For those who know very little about Little Rock, Arkansas, this City Confidential episode is an eye-opening one. It's not some seedy, redneck small city in some backward state as it might be portrayed by those far away in the East or West. No, this is pretty big town with a lot going for it, on on inside and outside. It's produced politicians from Bill Clinton to Mike Huckabee and a lot of lesser-known ones that didn't rise to the heights of those two gentlemen but caused quite a stir. In this state, the people love politics and their Razorbacks from the University of Arkansas.
But before we briefly mention the crime story, it should be noted what a modern city Little Rock has become, and how impressive it looks. LR and Arkansas get a bad rap. This was a fascinating portrait of a once very rough town back in the 1800s and one that became famous in 1957 with its school integration confrontations. Since then, it has come a long way.
Basically, things settled down after that and big money came into town. With it came some people who were shrewd in finance and/or others areas. There was Bill McArthur, a "slick" lawyer - smart, handsome, a good talker and an impressive man, got the attention of a lot of people. So did sheriff Tommy Robinson, a tough-talking lawman-turned-politician. Then there was Mary Lee Orsini, a woman portrayed as downright evil. She has been since labeled "The Lady McBeth of Littl Rock." She was McArthur's mistress.
One night McArthur's wife was murdered. She answered the doorbell, a man with flowers was at the door. Inside the flowers was a note: "Have a Nice Day." In the man's other hand was a gun. He chased her down inside the house and killed her in a nearby closet.
Who hired him? Orsini was convicted but Thompson's thinks it was McArthur. The crime took place in 1982. Both are men are interviewed years later here on the show and are very opinionated people. It makes for a fascinating episode; one of the better City Confientials.
But before we briefly mention the crime story, it should be noted what a modern city Little Rock has become, and how impressive it looks. LR and Arkansas get a bad rap. This was a fascinating portrait of a once very rough town back in the 1800s and one that became famous in 1957 with its school integration confrontations. Since then, it has come a long way.
Basically, things settled down after that and big money came into town. With it came some people who were shrewd in finance and/or others areas. There was Bill McArthur, a "slick" lawyer - smart, handsome, a good talker and an impressive man, got the attention of a lot of people. So did sheriff Tommy Robinson, a tough-talking lawman-turned-politician. Then there was Mary Lee Orsini, a woman portrayed as downright evil. She has been since labeled "The Lady McBeth of Littl Rock." She was McArthur's mistress.
One night McArthur's wife was murdered. She answered the doorbell, a man with flowers was at the door. Inside the flowers was a note: "Have a Nice Day." In the man's other hand was a gun. He chased her down inside the house and killed her in a nearby closet.
Who hired him? Orsini was convicted but Thompson's thinks it was McArthur. The crime took place in 1982. Both are men are interviewed years later here on the show and are very opinionated people. It makes for a fascinating episode; one of the better City Confientials.