Missouri’s Theatrical Trial Society

Although not patent related, I thought I would highlight one of the more interesting aspects of the University of Missouri School of Law — our theater troop: Every year, the law school’s Historical and Theatrical Trial Society puts on a mock-trial based upon a famous historic event.  This year, the focus is local: E. M. Watson, the Editor and Proprietor of the Columbia Daily Tribune in the 1920’s is on trial for incitement to riot, solicitation, and murder in connection with the lynching death of James Scott, in downtown Columbia on April 29, 1923.

hatts

Prior trials included Lewis and Clark’s supposed theft of a Native American’s canoe, Al Capone’s role in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Missouri Gov. T. Crittenden’s alleged bounty on the head of outlaw Jesse James, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Ms. Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie and Clyde fame), and the trial of Thomas Putnam for his involvement in the Salem Witch Trial.

2 thoughts on “Missouri’s Theatrical Trial Society

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    I went to the SDNY’s 225th Anniversary, where they reenacted a hearing from the famous Wright brothers patent cases. The acting was done by attorneys, where some fared better than others. But the real highlight was hearing a senior partner talk about his relationship with a protege of Frederick Perry Fish (who represented the Wright brothers and started both Fish & Richardson and Fish & Neave). The protege was quite close to Fish, and this partner was just apparently close to the protege and relayed quite a bit of oral history. Apparently, despite Fish’s success defending the Wright brothers, he was afraid of flying in planes.

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