Scoundrels to the Hoosegow: Perry Mason Moments and Entertaining Cases from the Files of a Prosecuting Attorney (Volume 1)

I closed my direct examination of narcotics officer Bill Bohnert by asking, "Detective Bohnert, do you see in the courtroom today the man we just saw on the tape, selling the crack cocaine to Darren Bullard?"            Bohnert pointed to Robert Funt.            "He's right there. . . ."            I heard laughter in the courtroom. I glanced at the defendant, who had dutifully raised his hand.            The prisoners seated behind him were laughing. They recognized a Perry Mason moment when they saw one.             Bohnert continued, "He's the one with his hand raised in the air."            It has been said that the public prosecutor has more power over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person—a daunting proposition, but perhaps less intimidating when that official’s perspective is tempered by humor and compassion.            In Scoundrels to the Hoosegow, a veteran prosecutor who is also a consummate storyteller shares more than thirty entertaining legal stories drawn from real life, re-creating, with verve and wit, villains, heroes, and ordinary citizens. In cases both tragic and hilarious, Morley Swingle offers a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system, taking readers from the scene of the crime to the courtroom as he explores the worlds of judges, attorneys, police officers, and criminals.            Informed by a deep appreciation of Mark Twain, Swingle aims to do for his profession what Clemens did for riverboat piloting. He leads readers on an enjoyable romp through crime and punishment, while offering a clear exposition of legal points—from the subtleties of cross-examination to the role of plea bargaining.            In cases ranging from indecent exposure to conspiracy to commit murder, Swingle considers the fine line between pornography and obscenity and discusses sensitive issues surrounding first-degree murder and the death penalty. Whether describing a drunken but well-meaning probationer who frees the dogs on “death row” or the woman who tries to hire a reluctant hit man to dispose of her husband, he combines true crime and legal analysis with a healthy dose of humor—and shares the occasional “Perry Mason moment” in which a trial dramatically shifts direction.            Not since the author of Anatomy of a Murder, Robert Traver,  wrote Small Town D.A. fifty years ago has an American prosecutor penned such a candid, revealing, and funny account of the job—an altogether satisfying book that sentences the reader to many hours of enjoyment.

Biographies & Memoirs

Swingle, Morley

Professionals & Academics

University of Missouri

I closed my direct examination of narcotics officer Bill Bohnert by asking, "Detective Bohnert, do you see in the courtroom today the man we just saw on the tape, selling the crack cocaine to Darren Bullard?"
 Bohnert pointed to Robert Funt.
 "He's right there. . . ."
 I heard laughter in the courtroom. I glanced at the defendant, who had dutifully raised his hand.
 The prisoners seated behind him were laughing. They recognized a Perry Mason moment when they saw one. 
 Bohnert continued, "He's the one with his hand raised in the air."
 It has been said that the public prosecutor has more power over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person—a daunting proposition, but perhaps less intimidating when that official’s perspective is tempered by humor and compassion.
 In Scoundrels to the Hoosegow, a veteran prosecutor who is also a consummate storyteller shares more than thirty entertaining legal stories drawn from real life, re-creating, with verve and wit, villains, heroes, and ordinary citizens. In cases both tragic and hilarious, Morley Swingle offers a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system, taking readers from the scene of the crime to the courtroom as he explores the worlds of judges, attorneys, police officers, and criminals.
 Informed by a deep appreciation of Mark Twain, Swingle aims to do for his profession what Clemens did for riverboat piloting. He leads readers on an enjoyable romp through crime and punishment, while offering a clear exposition of legal points—from the subtleties of cross-examination to the role of plea bargaining.
 In cases ranging from indecent exposure to conspiracy to commit murder, Swingle considers the fine line between pornography and obscenity and discusses sensitive issues surrounding first-degree murder and the death penalty. Whether describing a drunken but well-meaning probationer who frees the dogs on “death row” or the woman who tries to hire a reluctant hit man to dispose of her husband, he combines true crime and legal analysis with a healthy dose of humor—and shares the occasional “Perry Mason moment” in which a trial dramatically shifts direction.
 Not since the author of Anatomy of a Murder, Robert Traver, wrote Small Town D.A. fifty years ago has an American prosecutor penned such a candid, revealing, and funny account of the job—an altogether satisfying book that sentences the reader to many hours of enjoyment.

The Gold of Cape Girardeau

The Gold of Cape Girardeau is an exciting historical novel that begins and ends with a modern-day courtroom drama over buried treasure. Young lawyer Allison Culbertson faces a fierce courtroom battle with one of her former law instructors to uncover the truth of the mysterious gold’s ownership. The secrets of the treasure emerge in a journey back to the steamboating days along the Mississippi River. Two young lovers face myriad trials and adventures together until—in the ultimate test of their love—the Civil War places them, their community, and an entire nation in devastating turmoil. A wonderful blend of historical fact and well-written fiction, this compelling story is full of courageous characters and vivid historical settings.

Literature & Fiction

Genre Fiction

Southeast Missouri State Univ Press

The Gold of Cape Girardeau is an exciting historical novel that begins and ends with a modern-day courtroom drama over buried treasure. Young lawyer Allison Culbertson faces a fierce courtroom battle with one of her former law instructors to uncover the truth of the mysterious gold’s ownership. The secrets of the treasure emerge in a journey back to the steamboating days along the Mississippi River. Two young lovers face myriad trials and adventures together untilin the ultimate test of their lovethe Civil War places them, their community, and an entire nation in devastating turmoil. A wonderful blend of historical fact and well-written fiction, this compelling story is full of courageous characters and vivid historical settings.

Bootheel Man

When Allison Culbertson takes the case of Joey Red Horse, an Osage Indian charged with stealing a sacred artifact from the Heartland Mound Builder Museum, she finds herself in the middle of a courtroom battle pitting contemporary American Indians against a private museum over legal rights to the bones of 'Bootheel Man,' a Native American who lived, fought, and loved Cahokia and Southeast Missouri in the year 1050. Morley Swingle combines the historical mystery of the disappearance of 30,000 souls who inhabited Cahokia ten centuries ago with a contemporary murder mystery and legal thriller in a suspenseful story combining history, law, and fiction.

Contemporary

Southeast Missouri State Univ Pr

When Allison Culbertson takes the case of Joey Red Horse, an Osage Indian charged with stealing a sacred artifact from the Heartland Mound Builder Museum, she finds herself in the middle of a courtroom battle pitting contemporary American Indians against a private museum over legal rights to the bones of 'Bootheel Man,' a Native American who lived, fought, and loved Cahokia and Southeast Missouri in the year 1050. Morley Swingle combines the historical mystery of the disappearance of 30,000 souls who inhabited Cahokia ten centuries ago with a contemporary murder mystery and legal thriller in a suspenseful story combining history, law, and fiction.

Warrantless Searches: What Every Successful Cop, Crook and Criminal Lawyer Needs to Know (Law Guru)

Criminal Law

Morley Swingle Books

Search Warrants: What Every Successful Cop, Crook and Criminal Lawyer Needs to Know (Law Guru)

Evidence Foundation Questions in Criminal Law: Trial Practice Techniques Every Successful Prosecutor and Defense Lawyer Must Know (Law Guru)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Swingle, Morley. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Swingle, Morley

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Swingle, Morley. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Scoundrels to the Hoosegow: Perry Mason Moments and Entertaining Cases from the Files of a Prosecuting Attorney (Volume 1)

Scoundrels to the Hoosegow: Perry Mason Moments and Entertaining Cases from the Files of a Prosecuting Attorney (Volume 1)

The Gold of Cape Girardeau

The Gold of Cape Girardeau

Bootheel Man

Bootheel Man

Warrantless Searches: What Every Successful Cop, Crook and Criminal Lawyer Needs to Know (Law Guru)

Search Warrants: What Every Successful Cop, Crook and Criminal Lawyer Needs to Know (Law Guru)

Evidence Foundation Questions in Criminal Law: Trial Practice Techniques Every Successful Prosecutor and Defense Lawyer Must Know (Law Guru)