In 1924 in Chicago, two lurid murder cases made heads, each involving a glamorous young woman. One admitted shooting her r and there was strong evidence that the other, a cabaret singer, had killed hers. Both had clever lawyers who played on the jurors’ sympathy, and both were acquitted. After covering the cases as a reporter, Maurine Dallas Watkins wrote a play satirizing the media-circus trials and the reckless, freewheeling atmosphere of the city itself. Her play, Chicago, did well

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