American Caste

A Prosecutor's Perspective

As a historical perspective, Texas Death Row is interesting -- an accurate chronological perspective. And the factual records of the two cases that I have in there were accurate: Thomas Barefoot, who was the fourth one in the book, was one I did. And Jerry "the Animal" McFadden was another one. So it's difficult for me to comment on how the book will influence public opinion, or whether it is an attempt to influence the death penalty, because I'm out here in the forest.

Yet I didn't find the book particularly provocative, whether the reader is for or against the death penalty. Nor did I find in it any intellectual process bolstering the death penalty. The book doesn't necessarily lend itself to the debate as to why the death penalty is good or bad. I don't think that was the authors' intent.

As a historical perspective on the death penalty, this work may dilute some of the argument that the application of the penalty is all racial, because it is obvious here that the death penalty applies to all races. If you read books that have to do with the debate on the death penalty, they usually range from the religious to the moral to the ethical arguments. There is none of that here.

Nor does the book offend me. I think it has some value as a resource book, because it does present a chronological order and tell who, what, where, and when. You give people the facts. They will draw their own conclusions.

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E.A. "Cappy" Eads is the district attorney of Bell County.