William Heirens: His Day in Court

This is a very good overview of William Heirens case. Dolores Kennedy did a very good job with a complicated and long story. I wish that everyone could read this book. What happened to Mr. Heirens is a travesty of justice. What is really hard to understand is the fact that he is still in prison today. I urge you to buy this book. I feel for the families of the victims, but keeping an innocent man locked up for 63 years is compounding the tragedy. I do not know why it is evident to me and so many other people that he is innocent, yet nothing is ever done. Melissa A.

...I read Ms. Kennedy's book shortly after it was published in 1991 and have followed the case closely since that time. As Ms. Kennedy points out in her book, reevaluating the evidence used to force Heirens into a conviction brought shocking revelations. The "compelling evidence" of which the reader speaks consists of two samples of handwriting, neither of which belonged to Heirens according to more than a dozen experts, including an analyst from the FBI; fingerprints, one of which was clearly a rolled print from a fingerprint card, the other placed on the Degnan ransom note where no print was recorded immediately after the murder; a confession so tainted by error as to be ludicrous, and hidden indentation writing that, according to the FBI in 1946, did not exist. There was no need to ask the Chicago Police for fingerprint evidence. It is in the hands of Heirens' supporters... Before reading William Heirens: His Day in Court, I thought I knew the facts of the Heirens case. What I read changed by thinking forever, and subsequent events have only reinforced what I learned from Ms. Kennedy's book. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Heirens case or the study of a wrongful conviction. ...

Dolores Kennedy has done a wonderful job researching the topic of William Heirens and the murders he (reluctantly) confessed to and was eventually charged and jailed for. Though it's been twelve years since its publication and newer evidence and experts have looked into Mr. Heirens case, their source for their findings began with the points Kennedy covers in this well written documentation. But more than the facts and fiction of this fascinating case the reader is introduced to a bright, caring, and brave man who grew from the frightened 17 year old charged with 3 notorious murders. After reading this book I immediately jumped at the chance to write the Governer of Illinois to lend my voice in the cry to free William Heirens after 56 years of inprisonment. This book is not your typical 'True Crime' book, instead it's a well crafted and powerful argument to give Mr. Heirens what he's never had...a fair trial. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed!