Notes on the Trial of William (Billy) Davis

"Notes on the Trial of William (Billy) Davis" presents a riveting, true account of a 1924-25 labor union strike and subsequent trial in a small Indiana town, detailing the chain of events leading up to the explosion at a hotel housing strike breakers and the aftermath.

"Notes on the Trial of William (Billy) Davis" dives deep into the actualities of a labor union strike and company lockout at two small steel moulding plants in rural Indiana during 1924-25. Following an explosion at a hotel housing strike breakers, 50 union and nonunion men were charged with conspiracy to possess and set a bomb. This book focuses on the true, well-documented facts leading up to the explosion and its aftermath. Specifically, it recounts the trial of Welsh immigrant, William (Billy) Davis, his conviction and sentence for the offenses, and the subsequent Indiana Supreme Court Opinion, which uncovered perjury by the State's key witness, misconduct by the Union, and prosecutorial misconduct by the State, resulting in insufficient evidence to support the conviction. The book also identifies the actual people involved in the Union and the trial based on the documented evidence, offering an authentic portrayal of a significant labor union strike and its subsequent trial. This work serves as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in labor law history, criminal justice, or simply intrigued by real-life dramas.

Born and raised in Montpelier, Indiana, the author is a dedicated and accomplished legal professional turned writer. After graduating from Montpelier Community High School in 1964 he went on to pursue a BS in education from Ball State University in 1968. After a stint teaching in Ohio and Indiana, he shifted career paths, graduating from Indiana university law school at Indianapolis in 1976. From 1976 to 2010, he honed his legal skills in the realm of law, gaining invaluable insights and experiences. Since retirement, he has chosen to channel his knowledge and expertise into writing, shedding light on fascinating legal cases from the past. Married, with four adult children and eight grandchildren, he is using his retirement to illuminate significant legal events and their impact on local communities.