Abstract:
In March, 1951 Fred Hankins returned home to find his wife in a pool of blood at the top of the basement steps. She had been shot once in the head and died an hour later. There was no motive, no evidence of sexual assault. Only her wristwatch was missing.
A suspect was arrested and released two years later. In November, 1954 compelling evidence was developed against a second suspect, a career burglar, but prosecutors refused to indict without a confession. Was this the right decision? Was there enough evidence to sustain a conviction? You be the judge.