Lawyer for Morganna the Kissing Bandit once upon a time.
Posted on 04/28/2017 8:00:17 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
Legendary Houston attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes died early this morning, according to a statement from family spokesman and criminal defense lawyer Chris Tritico. He died at 12:58 am with his family by his side after recently celebrating his 90th birthday. He had had been in declining health for the past several years, said Tritico.
Haynes was one of the most well-known criminal defense lawyers in the country. He made a name for himself in the 1970s, with cases including the State of Texas v. John Hill, when he represented a River Oaks surgeon accused of murdering his socialite wife. After the first trial ended in a hung jury, Hill was murdered in the driveway of his River Oaks mansion. The case was made the subject of the Thomas Thompson book "Blood and Money," which was also turned into a movie.
Later, Haynes represented Cullen Davis, the first billionaire indicted for murder in the U.S., and Pam Fielder, who was accused of killing her abusive husband. Haynes' defense on the Fielder case is now embodied in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, giving women the right to defend themselves against abusers, said Tritico.
Haynes was easy-going until he stepped into a courtroom, Tritico said. He was legendary for his ability to take command of the courtroom, and effectively cross-examine witnesses.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Oh crap!! Who is Racehorse Haynes?
The last horse I bet on was so good, it took 9 other horses to beat him.
Lawyer for Morganna the Kissing Bandit once upon a time.
Back in the 1970s and 80s, he was one of the best criminal defense trial lawyers in the country.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/how-cullen-davis-beat-the-rap-2/
The Cullen Davis murder trial was movie material.
He was the inspiration for "The Devil's Advocate" character Alexander Cullen, played by Craig T. Nelson.
Say you sue me because you say my dog bit you.
Well now this is my defense:
My dog doesn’t bite.
And second, in the alternative, my dog was tied up that night.
And third, I don’t believe you really got bit.
And fourth, I don’t have a dog.
—Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, Houston, Texas (1927- )
I think Jerry Spence is still alive. I don’t think he ever lost a case.
Quote:
“...with cases including the State of Texas v. John Hill...”
That was the most fascinating murder and murder trial I have
ever read about. It made the OJ Simpson trial look like a
trial for a minor traffic ticket.
I remember watching him in action in the courtroom in Kerrville, during the Ellebracht Slave Ranch trial in 1986. There wasn’t any way they were going to be found innocent, but he dang sure got them the lightest sentence you could imagine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joan_Robinson_Hill
They made a movie about it ‘Murder in Texas’.
Stewball was a Racehorse Haynes Johnson.
RIP.
If I die at 90, they’ll have to say “after suffering declining health for 40 years.”
Racehorse was one of the greats.
And you sleep better at night because there are lawyers like Racehorse.
My dad was on the defense team for Davis. What memories...
Best ever at his craft. Could not decide if I was infuriated or in awe of the outcomes of his cases. Certainly a showman bigger than life.
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