White Lies

This exceptionally well-documented account of an innocent man being railroaded and consequently convicted and sentenced to die by not only law enforcement officials, but prosecutors and judges as well underscores the most compelling argument for the abolition of the death penalty. Human beings, notwithstanding being on the "right" side of the law,can not only make honest mistakes, but can also abuse their power to commit the most horrific of crimes......to knowingly arrest, convict, imprison, and execute an innocent person.

I live in Montgomery County Texas and unfortunately this book is as accurate as it is frightening. The book does a wonderful job of exposing the racism which exists just below the surface in Conroe and throughout Texas. Recommended for anyone who wants to be shocked and disgusted at what can happen in Small Town USA today.

White Lies by Nick Davies should be required reading for all Texas high school students. This is a well chronicled story of Clarence Brandley, a school janitor in Conroe, Texas. When a high school cheerleader is brutally assaulted and murdered during a Saturday practice at school, the local police are called to the scene. They quickly identify the perpetrator of the heinous crime: Clarence Brandley. The only evidence to support their conclusion? Brandley is the only black custodian. Tried and convicted of capital murder, Brandley receives the death penalty and languishes on death row for years. Is there justice in Texas? If you're white and wealthy. No white person has ever been executed in Texas for killing a black. Former Texas Governor George Bush proudly claims that no innocent person was ever executed on his "shift". Little would he know. Proponents of the death penalty need to read this chilling account. Perhaps something would have been learned from history, instead of being forced to repeat previous mistakes - or injustice. Napoleon Beasley, a black man who as a teenager killed the father of a federal court judge, was convicted by a racist jury and sentenced to death. Recently he received a stay of execution. When will this insanity end? Incidentally, the book is very difficult to find - especially in Texas!

I read this book about 10 years ago. It is one of the best books I have ever read. It is horrifying, and unbelievable, but you will not put it down. Nick has a brilliant writing style. Hope the publishers reprint it -I lent mine to someone and have been looking for another for years.

As a citizen of Conroe and someone who lived throuh the events, I find this book an amazing and horrifying story of justice gone wrong. Small town justice at its worst in Texas.