Killian, who once worked as an ADA, also impresses upon Sherman his importance to the DA office as a Great White Defendant. He wants a signed statement from Maria that she was driving the car, and though Sherman says that he will attempt to get it, he seems still chivalrous (or stupid) enough to put his faith in Maria. They turn to the case, and Killian suggests that Maria will betray Sherman. Especially crucial, it seems, is his failure to contact Killian sooner, before the police arrived. Killian, after clearly stating his fee, points out Sherman's errors one by one. When Sherman meets Killian, he's a bit surprised at the lawyer's extremely dapper appearance. He begins to realize that this world he is now mired in has always existed, and that his power and prestige are meaningless here. Under the florescent lighting and surrounding by defendants of all colors and creeds but his own, Sherman is totally uncomfortable. They humorously describe Sherman's arrogance and inept evasiveness.ĭown on Reade Street, Sherman waits for Thomas Killian in the offices of Dershkin, Bellavita, Fishbein & Schlossel. Meanwhile, Martin and Goldberg relate their interview with Sherman to Bernie Fitzgibbon, chief of the Homicide Division of the DA's office. all aspire to be pig-headed and courageous, like the Irish, and he is no exception. Kramer believes that the other ethnicities in the department - African-Americans, Italians, Jews, etc. Not only do they have a solid lead in a media-saturated case, the men are on the verge of hauling in the catch of the decade, The Great White Defendant.Īs the DA office talks about this development, Larry Kramer reflects on Irish machismo, a mule-like stubbornness (the Irish call themselves 'donkeys') that has become the preferred personality of the department. Sherman's suspicious evasiveness, combined with the testimony of the garage attendant, leads the men to belive that they have found their man in the Lamb case. As Chapter 16 opens, Detectives Martin and Goldberg are pleased as punch.

Tom wolfe bonfire of the vanities book