Subtitle from cover.

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippiś favorite soná decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell. As if the murder werent́ shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete's only statement about itt́o the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his familyẃas: "I have nothing to say." He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.