23. Sensational Trials of the 20th Century (NF 5)

by Betsy Harvey Kraft (New York: Scholastic 1998. pgs. 216)

This was lent to me by a friend. Hence being popped up the list a bit. This briefly narrates eight of the most infamous trials in the last century.

1. The Saco-Vanzetti Trial
Did two Italian immigrants commit armed robbery? Or did someone get executed wrongfully. It seems pretty safe to say that the author believes at least one of the men convicted might have been innocent. Regardless, it seems that more than being on trial for robbery, Saco and Vanzetti were on trial for being immigrants.

2. The Scopes "Monkey" Trial
This is why the book got lent to me. The trial came up in a Trivial pursuit game and I'd never heard of it before. There is an air of the grotesque in this one and I was reminded of the movie 'Chicago'

3. The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Trial
This is one of the ones you first hear about in 8th grade social studies. Unfortunately it didn't make much of a dent the first time around. This time it did. The whole thing seemed like something out of a soap opera. But rather I think the soap opera writers are getting their material from this sort of thing.

4. The Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Spy Trial
Another one I was first exposed to in Jr. High. I rather suspect that the school's text book wasn't as frank about it as this book was. The whole thing just proves to me that even people who are none too bright are capable of being very clever.

5. Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka
This one, of course, changed education in America. I was glad to learn something about it rather than just know it had an affect.

6. The Watergate Trials
'Changing the way news is reported' should be the name of this one. Nixon seems such a pitiable person in this...and stupid to boot. One wonders if he weren't certifiable paranoid.

7. The John Hinkley Jr. Trial
One of the one's I've heard about but didn't really know anything of. I think Hinkley must be the source of, "But he seemed like such a good boy."

8. The O.J. Simpson Trial
This is the only one of the eight that I was alive and cognizant for. At the time I was just sick to death of it. Reading about it though I realize why people got so caught up in it.