The stain of wrongful convictions upon the American criminal justice system seems impossible to eradicate. In my home state of Illinois, there was a time when the number of inmates wrongfully convicted and then released from incarceration exceeded the number of inmates awaiting execution. That sad state of affairs was a prime factor in the decision of the Illinois legislature to abolish the death penalty.

The story has become quite commonplace. Books, movies and television shows featuring the crusading attorney and hard-working investigators battling overzealous prosecutors and police are everywhere. It is not even a debate anymore that our criminal justice system produces wrongful convictions. Even the most strident “law and order” public figures grudgingly accept that sometimes the system fails.

"This is a captivating history on several levels. Impressively detailed and wonderfully written, it chronicles the Edgar Smith case from all aspects. In its own style, it exposes celebrity and the criminal justice system from a different perspective."

Sarah Weinman’s SCOUNDREL is an examination of one such wrongful conviction, but it’s a case that took a unique turn. Edgar Smith, championed by many as a victim, turned out to be a manipulator of the criminal justice system. He was, in fact, rightfully convicted, and until the system turned him loose, he deserved to be in prison. Sadly, his premature release only led to another violent crime.

Wrongful conviction cases fall into several categories. In many instances, continued investigations yield new evidence, often scientific, that clearly establish innocence. Other times, legal shortcomings in the procedure result in new trials being ordered, which is what happened in the Edgar Smith case.

There was never any evidence or investigation that clearly established Smith did not commit the crime for which he was imprisoned. He was convicted of the murder of teenager Victoria Ann Zielinski in 1957. Sentenced to death, he was incarcerated and eventually was befriended in prison by noted conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr. With the assistance of Buckley and a team of lawyers, Smith --- after 19 different challenges to his conviction --- succeeded in obtaining a retrial in 1971. He had given a confession to the police after a lengthy interrogation, but that was eventually barred by a judge.

Smith ended up taking a plea deal for a reduced sentence and was released from prison. His contact with Buckley made him a celebrity, writing bestselling books and lecturing across America. He was a poster child for the flaws in the American criminal justice system. Then he wasn’t. Five years after his release, he was arrested for the abduction and attempted murder of another woman, Lefteriya "Lisa" Ozbun, in California, where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Smith’s legal team and celebrity supporters abandoned him. He was denied parole on several occasions, lost each appeal of his second conviction, and died in prison in 2017, outliving many of the participants in his remarkable journey through the legal system.

This is a captivating history on several levels. Impressively detailed and wonderfully written, it chronicles the Edgar Smith case from all aspects. In its own style, it exposes celebrity and the criminal justice system from a different perspective. Sadistic criminals often have another character trait --- they are extraordinary con men. Great books have been written about them. SCOUNDREL is such a book, and Edgar Smith is such a man.