Trial by Combat

The author of Trial by Combat Braswell D. Deen, Jr., son of a former U.S. Congressman, spent two years in the United States Marine Corps during WWII (purple heart), four years at the University of Georgia (law school), fifthteen years in the practice of law (Jaycees selection as one of the five outstanding young men in Georgia in 1953), eight years as a member of the Georgia General Assembly (authoring Georgia's Woman Jury Bill in 1953), twenty six years on the Court of Appeals of Georgia (former Chief Judge), and thirteen years in alternative dispute resolution (writing his book, Deen's List). His 68 year career reflects the pithy observations, comments and conclusions made in his book.

Deen divides his book into Part I and Part II. The former Part focuses on famous trial cases and the law. The latter Part addresses a plethora and myriad of subjects, questions and issues such as science, education, poetic injustices, philosophy, origins, crime, genealogy, art, limericks, his hobbys, and his military Trial by Combat memories of WWII invasions of the Pacific Islands of Peleliu and Okinawa. Both parts of this book should whet the appetite and desires of the sharpest mind.

The first part of his book highlights over 65 colorful vignettes of cases of national and international impact and interest. Horatti v. Curiatti, Trial of Jesus, Scopes Monkey Trial, Loeb and Leopold Case, seven art cases such as Whistler v. John Ruskin are covered, Trial of the Nazi War Criminals at Nuremberg, and a host of many other cases are reviewed. Older Collected Colorful Case Cites and Comments and quotes from actual Georgia Trials are priceless and charming for lawyers and the general public. More recent Alphabetized and Annotated State of Georgia Colorful Classic Case Cites and Comments are included.

"Are men improved monkeys or are monkeys degenerate men?" "Are women fallen angels or risen apes?" The second part of his book is a Deen dissent and challenge to Darwin, Darrow and Dewey's philosophical pronouncements, positions and points. His six poetic injustices features actual Georgia trials of the "Unholy Thirteen" at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia and "The Wild Man of Okefenokee" by the Humane Society at Evanston, Illinois. His chapters on Crime Causes Connections & Cures, Origins and the First Amendment, Genealogy, Anecdotes, Art, Limericks, Books and Hobbys, and the two last chapters of his book, relating to his memories and experiences of the two Invasions of Peleliu and Okinawa Islands during WWII, should all grip the imagination and interest of the reader. Trial by Combat should be a must read, for young and old alike.