Letter to the editor
A few months ago I finished reading a book titled “The Strange Case of Dr. Wine” by Brice Brenneman. I had been following Dr. Wine's situation since the beginning and knew most of the events that had occurred. However, Mr. Brenneman's book filled in some of the gaps and clarified many events for me by putting them in chronological order. Since I finished the book, I've been thinking about writing a letter to the editor, so here it is.
When I think about Dr. Wine's case the main thought I come away with is: "Thank goodness for nonsense, because if it wasn't for nonsense there would be no sense to the entire case!"
Some of the nonsense events that occurred are listed below. I just can't believe that:
• The original date of the accusation that Mrs. Davis had burned into her memory Doug and his wife were thousands of miles away in Hawaii!
• Mrs. Davis screamed when the accusation happened and nobody in the entire house heard her, even her grandson who was sleeping in the same bed!
• Doug had to crawl over a big snake tank to commit the act. That seems impossible to do and if not, doing it from Hawaii surely is!
• Mrs. Davis waited a year to accuse Doug of the act!
• During that year, Mrs. Davis visited and stayed overnight at the Wine house multiple times!
• He took a polygraph test and the machine was nonfunctioning!
• His wife was allowed to come into the room during the polygraph and pressed him to admit he did it!
• The individual conducting the polygraph test was already convinced that Doug had committed the act and was just trying to get him to admit it!
• The case even made it to court!
• The judge didn't throw it out! The list seems to go on without end. The two main questions I have are: “Why did everyone investigating the case assume Mrs. Davis was telling the truth?” and “Why would Mrs. Davis ever accuse Doug of such a terrible act?" I believe an answer to the second question would reveal more light and explain the whole mess.
All of that aside, I've known Doug Wine for over 50 years, we grew up together. We played sports together, went to school together, went to parties together, hung out at each other's houses and went to church together. I could always depend on Doug to be a GREAT FRIEND! Doug was like a second brother to me and still is.
I was in shock when his situation first started and I still am. I know anything is possible but I believe in this case it is highly, highly unlikely. The damage to Doug and his family has been enormous and needs to be rectified. Hang tough my friend and keep the faith.