Final Verdict
Just finished rereading the subject book. It's an absorbing personal account of the life and key trials of Earl Rogers by his daughter Adela Rogers St. Johns. Earl Rogers was supposedly the model for Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason.
At the beginning of the 20th century Rogers was the pre-eminent criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles, and was instrumental in introducing a number of approaches then unusual but now common in trials today (using qualified expert witnesses, applying forensic analyses to determine bullet paths, using props to re-enact events, etc.). Combined with a razor-sharp cross-examination technique, he was the go-to lawyer for those who wanted the absolute best representation for their interests at court.
Two prominent clients were Clarence Darrow (who was accused of attempting to bribe a juror to exonerate Darrow's clients charged with bombing the LA Times) and Griffith J. Griffith (who donated the land for LA's Griffith Park) for the attempted murder of his wife.
But despite all his legal successes, Rogers ended up a destitute alcoholic and dying at an early age. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read for both lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
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Ty for sharing! 