In 1984, a Moroccan national named Abdelkrim Belachheb walked into Iannis Restaurant, a trendy Dallas nightclub, and gunned down seven people. Six died. Despite the fact that the crimes occurred in a state that prides itself on being tough on criminals, the death penalty was not an option for the Belachheb jury. Even though he had committed six murders, and his guilt was never in question (despite his insanity defense), his crimes were not capital murders under 1984 statutes. As a direct result of this crime, during the 1985 regular session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8--the “multiple murder” statute--to make serial killing and mass murder capital crimes. Belachheb’s case serves as an excellent example to explore capital punishment and the insanity defense. Furthermore, Belachheb’s easy entry into the United States (despite his violent record in Europe) highlights our contemporary fear over lax immigration screening and subsequent terrorism. The case is unique in that debate usually arises from an execution. Belachheb was given life imprisonment and is currently under maximum security--a fate some would argue is “worse than death.” He is scheduled to have his first parole hearing in 2004, the twentieth anniversary of his crime. “This is a …

Interview with Randell Fields. The interview includes Fields' personal experiences about attending the Texas International Pop Festival in Lewisville, Texas, early youth in rural Texas, and transferring high schools. Fields also talks about attendance at the "Big D Jamboree," the effects of his parent's divorce and influence of his young stepmother's interest in current music, student challenges to authority at North Texas Mesquite High School, rock 'n roll music of the Sixties, the influence of the radio station KZEW, attending the festival accompanied by his brother, sister, and father, observing the festival from outside the grounds, and the significance of the festival.

Interview with businessman Harold Corey. The interview includes Corey's personal experiences about the Texas International Pop Festival. Corey talks about his parents' reaction to the social, political, and cultural changes of the Sixties, his early interest in popular music, protests against the Vietnam War, conflicts with the redneck culture, the influence of the Beatles on the music of the Sixties, the influence of the "British Invasion," meeting the Grand Funk Railroad at the festival, Hog Farm, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, the sale and use of drugs, the trip tent, festival security, activities at the campgrounds, comments about Ten Years After, and the lasting effects of the festival on his life. The interview includes an appendix with a campground map and festival advertisement.

Interview with Army veteran Charles C. Brabham Jr. The interview includes Brabham's personal experiences about the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, his youth in Dallas during the Great Depression, joining the 112th Cavalry at age 16, his mobilization and various assignments, and his medical evacuation die to malaria, dysentery, and hookworm.

Interview with W. W. Hughes, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Grand Prarie, Texas. Hughes discusses growing up in the Great Depression, joining the National Guard and equestrian service in the 112th Cavalry at Fort Clark, the start of war and deployment to New Caledonia and Australia, preparations for combat, amphibious landings at Arawe Island off New Britain, scout patrols and combat, operations in New Guinea at the Driniumor River, Japanese POWs, actions in the Philippines at Leyte and Luzon, returning to the US as an instructor, and reflections on his service.

Interview with Charles Kingsley, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas, who served in the 112th Cavalry. Kingsley discusses his upbringing, joining the Guard, the Louisiana Maneuvers, deployment to New Caledonia, his troop's machine gun section/platoon, Woodlark Island, the Battle of Arawe, New Guinea and the Battle of Drinumor River, the Battles of Leyte and Luzon, his thoughts on the generals he served, and thoughts on the 112th.

Interview with Thomas W. Nance, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran from Dallas, Texas, who served with the 112th Cavalry in the Pacific. Nance discusses growing up and joining the 112th, working with horses, equipment used and organization, maneuvers at Fort Bliss, deployment to New Caledonia, operations on Woodlark Island, staging at Goodenough Island and the landing at Arawe, being wounded and evacuated, recovery and discharge, continued disability and experiences with VA hospitals, and reflections on the 112th as a unit. In appendix is the poem "Fiddler's Green," a list of places Nance served, descriptions of military equipment mentioned, and the 112th's service chronicle.

Interview with Christopher Perry Nichols, stage director, concerning his recollections of his father, the artist Perry Nichols.

Interview with Donald Stanley Vogel, artist and art dealer, concerning his recollections concerning painter Perry Nichols. He discusses his early years as a painter after coming to Dallas from Chicago, 1942; comments about the "Dallas Nine"; building a clientele for his paintings; his relationship with John Rosenfield, the arts and music critic for the Dallas Morning News; his business partnership with Betty McLean in the Betty McLean Art Gallery, 1951-54; his criticism of Nichols's work habits; comments about Nichols's personal life; his role in Nichols's mural painted for the Belo Corporation; his critique of the Belo mural; the importance of self-discipline to the successful artist.

Interview with Robert Stuth-Wade, artist, concerning his recollections of his relationship with Dallas painter Perry Nichols, 1971-1985. He discusses his early interest in drawing and art; his introduction to Nichols; comments about Nichols's marital life and alcoholism; Nichols's teaching style and mentorship; his description of Nichols's studio; his comparison of Nichols's lifestyle to that of Ernest Hemingway; his critique of Nichols's works and work habits; his criticisms of abstract expressionism; Nichols's marriages; comments about the "Dallas Nine" and Nichols's contribution to the Texas art scene.