Lecture: "The Murder Trial of John Gordon" by Ken Dooley

The Museum of Newport Irish History will hold the third lecture in its 8th Annual Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the La Forge Casino Restaurant (www.LaForgeNewport.com)

Playwright Kenneth R. Dooley will give a talk entitled "The Murder Trial of John Gordon".  In it he will discuss the trial and subsequent execution of Irish immigrant, John Gordon, the last person executed by the State of Rhode Island, following his conviction, in 1845.  Dooley will also speak about his new play by the same name, which opens January 14 at the Park Theater in Cranston (for information: www.ParkTheaterRI.com.   His meticulously researched play sheds new light on this infamous 165 year old incident and dramatizes how Gordon was wrongly convicted during an era when prejudice towards Irish Catholics was all too common.

Following the lecture, a reception with light hors d'oeuvres will be held and a cash bar is available. 

The lecture is free for Museum of Newport Irish History members and $15 for non-members, which may be applied to the annual membership fee. 

Space is limited and reservations are required.  To reserve please contact Ann Arnold at 841-5493 or at tpm1@earthlink.net.

This presentation is the third in the 2010-2011 Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series, presented by The Museum of Newport Irish History, and made possible through the generosity of the La Forge Casino Restaurant.  For more information about the Museum of Newport Irish History, please visit www.NewportIrishHistory.org.

Speaker Bio:
Newport resident, author, playwright, director, and Cranston native, Kenneth R. Dooley has published 38 books, including Management by Auerbach, in 1992, and the recently completed Judgment at Yokohama, based on a real life incident involving the capture and execution of Lt. Robert E. Thorpe, a Cranston native, during WWII.  His other recent play is The Auerbach Dynasty, based on the life of Red Auerbach, which the NBA plans to produce for an opening at Cranston's Park Theater in 2011.  His professional background includes nearly 30 years in publishing and its related educational film production industries