In 1924 a Connecticut prosecutor saved a suspect from the gallows, in a case of justice that’s taught today in law books. The movie “Boomerang” was based on the case.

Here & Now‘s Lisa Mullins looks back at the case, and how it resonates today in the debate of over sentencing and overzealous prosecutions.

Read The Marshall Project story, “Homer and Harold: An Extraordinary Story of Justice Done, and What Came After,” here, and via Smithsonian magazine.


Hear more about the story of Homer Cummings, via WBUR:

Array

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate