The widow of the defence lawyer Tom Radney says she has a manuscript that was intended to form the first chapter of the book, known as The Reverend. Madolyn Radney had hoped that the publicity surrounding the publication of Go Set a Watchman this summer would lead to the discovery of the rest of the manuscript of The Reverend.
First wife strangled
Tom Radney is said to have given all his notes, transcripts and court documents to Harper Lee. The case relates to a preacher called Will Maxwell. He was on trial for the murder of his first wife, who had been found beaten and strangled in her car. The preacher was acquitted after he married the chief prosecution witness, who then changed her story and provided him with an alibi.
Step-daughter found dead
But the preacher was himself killed at the funeral of his stepdaughter, who had been found dead under his car. Mr Radney acted as the defence lawyer for the stepdaughter's uncle, who was accused of murdering the him. He was found not gulty by reason of insanity.
Second wife found dead
Three other relatives of the preacher had also died or disappeared in suspicious circumstances: his brother died of alcohol poisoning, his second wife was also found dead in her car and his nephew disappeared. The preacher was never tried in relation to these developments. Source: ABA
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