CHARACTER ASSASSINS

About the Book

CHARACTER ASSASSINS is a brief history of the consequences of bearing false witness. It tells how “toxic talk” has led to shunning, witch hunts, persecuti ons, false prosecuti ons, executi ons, pogroms, famines, wars and genocides. From small acorns great oaks grow, and from small lies come poisonous fruits: ruined reputati ons, divided neighborhoods, class hatreds, clan violence, ethnic cleansings and blood libels, preludes to the twenti eth century’s worst horrors. The book criti cally examines various contemporary events. It details intellectual rot and corrupti on in Massachusett s federal and state courts, prosecutors’ offi ces and law schools. It pinpoints deep seated biases, spin and false reporti ng in Boston’s newspapers and radio talks shows. It proves Howie Carr’s books are litt ered with falsehoods. It singles out Carr and Dershowitz as examples of chronic character assassins.

“Lies, ruin, disease, Into wounds like these, Let the truth sti ng!”
—David Gray

About the Author

William M. Connolly has written six books on history and the law. This is his second novel. He studied biology, medicine, public health and law at Boston College, Georgetown Medical, Harvard Public Health and Suffolk Law. He’s a veteran of the U.S. Public Health Service. He practiced law for twenty years in Boston. He’s worked as a laborer, custodian, house painter, truck driver, taxi driver, landscaper and lumberjack. He’s dropped out and changed course frequently in life. In his youth, he boxed, played football, basketball, handball and the piano. He still plays music. He exercises daily, starting slow then tapering off. He writes short stories and angry letters to editors. He rails against the dying of the light. He pokes ribs and ruffles feathers. He disagrees. He has fun.