'Who Shot the Judge?'

New Family History Examines a Mysterious Death and the Power of Grief

In his new book, "Who Shot the Judge?" (published by AuthorHouse), Harry L. Starbuck digs into his own family history to tell the true story of the shooting death of Judge Roscoe L. Corbett, the mystery which haunted the family for the next quarter century as the case remained unsolved.

"Who Shot the Judge?" describes the effects of the loss on the family as they struggle to live with the unsolved mystery. How does one work through such grief? What are the possible effects of unhealed grief upon the lives of survivors and even, perhaps, on those of the next generation? And how will one face the change and challenge presented when, after the passage of time, the mystery is unexpectedly solved?

Corbett, the author's grandfather, was a popular and prominent circuit judge in Traverse City, Mich. In November 1898, during a hunting trip in the woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he was shot in the back.

His wife, Marion, is devastated. Starbuck contrasts her grief with a chapter of love letters written during the couple's courtship. As a suddenly single parent of four, Marion falls into depression, only slowly adjusting to her new life. Who Shot the Judge? also follows the children - Charlie, 17, John, 15, Frank, 11, and Bessie, 7, the author's mother - as they grow up without a father. Along the way, Frank loses his life in a boating accident.

After 23 years of uncertainty, the mystery of the fatal shooting is solved, a revelation made just before Marion's 60th birthday celebration. The remaining members of the family reflect on how they have evolved through the grief of losing a father and husband, a brother and son.

The final chapter, "Author's Confession," explains that Starbuck's own grief over his grandfather's death, even though the two never knew each other, stems from his mother's unhealed trauma. This chapter encourages people to express their grief at every stage.

In addition to family stories, "Who Shot the Judge?" is based on newspaper records, personal correspondences and other historical materials. However, to make the story fit together, Starbuck relied on plausible speculations to fill in the blank spaces of everyday life.

Starbuck is a United Methodist minister of 40 years. He and his wife, Lollie, have six children and 13 grandchildren. His extensive genealogical research was published in "Assembling My Ancestors, the Saga of Two Families."

More information on Who Shot the Judge? is available at http://www.whoshotjudgebook.com.