ARCADIA

Hardback. James Richardson, migrant worker, was on Death Row for murdering his 7 children. There was compelling evidence that he was innocent. On May 27, 1968, a black fruit picker from Arcadia, Florida, went on trial for the murder of his 7 children. The judge was white; the jury was white; so was the defence attorney who volunteered his services. The State's case rested on 3 key witnesses, none of whom was called to testify. Yet, at time of publication, James Richardson waited on Death Row at the Raiford, Florida State Prison. The author was convinced James Richardson was innocent. With the help of the defence attorney, he investigated the entire case. In Arcadia he presents it : characters, plot, motives, courtroom testimony, silent witnesses, the ambiance of a small southern town, the press - in short, the plight of the black man in a white community. Illus. + Index. 287pp. 8vo. h/back.From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Includes loosely inserted newspaper cutting dated April 27, 1989 reporting on James Richardson's release from prison having spent 21yrs behind bars, wrongly convicted of poisoning his children. Lightly browned pp. o/w Vg+ in Vg. dw. which has sl. sunned sp. and small creases to front 'blurb' part of dw.