A Ghost's Testimony Co-Written With Jack Horne

*NOTE: Jack and I wonder how many of you have heard of the Zona Shue case – an American murder victim who had revenge in Virginia in the late 1800s. Zona was killed by her husband, Edward Shue, who then took elaborate steps to cover his crime. In an attempt to disguise Zona’s broken neck, Edward dressed her corpse in a scarf and high necked dress, stuffed her coffin with pillows (to support her vertebrae) and refused to allow even the doctor near the body. However, Zona appeared to her mother and revealed the truth. Following exhumation and an autopsy, Edward was found guilty of murder. It was the only case in American history where information provided by a ghostly apparition was admitted as evidence for consideration by jurors. Jack and I are co-sponsoring a contest on ghost poems. Our co-write "A Ghost's Testimony" below will give you an idea what we're seeking in entries. "A Ghost's Testimony" "She must have fallen down the stairs: A tragic accident," he said. "I've washed her body, laid her out - Oh, Doctor Knapp, my Zona's dead!" "No accident! Shue broke my neck. Mother, please hear my ghostly plea. Take him to court and make him pay; It's murder in the first degree." “I’ve dressed her in her high necked frock… Thought pillows by her neck looked fine… She’d want to wear this scarf,” he wept. “But no one touch the corpse - she’s mine!” "Thanks, Mom, for bringing this to court. The autopsy was not done right! With malice Shue cut my life short. Exhume my body; shed some light." “Her mother wants to see me hang, But she can’t prove my guilt,” he fumed. “She claims the body sheet turned red, And wants to have my wife exhumed.” "The judge disagreed and allowed My spirit world testimony. Shue, my killer, was not so proud; A death in jail for this phony!"