How should Palfrey have armed herself for self protection?

[ogsbee]

I would have recommended a hammerless snubbie that she would always have at hand in a loose jacket or even a bathrobe. If need be she could have shot through the jacket -- an automatic can't usually do this but a hammerless or shrouded revolver could. Also revolvers are much simpler than automatics and never jam. They are usually the best choice for a civilian. The safety could have been simply of the passive lemon squeezer type.

Also I believe she should have stayed in an apartment. Access to an apartment is usually much more restricted than access to a house. And of course, someone in her position should never answer the door for unexpected visitors.

(This thread assumes she was murdered, hopefully the arguments won't be rehashed here.)

[deadmessengers]

1. A straitjacket

Tough to hang yourself while wearing one.

[jaksavage]

2. Duplicate her files

and announce they will be released by her atty upon her death.

[JDPriestly]

3. She probably did that. I think she committed suicide to

prevent the government from keeping her money. Her death wiped her conviction off her record. I don't know whether the government has to return her evidence to her heirs. We shall see.

Let's face it, the public had lost interest in her case by the time she was tried. There wasn't much press attention. That must have made it very difficult for her to trust the process. She had a lot to gain by committing suicide. In fact, suicide may have been the only route to a modicum of justice.

[facepalm]

4. I think this was a real suicide.

Faking a hanging suicide is just too damn hard, especially with a non-cooperative victim. You're going to end up with either signs of a struggle or various other evidence inconsistent with a voluntary self hanging.

I think she may have just been depressed. She had already been convicted so outside of avoiding the financial effects of a fine in her sentence, there really isn't much benefit from doing this.

[Ready4Change]

6. I've doubts.

Who hangs themselves in a spot where they absolutley be found by their elderly, possibly weak hearted, mother?

[spin]

5. She needed a really good "insurance policy"...

A snubbie revolver or any firearm would do little good against a professional assassination team. (Assuming she was "suicided".)

The only idea I can think of is an "insurance policy". Some method of sending the list of telephone numbers and/or names to every major news agency and every anti-government web site (including those in foreign countries) if you didn't check in at certain time intervals. The idea of how to go about doing this might provide for an interesting discussion.

Of course, if she actually set up such a scheme, it's possible the people who were behind the suicide found how or where it was and eliminated the chance of exposure.

A hammerless snubbie is a good choice as a self defense weapon for most situations. Yes you can shot through the pocket of a loose jacket or bathrobe or even a purse. A S&W model 642 is a fine and very popular example of the weapon you describe. http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m642.htm.

The S&W "lemon squeezer" revolvers which have a grip safety were out of production for years, but I believe Smith & Wesson produced some as part of their "classic" series of throwback revolvers last year. Right now S&W's home page appears to be down, so I can't verify if the Model 40 is still in production. Most revolvers aren't equipped with safeties similar to those on a semi-auto. The operator is the safety on a revolver. If he pulls the trigger it goes "bang".

I did find some info about the "new" S&W model 40 at this link http://www.gunsandammomag.com/new_products/shot07_012207/index4.html