Green Arrow #55

Issue Details

Synopsis

"Justice Is Mine" Lieutenant Cameron arrives at the prison where killer Harry Gilbert is to finally be hanged for murder. Despite having been convicted for the murder of a girl named Megan Samuels, Gilbert confesses to the slaughter of 17 other prostitutes, but claims innocence to the one he was sentenced for. As Gilbert is being prepared for hanging, he taunts Lt. Cameron, claiming that the only reason that he is hanging is because Cameron got tired of the game. As the hangman throws the switch, Cameron recalls the case to that point. The murders were savage, with the victims' entrails torn out. By 1978, there were 11 murders over the last three years. Cameron became obsessed with the case. In 1981, Cameron got a lead on Harold Gilbert, placing him at the scene of three of the murders. Unfortunately, the DA was unconvinced of the solidity of the case against Gilbert. In 1983, Cameron and his partner determined that the newest victim, Megan Samuels, was actually a copycat murder. Cameron convinced his partner that they could pin the copycat murder on Gilbert, and have him hang, so that they could at least get him off the streets. Cameron managed to pull off the case, and Gilbert was finally sentenced to death for Samuels' murder. After witnessing the execution, Cameron finds himself unable to sleep, and thinks back on the Megan Samuels case. He recalls being told by Green Arrow that the murder was a copycat, and that he'd done nothing about it. He goes to the Sherwood Florist and explains what he had done, and how pinning Samuels' murder on Gilbert allowed the real copycat killer to go free and strike again. Cameron asks Ollie whether it bothers him to kill someone who desperately deserves it. Oliver responds that he sleeps just fine.