GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY Round-Table Discussion of a Celebrated Case. Com. vs. Russ, 232 Massachusetts Reports 58.

Hardback. The following is taken from the Foreword of the book : 'In the Winter of 1914-1915, Morris Katzeff, Esq. and I, by appointment of the Superior Court, acted as counsel for the defendant in the trial of Oscar F. Russ, charged with murder of his wife Emily. Although the form of this book is that of fiction, the facts recited are those appearing at the trial. The element of the bottle is authentic. Upon them a jury found the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree, and the conviction was sustained by the Supreme Judicial Court. No further appeal was possible. It was, however, and still is, my firm belief not only that Russ was not guilty in fact, but that, as a matter of law, the very evidence which was accepted as establishing his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt was really demonstrative of his innocence......The purpose of this book is to carry out the uncompleted task of obtaining due consideration of these facts; and it is hoped thus to establish the innocence of the accused and to clear him of the charge under which he has so long lain. While it is true that, in this case, the conviction did not involve the death penalty, that result was a mere accident. It, obviously, has no relation to logic. If my theory be correct, then, notwithstanding all of the safeguards which the law provides for an accused, it is still possible, in some instances, that the innocent may be found guilty. This case, as I think, supports a very prevalent view that the retention of the death penalty may result in the machinery of the law becoming the means of accomplishing the most cruel injustice; and, for this reason as well, I am submitting the matter for your consideration...' 203pp. 8vo. PRESENTATION COPY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR'S SON EDMUND. F. in sl. frayed and notched Vg. dw.