Book Publishers Association of Alberta

Rough & Messy Justice brings to life the Rocky Mountains’ Crowsnest Pass of 1920, a place of rugged geography, a mining economy, and diverse culture. Against this backdrop, an armed robbery of a CPR train leads to a dramatic shootout at the Bellevue Café between police officers and two of the three Russians bandits, recently arrived from the mines of Butte, Montana. The book meticulously details the crime, the shootout, and the thrilling manhunt for the escaped bandit.

The story continues with an account of the trial and its flawed application of the law, revealing overt racism in the press and police correspondence, a law enforcement coverup, a biased judge and jury, a lackluster defence counsel, and confused trial witnesses. These elements contribute to the tragic hanging of an innocent man.