Chapter 21

           AfterhisMarch1,1979,reviewhearing,BillyMilliganwasrecommittedtotheAthensMentalHealthCenterforanothersixmonths.Allthoseworkingwithhimwereawareofthethreathangingoverhim.Heknewthatassoonashewascuredanddischarged,hewouldbearrestedbytheAdultParoleAuthorityofFairfieldCountyasaparoleviolatorandreturnedtoprisontoservetheremainingthreeyearsofhistwo-tofive-yeartermfortheGrayDrugStorerobbery.Hemightalsobedeclaredaprobationviolatorandthenbeforcedtoserveaconsecutivesix-totwenty-five-yearsentenceontheroadside-restassaults.

           L.AlanGoldsberryandSteveThompson,hisAthensattorneys,filedmotionsinFairfieldCountycourttohavehispleasofguiltydismissed.Theyarguedthatin1975,unknowntothecourt,hehadbeenamultiplepersonality,andbecausehehadbeeninsaneandunabletoassistinhisowndefenseatthattime,therehadbeen"manifestjustice."

           GoldsberryandThompsonheldoutthehopethatifthejudgeinLancasterwouldvacatetheguiltyplea,Billywouldbeafreemanafterhewascured.

           Helivedonthathope.

           Ataboutthesametime,BillywasdelightedtolearnthatKathyandherlongtimesweetheart,RobBaumgardt,haddecidedtomarryinthefall.BillylikedRob,andhebegantoplanforthewedding.

           Ashewalkedthehospitalgroundsandsawthesignsofspring,hebegantofeelthebadtimeshadpassed.Hewasgettingbetter.