The prosecution theory of the Father Heslin murder was that itinerant baker William Hightower single-handedly conceived and executed a plot to kidnap the Catholic priest for ransom, motivated by the desire to score some quick cash to keep the interest of his girlfriend, Doris Shirley, possibly aggravated by anti-clerical animus. In the event the jury arrived at a compromise verdict calling for life imprisonment, agreeing to Hightower’s guilt but unanimously skeptical of the lone wolf theory.
Indeed, before the trial, authorities repeatedly stressed that they believed Hightower conspired with a party or parties unknown, and initially they seemed convinced that he was not the phantom motorist who kidnapped the priest. In retrospect, it looks like the lone wolf theory was a convenient fiction developed for the purposes of the trial after the DA had locked down testimony from Doris Shirley breaking Hightower’s alibi and persuaded one of the two witnesses who got an extended, close-up look at the small, dark, youthful, foreign-seeming kidnapper to positively identify the lanky, balding, sandy-haired, middle-aged Texan as one and the same person.
But there must be considerable question as to whether Hightower was even party to the crime. No doubt his prevarications were endless and there is a compelling array of circumstantial evidence to indicate he was somehow connected to the crime scene and to the person or persons responsible. Still, when you put out a big reward part of the idea is to incentivize a witness who might have something to hide to come forward. Hightower’s stepping up to lead authorities to the priest’s grave is prima facie evidence weighing against his guilt. His repeated forays to the beach near Colma in the middle of a massive police manhunt — which were confirmed by eyewitnesses — do not comport with the actions of a guilty man. Then there is the question of his character. William Hightower comes across as a lovable eccentric rather than a violent criminal. An experienced crime reporter and columnist for the Bulletin, C. M. Jackson, interviewed Hightower in jail and his report in the August 18, 1921 edition supports that view and is the most compelling defense of the accused’s character that I have encountered in contemporary news accounts. It speaks for itself.