The Happy Homicide

"The Happy Homicide" by Frank Banta is a comedic crime story from the early 1980s, set in a courtroom where John Bork is accused of killing his wife, Fannie. The core of the story involves the ridiculousness of the trial, especially the introduction of a strange machine called the "Very Complicated Monstrous Proximilator," supposedly capable of letting Fannie Bork speak from beyond the grave. Throughout the court sessions, John Bork makes funny, mocking comments, seeming to accept his fate with a sense of humor. Despite all the odd evidence and courtroom antics, the jury shockingly finds him not guilty. This surprising end really brings out the story's humorous side, making fun of a legal system where strange technology and wild procedures seem more important than finding true justice.