Writing Paul William Scott's story began for me the night young attorney Joe

Wyckoff, who had just joined the ranks of Palm Beach county, Florida's public

defenders, entered the Plush Pony Lounge on South Dixie Highway looking for

songwriter Bob Pauley (that's me). The year was 1979. Joe didn't know me but

was familiar with one of the songs I had penned for country singer Mel Tillis,

"A Brandy Alexander." Joe had a fantastic story to relate that night, then

asked a burning question: "Could you write a song about this?" Or, more

importantly, "Would you write a song about this, knowing it to be a matter of

life and death?" Joe's boss, a public defender with few kind words for his

most recent client, was about to let this innocent man be railroaded to his

death.

The story Joe related was that of Paul William Scott, a homeless young man who

spent his first twenty years trying to escape the Long Beach, California

ghettos by coming to Florida to find his father. Paul had no sooner arrived

in this southernmost state when he became a scapegoat-- wrongfully accused of

the brutal bludgeoning death of a known homosexual in the plush suburbs of

Boca Raton, Florida.

A soulful version of "Dixie" played in the background: "Oh, I wish I was in

Dixie, Hooray! Hooray! In Dixieland I'll take my stand...To live and die in

Dixie...Away! Away! Away down south in Dixie!" Those mournful words rang out

the honest-to-God plight of drifter Paul William Scott, who loved Florida with

all his heart--while Florida didn't give a damn for Paul William Scott. To

the state of Florida Scott, was nothing more than a meddling outsider and

Florida does not take kindly to (indigent) outsiders.

The legend of Paul William Scott in song became "A Prisoner's Lament" and was

recorded by country songstress Susan Stryker nineteen years ago. Royalties

from this tune with accompanying promotional efforts earned the money

necessary to keep Paul William Scott alive for lo, these many years.

A PRISONER'S LAMENT

It's been two years since I've felt the light of day

When that judge said you've a lifetime boy to pay

The view here from my prison cell is but an empty wishing well

For me to wish this wasted life away

Cause I'm here for murder in the first degree

And yet a spark of hope still flickers inside me

For with that jury's final word I swear the truth was never heard

Do I die tonight or will they set me free

Oh, I could climb these walls to freedom and escape this deathly place

But then I'd know no one would listen, deaf ears still haunt my case

Past the guards' eternal rounds, the barbed wire and barking hounds

But what's the good of freedom if I can't show my face

I was guilty in their eyes before my plea

Yes the governor made it clear with his decree

The lights grow dim they test the chair, the smell of death is in the air

But I'm innocent! And that's what's killing me

Oh, I could climb these walls to freedom and escape this deathly place

But then I'd know no one would listen, deaf ears still haunt my case

Past the guards' eternal rounds, the barbed wire and barking hounds

But my name would still be whispered and I couldn't show my face

It's been two years since I've felt the light of day

When the judge said you've a lifetime boy to pay

The lights grow dim they test the chair, the smell of death now fills the air

But I'm innocent! And that's what's killing me

I'm innocent! And that's what's killing me

I'm innocent! And that's what's killing me

Copyright (c)1980 Bob Pauley Music

There are those out there who know Paul Scott is innocent, and fight

desperately to win his freedom. There are those out there Hell-bent on seeing

him burn in Florida's electric chair--damn the facts.

There's more, much more--I have written a book called "A Circle of Blood"

which describes these facts in 350 pages of story, song and picture. For

information please contact Bob Pauley <BPauley@compuserve.com>.

[From] A Circle of Blood: The Story of Paul William Scott

By Robert A. Pauley

In 1979, an innocent man was sentenced to die on Florida's Death Row. In

1997, eighteen years later, evidence was revealed clearly proving his

innocence. A circle of blood made by the champagne bottle -- the actual murder

weapon -- had been concealed by the prosecution. Every last member of the

original jury now acknowledges being deceived, and say that Paul William Scott

must be released.

Kondian readily admits he "killed a fag," his parents money ($45,000) obtained

for him a "plea-bargained" sentence of 15 years which he has since served.

Paul Scott was not so lucky. Having no money, no friends, no ability to speak

out for himself (Paul had an IQ of 69), the indigent drifter from California

received the death penalty for the murder of James Alessi. "Too many

tattoos," friends were told by the assistant public defender, as an obviously

innocent man was being railroaded to the electric chair for something he had

not done. That was almost 20 years ago -- a lifetime of pure hell for a man

who is innocent of this crime for which he has been convicted.

For Paul William Scott the end is dangerously close at hand. Does it matter

that he is absolutely innocent? Can this actually be happening in the land of

"liberty and justice for all"? And, as these attorneys so dedicated to ending

Paul Scott's life piously intone that "all men are created equal," the truth

is, they know it is not so.

For reasons hard to imagine other than embarassment for the blunders they

undeniably made, the circle of attorneys, judges and lawmakers of Florida

continue to press for the death of Paul William Scott. They will not be

content, it seems, until that high-voltage chair of theirs has taken the final

beat from Paul William Scott's brave heart, unless we can cheat the chair of

its wrongful prey. May God have mercy upon their souls!

There are no wealthy murderers on death row. Why? There are innocent

indigents on death row, however, and Paul Scott is only one of them. The

almighty dollar determines who is executed and who goes free, regardless of

the elegant oratories we hear to the contrary. We need to act now, concerned

citizens, don't let this innocent man be killed by the state of

Florida--please!

You can help! Write to Bob Pauley for details: BPauley@compuserve.com

You can write to Paul : paul.scott@rl.telia.no

Or to :

Paul William Scott # 071615

Union Correctional Institution P3111S. A-1

Post Office Box 221

Raiford, Florida 32083

PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:

PAUL WILLIAM SCOTTS DEFENSE FUND

First Lehigh Bank

500 Main Street

Walnutport PA, 18088

Routing # ABA 0313 16527

Account # 56 889920 5

Or send money to:

Saint Nicholas Catholic Church

PWS Defense Fund

1152 Oak Rd.

Walnutport, Pa. 18088

Questions regarding

Paul William Scott`s Legal Defense Fund

To:

John A. Kascur

1434 Spring Drive

Walnutport, PA 18088

Email: jomel@nni.com

PWS Defense Fund