Comments on: The Daily Agenda for Tuesday, January 8

By: Reed Boyer

Reed Boyer — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:50:02 +0000

I had the pleasure the other very early morning of watching “A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman” on Epix. I was only going to tune in for a minute or so, because it WAS being broadcast in the wee hours, but it was rather spell-binding.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:48:56 +0000

Jim: Amazing and informative. I thank you once again as I read of these legal cases and of the silent history of our plight nowhere else but on your feed. And I continue to be amazed at man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. The old adage, “Those who ignore history . . .” comes to mind. This history is so very, very important to everyone’s understanding. An enormous Thank YOU!

By: Bose in St. Peter MN

Bose in St. Peter MN — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:31:56 +0000

Judge Craven’s ruling that Perkins’ right to counsel had been violated is intriguing and disturbing, too.

Perkins had no lawyer until one was appointed by the court at 4pm on a Tuesday (when the grand jury indictment was handed down), and the trial was set for 9am Wednesday; the 20-30 year sentence was handed down the same day.

So, barely 24 hours passed from indictment to verdict. As Craven described it, “… the inference is inescapable that counsel, after talking with state officers, became so convinced of Perkins’ guilt that he considered making any defense an utter futility and therefore attempted none.”

Perkins, presenting as a woman, and with a prior conviction for prostitution, was treated as if he was so detestable, everybody washed their hands of him.

Craven also alludes to the possibility that McCorkle was treated more favorably because he was more masculine, less gay: “Perkins and his co-defendant, McCorkle, were apparently quite different in background and in previous homosexual conduct.” (While it’s not apparent how much of the 5 year sentence McCorkle served, the timeline suggests less than half.)