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Legendary Houston attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes has died
Houston Chronicle ^ | 4-28-2017 | Margaret Kadifa

Posted on 04/28/2017 8:00:17 AM PDT by Snickering Hound

Legendary Houston attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes died early this morning, according to a statement from family spokesman and criminal defense lawyer Chris Tritico. He died at 12:58 am with his family by his side after recently celebrating his 90th birthday. He had had been in declining health for the past several years, said Tritico.

Haynes was one of the most well-known criminal defense lawyers in the country. He made a name for himself in the 1970s, with cases including the State of Texas v. John Hill, when he represented a River Oaks surgeon accused of murdering his socialite wife. After the first trial ended in a hung jury, Hill was murdered in the driveway of his River Oaks mansion. The case was made the subject of the Thomas Thompson book "Blood and Money," which was also turned into a movie.

Later, Haynes represented Cullen Davis, the first billionaire indicted for murder in the U.S., and Pam Fielder, who was accused of killing her abusive husband. Haynes' defense on the Fielder case is now embodied in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, giving women the right to defend themselves against abusers, said Tritico.

Haynes was easy-going until he stepped into a courtroom, Tritico said. He was legendary for his ability to take command of the courtroom, and effectively cross-examine witnesses.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: haynes; texas
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1 posted on 04/28/2017 8:00:17 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Snickering Hound

Oh crap!! Who is Racehorse Haynes?


2 posted on 04/28/2017 8:02:35 AM PDT by tatown
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To: Snickering Hound

The last horse I bet on was so good, it took 9 other horses to beat him.


3 posted on 04/28/2017 8:03:05 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: tatown

Lawyer for Morganna the Kissing Bandit once upon a time.

4 posted on 04/28/2017 8:08:16 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: tatown

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Cullen_Davis

And the billionaire T. Cullen Davis murder trial.


5 posted on 04/28/2017 8:10:04 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: tatown
Oh crap!! Who is Racehorse Haynes?

Back in the 1970s and 80s, he was one of the best criminal defense trial lawyers in the country.

6 posted on 04/28/2017 8:13:47 AM PDT by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: Snickering Hound

http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/how-cullen-davis-beat-the-rap-2/

The Cullen Davis murder trial was movie material.


7 posted on 04/28/2017 8:17:55 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Snickering Hound
Haynes represented Cullen Davis, the first billionaire indicted for murder in the U.S.

He was the inspiration for "The Devil's Advocate" character Alexander Cullen, played by Craig T. Nelson.

8 posted on 04/28/2017 8:23:57 AM PDT by montag813
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To: tatown

Say you sue me because you say my dog bit you.

Well now this is my defense:

My dog doesn’t bite.
And second, in the alternative, my dog was tied up that night.
And third, I don’t believe you really got bit.
And fourth, I don’t have a dog.

—Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, Houston, Texas (1927- )


9 posted on 04/28/2017 8:27:34 AM PDT by t4texas (Remember the Alamo)
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To: Lurking Libertarian

I think Jerry Spence is still alive. I don’t think he ever lost a case.


10 posted on 04/28/2017 8:33:34 AM PDT by laplata (Liberals/Progressives.have diseased minds.)
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To: tatown
Oh crap!! Who is Racehorse Haynes?

In the 60s and 70s in Texas, he was the criminal defender you wanted to represent you if you couldn't get Percy Foreman. Most of Haynes' high-profile cases (Dr. John Hill, T. Cullen Davis) ended up as the subject of books and movies.

He once illustrated his method of defense (pleading in the alternative) for a dog bite case:

Say you sue me because you say my dog bit you. Well, now this is my defense:

My dog doesn't bite.
And second, in the alternative, my dog was tied up that night.
And third, I don't believe you really got bit.
And fourth, I don't have a dog.

11 posted on 04/28/2017 8:41:00 AM PDT by Milton Miteybad (I am Jim Thompson. {Really.})
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To: Snickering Hound

Quote:
“...with cases including the State of Texas v. John Hill...”

That was the most fascinating murder and murder trial I have
ever read about. It made the OJ Simpson trial look like a
trial for a minor traffic ticket.


12 posted on 04/28/2017 8:51:00 AM PDT by Verbosus (/* No Comment */)
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To: Snickering Hound

I remember watching him in action in the courtroom in Kerrville, during the Ellebracht Slave Ranch trial in 1986. There wasn’t any way they were going to be found innocent, but he dang sure got them the lightest sentence you could imagine.


13 posted on 04/28/2017 8:55:40 AM PDT by tarawa
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To: Verbosus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joan_Robinson_Hill

They made a movie about it ‘Murder in Texas’.


14 posted on 04/28/2017 8:57:56 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Snickering Hound

Stewball was a Racehorse Haynes Johnson.


15 posted on 04/28/2017 9:05:19 AM PDT by Lisbon1940 (No full-term Governors (at the time of election!)
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To: Snickering Hound

RIP.


16 posted on 04/28/2017 9:21:05 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Je Suis Pepe)
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To: Snickering Hound

If I die at 90, they’ll have to say “after suffering declining health for 40 years.”


17 posted on 04/28/2017 9:41:30 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan (https://youtu.be/IYUYya6bPGw)
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To: Snickering Hound

Racehorse was one of the greats.

And you sleep better at night because there are lawyers like Racehorse.


18 posted on 04/28/2017 9:43:10 AM PDT by Timpanagos1
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To: Snickering Hound

My dad was on the defense team for Davis. What memories...


19 posted on 04/28/2017 9:57:29 AM PDT by RebelTXRose (Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us! PRAY THE ROSARY!)
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To: Timpanagos1

Best ever at his craft. Could not decide if I was infuriated or in awe of the outcomes of his cases. Certainly a showman bigger than life.


20 posted on 04/28/2017 9:57:52 AM PDT by Chauncey Gardiner
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