Professor jailed on word of (ex-)felon

WorldNetDaily ^ | August 14, 2004 | Les Kinsolving

[Lazamataz]

Why honest man should not trust the honesty of the court and fairness of the system? Why honest man should pay for "justice"? What if the man is poor nad has no money for the lawyer?

Idealism is neat. The reality -- which I have seen up close and personal -- is you pay for a lawyer or you go away.

[King Prout]

there is something very, verrry wierd about this.

[A. Pole]

Idealism is neat. The reality -- which I have seen up close and personal -- is you pay for a lawyer or you go away.

You are right. But we can try to bring the reality a little closer to the ideal. "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing"

[NilesJo]

" Those records were never admitted as testimony. Public Defender Garnett waited to subpoena them until three days before the trial. And Judge Wood refused to wait for them before trying Dr. Strippy on felony charges." Moreover, "The gun was never fingerprinted" – which would have provided evidence – along with the defense exhibit of that wooden cudgel – that this legally inebriated repeat felon grabbed the pistol, causing himself to be shot in the stomach."

As others suggest their may be more to the story than meets the eye. Yet, I have the impression that this judge was more interested in punishing this public defender for incompetence than protecting an innocent man against injustice.

[Lazamataz]

You are right. But we can try to bring the reality a little closer to the ideal. "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing"

Good men did stuff, and still evil triumphed.

[marktwain]

there is something very, verrry wierd about this.

Not really. The felon was very familiar with the system, knew how it worked, and took full advantage of it. The Professor had no knowledge of the system, assumed that it would work in his favor because he was innocent, and got the shaft.

This happens far, far more often than most people realize. Most people do not have contact with the "justice" system and assume that it will work for them when they need it. Often, it does not.

BTW, the old saw of "he demanded homosexual acts, then when I defended myself, he shot me" is an old stand by for muggers. I first heard of it many years ago.

Many people don't realize that there is a funny thing about criminals... They Lie! They cannot be counted on to tell the truth, and they will make up any lie they think will work to bend the situation to their advantage.

[MarkL]

How can one be an ex-felon?

Like being an "ex-parrot?"

Mark

[beckett]

What was Strippy doing at the Greenstone Overlook on Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway? Is this a known spot for homosexual pickups?

The fact that the author, obviously a Strippy supporter, avoids addressing these questions makes me skeptical that Dr. Strippy is as pure as the driven snow.

[CAPTAIN PHOTON]

and a great TV movie.

and why was a presumably well heeled prof emeritius using a public defender?

[A. Pole]

The fact that the author, obviously a Strippy supporter, avoids addressing these questions makes me skeptical that Dr. Strippy is as pure as the driven snow.

That is nice to be skeptical so long as you give benefit of the your doubt the to the accused. BTW, are you "as pure as the driven snow"?

[A. Pole]

and why was a presumably well heeled prof emeritius using a public defender?

Retired professor of music does not have to be well heeled. So, what is your suspicion, why did he use public defender?

[festus]

*ahem* Dr. Strippy

Do they make these names up to fit the story ????

[independentmind]

What was Strippy doing at the Greenstone Overlook on Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway? Is this a known spot for homosexual pickups?

Apparently there are parts of the Parkway that are well known for that, but I'll make another suggestion.

Augusta County can be a fairly insular place, and it probably wouldn't be too hard to convince a jury that a renowned organ player from the North was a queer. I'm guessing that the felon involved in the case probably knew exactly what effect such an allegation would have.

Apparently Dr. Strippy has enough supporters that they have put together a save Doctor Strippy website.

[CAPTAIN PHOTON]

I don't know why he used a public defender...that's part of why this would make a good tv movie. I find it hard to believe a retired prof wouldn't at least own his home, and have substantial retirement savings...plus his pension.

then again, maybe he spent it all on hustlers, which would explain things.

[beckett]

BTW, are you "as pure as the driven snow"?

We're not talking about me, we're talking about Dr. Strippy. In any case, although I would never think of claiming to be as pure as the driven snow, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I've never cruised a gay pickup spot.

[A. Pole]

I find it hard to believe a retired prof wouldn't at least own his home, and have substantial retirement savings...plus his pension.

Maybe he did not want to spend his savings or pension in order to buy "justice"? Maybe he trusted in the American system?

[TERMINATTOR]

Whether Mr. Strippy was pure as the driven snow is irrelevant. He doesn't need a reason for being there, nor an excuse for defending himself when beaten with a club.

[beckett]

I don't buy it. Even in the boondocks of Augusta County juries are not hermetically sealed from the culture at large. Convicting a poor slob of felonious assault just because he plays the organ and might be "queer" seems a bit extreme. In fact I would go the other way. How did a jury in a law-and-order rural county overcome their natural prejudice against testimony from a convicted felon and deliver a guilty verdict against a defendant with no prior criminal record?

More went on in this courtroom than than we're getting in the above report.

[marktwain]

BTW, the old saw of "he demanded homosexual acts, then when I defended myself, he shot me" is an old stand by for muggers. I first heard of it many years ago.

I first heard of this alibi in 1994, and I believe it was old then. I am sure that it is well known in the criminal subculture, which is probably where the perp picked it up.

Sociopaths lie... its part of what they do, what they are. They learned a long time ago that a lie can give them at least short term advantage over an honest man.