Murder Voodoo Hypnosis and the Jag

JOHN GARDNER, feature reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, felt something was wrong with the double murder conviction of Maurice, a French Soldier of Fortune, who spoke little English. Maurice received two consecutive life sentences for the murders. At the urging of John and years after the trial, the author agreed to interview Maurice in the Florida State prison. Later they would enter into and reinvestigate the facts and evidence used at the trial. Together they uncovered many facets of the case that confirmed John's original suspicions. The result was an unusual conclusion.



VOODOO: Henry lost one leg because of a voodoo curse and he wasn't about to lose the other leg because of his neighbor's voodoo curse. A double barreled blast from his shotgun ended that curse and began another.



JUDICIAL CONFUSION: Identical twins were causing a problem for the local police. The police decided to solve their problem by charging them with several crimes. As a prank, the twins decided to switch identities at booking. Confusion reigned in the courthouse.



HYPNOTISM: The author learned about hypnotism and began to introduce the theories into his numerous criminal trials and practice. The result, through trial and error, provides detail and insight into the ability of attorneys to hypnotize juries. The bottom line, substitute the word "suggestibility" for the word "hypnotism."