The Law: A Dreyfus of Drunks

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For the past year, Hutt has sought a Dreyfus of drunks on whom to build a case. Four times, he plucked sodden candidates out of the drunk tank, and each time, King foiled a trial by getting the charges dropped with a nolle prosequi (will no further prosecute). Hutt finally produced precedents saying that once a trial has begun, this tactic is not allowable without the defendant's consent. He then took DeWitt Easter as his client only after the police had rested their case. A few weeks ago, Easter was given a 90-day suspended sentence by Judge Edmond Daly, who is "absolutely in 100% agreement" with Hutt's goal.

Now the appeal is well under way. Defendant Easter, who has "craved liquor like a man craving water," may not live to see Congress provide the care that would make him Patient Easter. But his name may go down in law books as that of a desperate man who left hope for others.