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The Slice: The jury went ahead and voted to convict

The Slice was done with autograph stories for the time being.

But I have to share this one.

Back in 1991, Dana Freeborn was being considered as a juror in a Spokane murder trial. Until, that is, it came out that she had read Joseph Wambaugh’s true crime book, “The Blooding.”

That volume made a case for the validity of DNA evidence. And Dana told the court it had persuaded her.

Defense counsel promptly bounced her from the jury. The S-R’s Bill Morlin wrote about it for the next day’s paper.

But to tell the truth, Dana was happy to be excused from that trial. So, through his publisher, she sent Wambaugh a thank-you note. She included Morlin’s story.

The best-selling author wrote back and told Dana he had really enjoyed hearing from her and learning about the trial.

He autographed a personalized bookmark, which Dana said she treasures.

Cats and communications devices: “Our cat has frequently walked on the computer keyboard, but never mastered sending any email,” wrote Carlin Jude. “But, applying the same technique, she made frequent use of the phone on my nightstand. I was no longer startled at night to hear the recorded voice saying ‘If you wish to make a call, hang up and dial again.’

“But she did call our son in California in the middle of the night, by stepping on the ‘Dial last number called’ button, and his worried voice woke me. After that call, we got a new phone she hasn’t yet learned how to use.”

Spokane is a city that never … : Former colleague Kenny Ocker paraphrased some vintage lyrics from a Rick Astley song to complete that sentence.

“Spokane is the city that never gives you up, never lets you down, never runs around or deserts you.”

Of course, Kenny’s working in Tacoma now. But you know what they say about absence making the heart grow fonder.

Roadkill volume and variety, here vs. there: Feel free to hum “The front bumpers of Texas are upon you” as you read this.

“The way I learned the fauna of Texas was by the roadkill,” wrote Sue Swanson.

Deer, coyotes, ravens, armadillos, wild boars, raccoons … you name it.

“At first I grimaced at the ugly vultures circling overhead and picking apart the dead.”

Then she realized they must have submitted the winning bid for highway cleanup and were just doing their job.

Today’s Slice question: Who was the best-ever Inland Northwest baby sitter?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. How old is your employee I.D. photo?

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