Editing Anatomy of a Murder (section)

==Inspiration==
On July 31, 1952, Lt. Coleman A. Peterson shot and killed Maurice Chenoweth at a tavern in [[Big Bay, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Army Officer Held for Murder of Big Bay Tavern Proprietor: 'Mike' Chenoweth, Former State Policeman, Slain Following Alleged Rape |newspaper = [[The Mining Journal]] |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = July 31, 1952 |page = 1 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref> Voelker was retained as defense attorney a few days later.<ref>{{cite news |title = Atty. Voelker Retained by Lt. Peterson |work = The Mining Journal |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = August 5, 1952 |page = 2 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref> Peterson's wife Charlotte had claimed Chenoweth raped and beat her.

The trial started on September 15, 1952,<ref>{{cite news |title = Judge Arch Allows Motion by Prosecutor for Additional Witness in Murder Case |newspaper = The Mining Journal |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = September 15, 1952 |page = 2 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref> and Assistant Attorney General Irving Beattie assisted Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Edward Thomas.<ref>{{cite AV media |last= Pepin |first= John |year= 2009 |title= Anatomy '59: The Making of a Classic Motion Picture |type= DVD |location= Marquette, Michigan |publisher= [[WNMU-TV]] |at= 13:45}}</ref> Voelker used a rare version of the insanity defense called [[irresistible impulse]] that had not been used in Michigan since 1886.<ref>{{cite magazine |last = Thomson |first = Kimberley Reed |date = February 2003 |title = The Untimely Death of Michigan's Diminished Capacity Defense |magazine = [[Michigan Bar Journal]] |volume = 82 |issue = 2 |pages = 17–19 |issn = 0164-3576 }}</ref> The jury deliberated for four hours on September 23, 1952, before returning a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.<ref>{{cite news |title = Lt. Peterson Not Guilty Because of Insanity |newspaper = The Mining Journal |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = September 23, 1952 |page = 1 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref> Two days later, after Peterson was examined by a psychiatrist who judged him sane, he was released.<ref>{{cite news |title = Last Chapter Written in Murder Case: Judge Frees Lt. Peterson from Custody |newspaper = The Mining Journal |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = September 25, 1952 |page = 2 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref>

Peterson and his wife were divorced soon after the trial.<ref>{{cite news |last = Krajicek |first = David |date = January 17, 2009 |title = Killing of Michigan Bar Owner in 1952 Inspired Film ''Anatomy of a Murder'' |url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/killing-michigan-bar-owner-1952-inspired-film-anatomy-murder-article-1.423705 |work = Daily News |location = New York |access-date = July 4, 2018 }}</ref> Hillsdale Circuit Court Judge Charles O. Arch, Sr. tried the case because of the illness of a local judge.<ref>{{cite news |title = Circuit Court Opens Monday; 58 Cases Listed on Docket |newspaper = The Mining Journal |location = Marquette, Michigan |date = September 6, 1952 |page = 5 |issn = 0898-4964 }}</ref>