begin at a common point—Williams and Zeigler driving to the store in Williams's truck—and then diverge so drastically that they cannot both be telling the truth.  If Williams's story is true, then he is an innocent near-victim, and Zeigler is certainly a murderer.  If Zeigler's story is true, then he himself is the innocent victim.5

With that in mind, I looked for evidence that clearly, unambiguously reflects on the truth or falsity of their stories.

In that respect, the primary evidence against Zeigler is the testimony of Thomas Hale and the accounts given by Felton Thomas and Williams himself.

The primary evidence against Williams is the testimony of the eyewitnesses who placed him at the Kentucky Fried Chicken after 9:00 P.M.  Williams himself didn't specify what time he went to the restaurant, only that he went there immediately after Zeigler tried to kill him.  But according to the observations of Don and Rita Ficke, Williams had left the driveway before 8:45; Don Frye told the grand jury that Zeigler picked up Williams between 8:20 and 8:30; if so, the attempt on Williams life would have taken place between 8:35 and 8:50. Williams testimony was that he jumped the fence of the rear compound, ran  into the Winter Garden, and then walked across the street to the restaurant.  This would have required less than a minute.

If Williams's account is essentially accurate, he should have walked into the restaurant before closing time at 9:00.  Yet nearly everyone in the restaurant who testified or gave a statement said that he showed up after the door was locked, and had to be let in.  Only the clerk, John Grimes, failed to specify whether Williams showed up before or after closing.

The trial testimony of J.D. Nolan and Madelyn Nolan is especially compelling.  Both of them swore that they watched Robert Thompson drive off with Zeigler to the hospital.  The Nolans continued to watch the store, then crossed the street to speak with J.D.'s brother, whom they saw in the door of the restaurant.  At this time, according to J.D. Nolan, the black man who resembled Edward Williams walked up and said that he wanted to use the telephone.  By now Zeigler must have been on the gurney at the hospital, probably lying in the emergency room.

This is devastating testimony.  There is no innocent explanation for Williams's arrival at the restaurant at this late moment.  By Williams's own testimony, Zeigler was whole and healthy when Williams jumped the fence and ran away.  His trip across the street, via the motel, could have consumed no more than a minute.  In that time, according to the state's theory, Zeigler would have had to move Williams's truck and wipe off his fingerprints, bend the fork of the gate, go into the store and speak to Ted Van Deventer and Don Ficke, shoot himself, wait

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5   In nearly half a year of intensive investigation, the police and prosecutor never turned up any evidence that both Zeigler and Williams were guilty.