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James Robison was sentenced to death for the murder of reporter Don Bolles.  Bolles covered organized crime for the Arizona Republic newspaper.  He died shortly after a bomb exploded in his car, which was parked outside a hotel in downtown Phoenix. As he lay dying, he whispered, “They finally got me, the Mafia, Empise.  Find John Adamson.”  Empise was a corporation with ties to the dog track industry and suspected of being connected to the mob.  Adamson was a well-known crime figure who was prosecuted for Bolles' murder.

As part of a plea deal in which he would receive a 20-year sentence, Adamson named several co-conspirators, including Robison.  Adamson admitted planting the bomb, but said Robison detonated it.  On appeal, Robison was granted a new trial.  Adamson, though, refused to testify again against Robison without a new deal that let him out of prison immediately.  Robison was released in 1980.  The prosecution went after Adamson and secured the death penalty against him.  In the course of the appeals from that sentence, Adamson agreed to cooperate once again and his 20-year sentence was reinstated.

Robison was recharged in 1990.  At retrial in Dec. 1993, Adamson and a series of jailhouse informants testified against Robison.  The jury also learned about new evidence that indicated Adamson was framing Robison to protect his true accomplice.  The jury acquitted Robison of all charges.  (TWM)  [3/07]

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