WASHINGTON, June 4 ― F. Lee Bailey, who brought drama, swagger and cunning to the courtroom in representing football star OJ Simpson, heiress Patty Hearst and the “Boston Strangler” suspect before his career ended in disbarment, died yesterday. He was 87.
In his later years, however, he was living above a hair salon in Yarmouth, Maine, banned from practicing law and his fortune gone. Bailey once summed up his approach by telling the Times: “Prosecuting or defending a case is nothing more than getting to those people who will talk for your side, who will say what you want said. ... I use the law to frustrate the law. But I didn't set up the ground rules. I'm only a player in the game.”Bailey could not acquit himself of contempt of court in 1996 and spent 44 days for failing to turn over stock and US$700,000 that a Florida marijuana dealer had given him.
Hearst was convicted of bank robbery in 1976, spent two years in prison and accused Bailey of bungling the trial. She appealed on the grounds that Bailey put together a poor defense, was tired and shaking during the trial and had a conflict of interest because of his intention to write a book about her case.