Local author East End Eddie Doherty writes with humor about his career as a clerk-magistrate in Massachusetts in his second book, “Laughs, Lies & American Justice,” published by Lulu Press. Submitted photo.
Press Release
Eddie Doherty fished the East End of the Cape Cod Canal so often that other fishermen started calling him East End Eddie. Thus, a nickname became a pen name. He worked for almost 37 years in the Massachusetts Court system where he became the youngest Assistant Clerk-Magistrate in the state at age 25 for the Attleboro District Court before being appointed 18 years later to the lifetime position of Clerk-Magistrate of the Wrentham District Court by His Excellency, A. Paul Cellucci, Governor of the Commonwealth.
Mr. Doherty heard evidence on everything from speeding to murder, but now in retirement is hearing the sound of his grandchildren giggle and of striped bass breaking the surface of the ocean.
His second book, “Laughs, Lies & American Justice,” published in August, details mostly humorous short stories from his years in the court system, police stations, family, politics and more including a chapter on fishing. Doherty says his third grade nun, Sister Mary Alice, would gasp in disbelief if she knew that he is sometimes being introduced as an author!
He heard testimony where most people were truthful, but many were not. When it came to telling a lie, some litigants made George Santos look like George Washington! A Cape Cod attorney smiled and told him that it seems as though he makes his living listening to people lie to him. They both had a good laugh about such a unique job description!
Having seen so much domestic violence in court, Doherty will donate a percentage of the book’s proceeds to Jane Doe Inc. in an effort to help combat this horrific crime.
He lives in Mattapoisett with his wife Joanne. They were lucky to be blessed with the birth of five healthy grandchildren to enjoy in retirement. His colleagues knew that he would be spending time teaching his young grandkids to fish for striped bass so on his last day on the job they presented him with a nice shirt that is embroidered with a slogan coined by future Clerk-Magistrate & Judge Michelle L. Kelley: “Retirement, Stripers & Diapers.”
“Laughs, Lies & American Justice,” is available online at Lulu Press, www.lulu.com or http://tinyurl.com/rh8uupnb. Mr. Doherty’s first book, “Seven Miles After Sundown,” and is available on amazon.com
Mr. Doherty lives in Mattapoisett.
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