In a reader’s guide to her outstanding book, Twain’s End, novelist Lynn Cullen makes this interesting observation.
“. . .when spoken with conviction, falsehoods and accusations carry the same weight as truths. Whoever speaks the most loudly is believed, not necessarily the one who speaks the most honestly.”
She follows this discouraging thought with another. “. . . having the truth on your side is not enough.”
I could not help but relate her insightful comments to the Stacey Burns murder case. Some of the falsehoods, accusations, innuendoes, and wild speculations in that case have been stated with enough conviction that the truth struggles to come to the surface.
I have heard from several sources that the police know who killed this poor woman. My question is this: Why are they not shouting out that “truth” after seven years and four months. Why allow those speaking other than the truth to have their “falsehoods and accusations carry the same weight as truths?”
Thank you, Lynn Cullen, for inspiring me to write this post.
Duke
Thanks for pulling out this quote, Duke. It’s central to the story in Twain’s End and, evidently, the Stacey Burns murder case. Maddening, isn’t it?
Did you know that in England police do NOT lie, they must tell the public what they uncover, they allow the public into the investigation. Here in the U.S. we do the opposite, the police are allowed to lie, cover-up and even protect the suspect, we the people are never allowed in, all in the name of justice. If Strelzin was truthful from the start the pressure on Brabants, his wife as well as nanna “B” would be great enough to have brought out the truth and Eddie wouldn’t be allowed to roam around telling everyone his B.S. that someone else did this.
that is why we require evidence to arrest, a motive to explain why, a competent and loyal attorney to represent the accused and a jury to convict. When one of those is breached we have a crisis; when all are breached we have a human rights disaster. “Live free or die” is a statement of action and courage; “death is not the worst of evils” is a warning. Regardless of who is ultimately responsible for Stacey Burns murder, Roberta Miller’s murder, as well as many other seemingly unconnected victims, one thing is certain; evil has a foothold and tyranny exists.
I’ve been a friend of Edward since 1987. I’ve “sailed the Seven Seas” with him throughout this time. He is an unsung hero whom courageously saved the lives of two people, in separate incidents. There are numerous eye-witnesses.
His steed is white. He wears armor of honor and honesty.
We know “who done it.” However, the evidence is just scant enough that a criminal trial might not yield a conviction. And that would allow an egomaniac to get away with it. So, time ticks by until the final shred of evidence is found, the nail in the coffin.
Ed is not perfect; jim is not perfect; can we all agree on that? If this were a jury would you convict either man of murder and flick the switch on him? Are you Jim so convinced of Ed’s guilt that you would volunteer? Your seeming willingness to fry him is disturbing especially considering the police consider you the murderer. Are you innocent? If so what if the same justice or lack there of was applied to you? It would be hard to argue that you deserved better. All I’m saying is these baseless accusations are not helping find Stacey’s killer; and may actually be helping to shield the real killer.
I would flick that switch without hesitation, Ed Burns did exactly what he promised he would do. He, Ed Burns murdered his wife Stacey the day before his court case and Jeff Strelzin let him go.