After reading the book In Cold Blood I got a glimpse of the way the trial was handled and I began to understand a little more about the murderers. At first I had no pity for Dick or Perry. They committed a crime, therefore let the jury decide what their fate may be. I’ve never been too fond of the death penalty, I don’t believe it ever solves anything, you are always left with “what ifs”, although in some cases it is necessary.  I believe it was necessary for Dick more so then for Perry. After watching the movie Capote, I began to understand a little more about Perry, and I found myself feeling sorry for him. Reading about Perry’s childhood made it a little easier to truly understand why he might’ve done what he did to the Clutters. Now don’t get me wrong, they killed a family of four when they had no reason to, that’s unforgiveable. It’s the bond between these two men, Dick and Perry, that’s almost unforgettable. In Cold Blood made me question the impact that Dick had on Perry. It made me think that Dick almost made Perry do something that he thought was ok when in reality it wasn’t.

                Towards the middle of the second part “Persons Unknown” on page 109, it is clear that Perry begins to question the murder and himself when he says, “Way, way rock bottom, I never thought I could do it. A thing like that.” After reading the rest of the page and hearing Perry talk about how he couldn’t believe he did something horrible and how easily he got away with it, it triggered something inside of me.  I began to question if Perry regretted it or he didn’t understand why he committed the horrible crime. Then I soon came to when Perry was digging through two huge boxes of maps, books, souvenirs, his precious things that he was afraid to lose (pg 125). He stumbles across a “badly typed composition” that his father wrote about Perry’s’ childhood, a manuscript entitled “A History of My Boys Life.” Tex John Smith (Perry’s father) had written this documentary in hopes that it would help gain Perry a parole from the Kansas State Penitentiary, whether or not it did, I am unaware of. The manuscript begins talking about Perry’s childhood, stating that indeed Perry was a normal, healthy child. He was very well disciplined up until Perry’s mother had decided to take her children and run away. After this separation, Perry lived with his alcoholic mother who became a prostitute. During this time Perry was always getting himself into some kind of trouble. While being in many orphanages and reform schools, Perry suffered physical and emotional abuse from nuns and custodians, who consistently humiliated him for bedwetting, and as a result he also suffered a lack of compassion and stability. Perry often dreamt of a huge yellow bird that would come down, attack his tormentors, rescue him and fly away. On page 134 Perry begins talking about his horrific motorcycling accident and how he reunited with his Dad to build a hunting lodge, in which him and his father ended up having a falling out and Perry was kicked out on the curb along with his things. Soon after that he reunited with Dick.

“An outstanding athlete—always on the first team at school. Basketball! Baseball! Football! Dick was always the star player. A pretty good student, too, with A marks in several subjects. History. Mechanical drawing. After he graduated from high school he wanted to go on to college.” Mr. Hickock explains while being interviewed by Mr. Nye (pg. 166). It is clear that Dick was a normal child, nice parents, and a steady home.  During his life, Dick had been married to young girl named Carol, they always wanted the best which in turn put them in debt all the time. In this time of his life Dick was in a horrible car accident which concussed his head, his father explains that this could be the reason for Dick starting to act up and writing bad checks. Mr. Hickock explains that Dick being sent to prison was the “ruination of him.” It seems as though Dick was undoubtedly normal, his parents are convinced that Perry was also a reason for Dick turning out so bad, although I’m convinced otherwise.

The background of these two men’s lives plays a valuable part in the partaking in the murders and their will to commit them.

Dick Hickock and Perry Smith were both professionally examined by Dr. Jones to determine whether the men knew right or wrong during the commission of the crimes, the results of the tests are revealed beginning on page 293. Mr. Harrison Smith cross examined the Dr. Jones, asking if Mr. Jones had professionally examined Dick Hickock, the Doctor told him he did and that at the time of the murder Dick was well aware from right or wrong. On page 294 it explains that the Doctor was not allowed to elaborate in the courtroom but if he had been allowed to speak further this is what he would’ve testified. He would’ve explained that indeed Dick Hickock is above the average intelligence, grasps new ideas easily and quickly, and has a wide fund of information. Hickock is alert in what is happening around him, and shows no signs of mental confusion. He is a well organized thinker and seems to be in perfect contact with reality. Although the doctor couldn’t come to a definite conclusion on whether Dick’s car accident had anything to do with his blackout spells, amnesia, headaches, and his anti -social behavior. It is said that Hickock does show signs of emotional abnormality, and he knew very well what he was doing and went ahead and did it. He does before he thinks. Dick is said to have “severe character disorders” and steps need to be taken to rule out the possibility of brain damage. If this had been taken care of before it might have influenced his behavior during the time of the crime.

Arthur Fleming then had the opportunity to cross examine Dr. Jones about Perry Smith. Fleming had asked if Perry also knew right or wrong during the time he committed the crime, and surprisingly the doctor answered no.  Again it was objected that the doctor explains his reasoning but if he had the opportunity this is what he would’ve testified about Perry Smith. He would’ve stated that Perry showed definite signs of severe mental illness. “His childhood, related to me and verified by portions of the prison records, was marked by brutality and lack of concern on the party of both parents.”(pg. 296). The doctor examined that Perry grew up without a sense of direction, without love, and without being aware of his moral values. He shows no sign of confusion and is above average in intelligence. It was clear that he was suspicious and distrustful to the world and he is overly sensitive. He frequently misinterprets well-known communication. He poorly controls his anger and rage, it is easily triggered by any feeling of being tricked, slighted, or labeled. It was said that his rages in the past had been directed to his authority figures. He has trouble organizing his thinking and has trouble being able to stand small crises. He has little or almost no feeling for others outside his circle of friends.

After reading that portion of the book I started suspecting that maybe Perry was just confused. On page 244 Perry says, “I didn’t want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat.” I thought what Perry said about Mr. Clutter was very important. Perry had no intention of harming anyone in the house just looking for some money, and after Perry had harmed someone in the house, his rage unleashed. He began thinking about all the other times someone had hurt him, and he let his anger out on four innocent people. I don’t think Perry was aware of his actions until after he was finished. As for Dick, he clearly wanted “no witnesses” and that is what he got, and he clearly was aware of the whole situation, therefore if anyone should have been put to death, it should have been Dick. As I have said before, I don’t think the death sentence solves anything. It would have been nice to see the two men given help instead of a death sentence. That’s not the way it ended though. It’s almost sad how two decent men shot four wonderful people in cold blood for just 40 dollars. “And it wasn’t because of anything the Clutters did. They never hurt me. Like other people. Like people have all my life. Maybe it’s just the Clutters who had to pay for it.” –Perry Smith (pg. 290)

                 The image I portray of Capote’s passage of Holcomb on page 1, is that the small town can almost be overlooked as though it is a ranch that only the well-known visitors and that outsiders are almost always welcome. It is your average town. At the regular café everyone visits, people are familiar with each other, everyone has a well-paid job, schools are decent, families are very active within the community. It seems as though it would be the perfect place to live, a beautiful area, far away from danger and well-known neighbors. Although Holcomb seems just as normal as any other town, there is something on edge about it, something that makes it totally different from the regular ranching community. It seems like not only is Holcomb a ranching and farming town, but also in its own little way a city. I imagine Holcomb filled with acres of farmland, and every once in a while you’ll come to a dirt road leading towards a beautiful white Victorian house, always seeing men tending to their farm keeping it tidy, children riding horses or simply playing in the yard with one another. Vast, beautiful hills, with the cleanest air and the bluest skies. Almost like a park, a place where people love to roam and admire.

Although Holcomb is portrayed as this blooming beautiful town, full of bustling people, it almost seems too perfect. Capote wants the reader to think that no danger can come upon it, when in reality we all know the outcome of the gruesome murder that is about to be committed. That’s where Holcomb comes in as being seen as ‘city’ like. Holcomb is safe, so safe that no one would imagine something horrible happening. All the while that Holcomb is seen as a safe haven, people are unafraid that danger will enter into their lives, at a moment anything can happen: burglary, rape, murder maybe?

Holcomb and Carteret County are very alike if you take a closer look. I’m sure not many people lock their doors here in our beautiful county while in the book it was clearly states that the Clutters never locked their doors, they had no reason to, they were safe. The residents in Carteret are very familiar with each other we all go to church together, we are familiar with the schools and people in the schools, we shop at the same places, some of us even have a meeting place where we are always welcome. The same setting that Holcomb was said to have. We all feel safe when in reality we need to make sure we always think twice, for the unexpected should be expected.