairie fire. Chapter 9 of
Differing Opinions describes the activities of the defendants and those of the U. S.
Marshals attempting to arrest them. This is the chapter from which Burrows gleaned the
title for his book. The bloody shoot out near Medina, South Dakota is perhaps one of the
most vicious in recent history. Portions of the transcript of the trial give the reader a
minute by minute picture of the activities leading to, during and following the shoot out
and death of the U.S. Marshal and one of his deputies. The radio transmissions, as
recorded by police agencies, describes every movement of the units involved. Here, also,
the jury was sequestered and placed under the strict supervision of the U.S. Marshals for
the duration of the proceedings. The only thing missing from this very interesting chapter
is the presence of Gordon Kahl himself, He had escaped the scene and fled the area to
Arkansas.
Chapter 10 describes the demise of Gordon
Wendell Kahl when he was tracked down by U. S. Marshals and other law enforcement
agencies. Located near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas Kahl chose to hole up and shoot it out
rather than surrender. In another bloody exchange of gun fire, Sheriff Gene Mathews gave
his life in the line of duty, but not before hitting his target. Kahl died at the scene of
gun shot wounds.
U.S.A. Versus Claiborne
Chapter 11 describes the charges against and the trial of Harry Claiborne, chief U. S.
District Court Judge for the district of Nevada. A seven count indictment against the
judge brought
history and shame to the chambers of the personable jurist. Joe Conforte, well known owner
of the Mustang Ranch, became a star government witness and testified against Judge
Claiborne,
presumably in exchange for the reduction of his own charges. The Honorable Walter E
Hoffman of Virginia was assigned to preside over this trial and did a remarkable job of
controlling every aspect of the case. Rarely does the public hear a federal judge call
government prosecutors "crooks and liars" and "rotten bastards", but
Judge Claiborne is credited with such statements. The first attempt at convicting the
judge ended in a mis-trial. The second trial followed shortly thereafter, but with only
three counts in the indictment. Read how a federal judge goes to prison, but stays on the
payroll.
U.S.A. Versus Hegge
Burrows describes the trial discussed in this chapter as the most humorous he has ever
attended. Alvin Hegge, member of the Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club, was charged with
conspiracy to sell or distribute cocaine, and illegally transporting fire arms across
state lines. Hegge elected to defend himself with the aid of a court appointed attorney,
in a very relaxed and "at ease" manner. His legal knowledge was lacking to some
degree, but his determination was impressive. The testimony given by Hegge's cohorts
turned out to be not in his best interest...but it was priceless. Everyone interested in
trial procedure and presentation of evidence should read this.
U.S.A. Versus Spilotro
Organized crime in Nevada reared it's ugly head in the case against Anthony and Michael
Spilotro and seventeen defendants, known as the Hole in the Wall Gang. The indictment in
the trial described in chapter 13 read like the cast of a mafia novel. The jury was
sequestered for their protection and insulation from outside influence, but possibly the
close confinement lead to a mistrial that ended not only the trial, but also the lives of
the brother defendants. The publicity generated by the trial and mistrial may have been
instrumental in the gang style murder of the Spilotros.
U.S.A. Versus La Nuestra Familia
The final chapter of this book goes into the
history and crimes related to the mexican mafia in California. Just reading parts of the
indictment is an education in itself. In order to prevent or delay prosecution there were
numerous threats of death and personal harm aimed at the presiding judge, prosecuting
attorney, and case agents. These threats generated personal security assignments of
several persons, and caused extremely tight security of the U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.
This chapter is recommended for the reader interested in the integrity of the U. S.
Marshals Service, the judicial process and the preparations and coordination required at
high profile trials.
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