Woman's Best Friend 
Family's Two Dogs Credited With Saving Mother's Life

Accidental Bb Shot Destroys Window

Sunday, January 26, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Let's pursue justice, not sensationalism &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When it returned to the Wyoming Valley intent on titillating a nationwide
viewing audience with the sad case of Bob Curley, instead of ``Hard Copy,'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; all the torrid tabloid TV show offered America was hard viewingStrange as
this might sound, I felt a hollow sensation in the pit of my stomach when I
first heard news that the show was headed our way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When the show aired Thursday night, I shook my head at the set when the
reporter recited right trite phrases like "black widow," "torture" and "poison
potion" in an overly dramatic voice that oozed like sludge through the
speakers of my television. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's a good one, huh? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It wasn't that many years ago that I welcomed a Hard Copy crew into the
newsroom of my newspaper and agreed to participate in their "coverage" of
another notorious local murder case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lights. Camera. Action. Roll us. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the segment was poorly done, it didn't hurt. The more people who
knew about the case the better I liked it. What was so wrong with that? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Producers, agents, screenwriters and actors even started calling me. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By then, "A Current Affair" had been here twice and would later return for
a third story. At the time, I justified all the attention, dismissing any and
all criticism that came my way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I still believe some good came of the film frenzy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Tabloid angles aren't all bad. Good go-for-the-jugular journalism has its
place. Without it, too many outlaws escape. Just don't trust it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In my book, "A Current Affair's" David Lee Miller is one of the best
television reporters in the business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Period. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And that includes staffers on "Dateline," "20/20" and "60 Minutes." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now working for "America's Most Wanted," Miller did the press proud with
his willingness to involve himself in a case whose only suspect seemed to be
getting away. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As a result of the coverage, more and more officials became more and more
firm in their commitment to prosecute a man they always believed killed his
wife -- a man up to his neck in evidence that eventually helped send him to
prison. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now Joann Curley stares at America from the center of the spotlight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Behind bars without bail, the 33-year-old is charged with poisoning her
husband to collect the insurance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The DA wants her dead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Still, the case pales in comparison to nationwide hard copy. In all its
bizarre splendor, even Wilkes-Barre can't compete against a dead baby "beauty
queen," Cosby's murdered kid and O.J. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If TV producers really wanted hard copy, they would have started their
segment with Joann Curley played by a young starlet stretched out on a death
chamber gurney in a Victoria's Secret robe with a needle full of poison stuck
in her veins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The camera zooms in on her polished nails, her long hair and cold eyes as
the reporter spits the words, "Cops say she tortured and poisoned her mate.
Now the executioner awaits his turn to torture and poison her." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's the stuff we really want, isn't it? Isn't it what the bloodthirsty
radio talk show warriors want? What the gawkers and self-proclaimed experts
want? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Make it hurt. Give us the dirt. Squeeze till her brains squirt. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Exactly what do we want from this case? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A real Hollywood movie about the case to premiere at our soon-to-be-built
downtown Wilkes-Barre movie theater? A trial in the soon-to-be-built arena? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Justice? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We'll be lucky to get through this case without making complete asses out
of ourselves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm speaking from experience here. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police have made an arrest. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We need a thorough prosecution, a thorough defense and thorough coverage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No more. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No less. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No hard copy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No fooling. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Corbett's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. E-mail Corbett
at stevec@abc.com &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Let's Pursue Justice, Not Sensationalism 
When It Returned To The Wyoming Valley Intent On Titillating A Nationwide 
Viewing Audience With The Sad Case Of Bob Curley, Instead Of ``hard Copy,'' 
All The Torrid Tabloid Tv Show Offered America Was Hard Viewing.

Let's Pursue Justice, Not Sensationalism When It Returned To The Wyoming Valley Intent On Titillating A Nationwide Viewing Audience With The Sad Case Of Bob Curley, Instead Of ``hard Copy,'' All The Torrid Tabloid Tv Show Offered America Was Hard Viewing.