If you are in a university theater group or other performing arts group, consider performing a play based on the trial transcript of the Zeigler case. The play, a synopsis of which appears below, gives audiences the chance to rule on Zeigler's guilt or innocence based on the evidence that was available in 1976 but was withheld from the jury by a prosecution that was determined to convict without regard to the truth. Contact us to order the full script. There is no charge for sending as an email attachment. A hard copy of the 20 page script may be ordered for a charge of  $10.

The Christmas Eve Massacre Murder Trial
A One Act Play
(Based on a True Story. Only the names and location are fictitious)

Cast of Characters: (Note: Depending upon the people available as cast members, some of the characters may be either male or female.)
Judge Marcia Gonzalez: the trial judge
Daniel T. Wiggins, Jr. : the accused killer
Albert N. Knowles: the prosecuting attorney
Rachael E. Marchant: the defense attorney
Chief Benjamin Nance: the chief of police of Summerville
John Bailey: a witness for the prosecution and friend on one of the victims
Mike Korry: a witness for the prosecution and part time employee of Wiggins
Moses Matthews: witness for the defense and  bar owner friend of Wiggins
Cloe Langley: witness for the defense who drove by just after the murders
George Sanders: witness for the defense who drove by just as the murders occurred
First Judge: the judge in the trial of Moses Matthews

The Setting: Scene one takes place in an Everglades County courtroom. Scene two takes place inside the Wiggins Furniture Store in Summerville. This is the first of three "shadow" scenes in which the action is seen in silhouette behind a white screen. The balance of the action takes place inside another Everglades County courtroom.

 
Props Needed: Five toy guns, tire iron,  a tee shirt with red paint under the left arm, and on the lower right side, front and back. Each table in the audience should have a charge sheet with instructions for deciding whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty, and if guilty, for death or for life in prison. A 15 X 8 white sheet, two tables, a stool, and several chairs will also be needed.

 
The Victims: Elizabeth Wiggins, wife of Daniel Wiggins; Tom and Betty Barrows, parents of Elizabeth Wiggins; Thomas Martin, a migrant labor crew boss and customer of the Wiggins Furniture Store in Summerville

 
The Narrator: The principle character and accused murderer, Daniel Wiggins,  narrates the play and also participates in each scene. The concept is that he is telling about his murder trial years afterward.

 
Scene One: Inside an Everglades County Courtroom in the trial of  liquor store owner, Moses Matthews,  who has been accused of selling drugs on the premises of his store. If convicted Matthews stands to lose his liquor license. The scene is an abbreviated trial to provide an introduction to the trial to follow. All of the characters in this scene become key participants in the rest of the play - as it actually happened in real life.

 
Scene two: Four months after scene one. The scene takes place inside the furniture store which is represented by a white sheet hung behind the stage curtain.  It is Christmas Eve. This is a shadow scene depicting the discovery of the murders when Wiggins calls the police after being shot in the abdomen.

Scene Three: Six Months later. Inside the courtroom of Judge Marcia Gonzalez. Wiggins is now on trial for the murders. The prosecution presents its case with testimony from the star witness who claims Wiggins attempted to kill him with a gun that turned out to be empty since Wiggins is alleged to have fired the bullets.

Scene four: The audience sees the action described by the principle witness only in silhouette as the witness narrates. 

Scene Five: The remaining prosecution witnesses corroborate the story of the principle witness.

Scene Six:  The defense presents its witnesses. Again the most dramatic action takes place in silhouette behind the white sheet as Wiggins describes his version of being shot by robbers in his store.

Scene Seven:  The climax comes when Wiggins demonstrates how difficult it would be to shoot himself in the stomach with a 357 magnum without killing himself and the prosecutor counters with a demonstration of how he believes Wiggins killed one of the victims before Wiggins shot himself.. The judge instructs the audience as if they were the jury. Once the audience has voted for guilt or innocence, the defense attorney concludes the play with a brief monologue concerning Daniel Wiggins current status and announces that a fact sheet providing current information on the actual people involved is available for distribution to those interested.