Hi Ragnell.

I wrote my post above from memory of seeing discussions on this topic in the past and doing some of my own research (Internet searches) to discover what the hoopla was all about. Simply put, some Rand detractors were insisting Rand had a sociopathic disorder because she scribbled some notes during the Hickman trial that seemed to have sympathy or even admiration towards Hickman. Such was not the case at all. The trial fascinated the whole country at the time, not just from the horror of the crime itself, but because a 20 year old could be so blatant in his defense. Rand simply noted what many others were seeing (hearing or reading actually, since there was no TV) as a possible use in a future novel. It was the "trial of the century", why wouldn't an astute author make some insightful observations and take a few notes? Rand detractors, of course, twisted the whole thing when Rands notes were published.

Surf the Net on various points of the subject and you'll see lots of information pop up.