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BOOK REVIEW The Appeal The title of this novel derives from the appeal of a $41 million verdict in a toxic waste trial to the Mississippi Supreme Court. During the appellate process a hotly contested election for one seat on that court takes place. Special interest groups pour vast sums into each candidate’s campaign coffers. Grisham’s thesis is that popularly elected appellate tribunals are likely to be corrupt. He would much prefer the “Tennessee Plan,” codified at Tenn. Code Ann. §§17-4-101 et seq. Unfortunately, that plan may be repealed or revised during the current legislative session. Our senators and representatives should read this book before voting. My only criticism of the novel is that the author introduces far too many characters and subplots. At page 349, almost to the end of the story, I encountered “F. Clyde Hardin.” Who’s he? I had to backtrack to page 283 to refresh recollection. The audio version by wonderful reader Michael Beck is available from Random House for $44.95. • • • Miscarriage of Justice Anna Dotson, 32, of Gallatin was a married mother of a daughter and son. Her husband Walter was a prominent ear, nose and throat doctor. On the afternoon of Saturday, March 15, 1913, Anna rode a train to Nashville and walked into a barbershop at 819 Broadway. She pulled a pistol from her muff and fired four bullets into barber Charlie Cobb, who died upon arrival at the hospital. Why? As Judge Gayden’s historical novel reveals, Anna (a preacher’s daughter) was persuaded by the Old Testament account of Jephtha in Judges 11:29-40 that killing her former lover was the right thing to do. She was tried for first degree murder in Davidson County Criminal Court from June 17 through June 24, 1913. I’ll let you read the book to learn the verdict. Then you can decide whether justice miscarried. I liked the author’s inclusion of four excerpts from the Nashville Tennessean. My sole quibble with the trial portion of the narrative is that two shrinks are presented as the first defense witnesses (Anna was a “monomaniac”). In truth defendant Anna opened for the defense, as the law required in those days. I believe Tennessee lawyers will enjoy this enlightening book. Tennessee Bar Journal
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