A 1996 slaying at the General Wayne Inn in Merion, Pa., is recalled.A 1996 slaying at the General Wayne Inn in Merion, Pa., is recalled.A 1996 slaying at the General Wayne Inn in Merion, Pa., is recalled.
- Writer
- Stars
Photos
Storyline
Featured review
Police, Prosecution On Target On This One
How many times have we heard about cops bungling a case, especially in high-profile crimes? Well, here's one where the police and prosecutor were extremely smart and outfoxed the smug perpetrator who thought he'd get away with murder.
This case, in Lower Merion, Pa., near Philadelphia, was all about money. We discover late in the TV show that Guy Sileo would substantially gain much-needed money in the event his business partner died. The partner, in this case, was Jim Webb. Sileo and Webb had been partners in the "American Bistro at the General Wayne Inn." They were chefs and in the restaurant business, with Webb as the workaholic main chef and Sileo pictured as the womanizing goof-off. (I am always aware of the unbalanced reporting in these stories, such as here where Webb's mother talks numerous times with understandable prejudice while no one who sticks up for Sileo is interviewed.)
Anyway, to convict Sileo of murdering Webb with a handgun up on the third floor office of the latter's at the Inn, was not easy. The law officers had to take some risks and hope that Sileo, who they could and did convict of perjury, could also be given true justice, meaning pay for a murder. The cops had to be patient and play their cards just right...and then hope for the best, since they never found the murder weapon.
Along the way in this crime program, we get a lot of history of the General Wayne Inn and of Merion, both of which had long histories. We get some goofy ghost story about the restaurant which only goes to show you how gullible people are, and we get glimpses of the centuries--old big and beautiful brick mansions in the historic area.
We also get a glimpse on how difficult it is to run a successful restaurant, even when you have a fabulous chef who's working 16-hour days. It's a tough business. Too tough for some, obviously.
This case, in Lower Merion, Pa., near Philadelphia, was all about money. We discover late in the TV show that Guy Sileo would substantially gain much-needed money in the event his business partner died. The partner, in this case, was Jim Webb. Sileo and Webb had been partners in the "American Bistro at the General Wayne Inn." They were chefs and in the restaurant business, with Webb as the workaholic main chef and Sileo pictured as the womanizing goof-off. (I am always aware of the unbalanced reporting in these stories, such as here where Webb's mother talks numerous times with understandable prejudice while no one who sticks up for Sileo is interviewed.)
Anyway, to convict Sileo of murdering Webb with a handgun up on the third floor office of the latter's at the Inn, was not easy. The law officers had to take some risks and hope that Sileo, who they could and did convict of perjury, could also be given true justice, meaning pay for a murder. The cops had to be patient and play their cards just right...and then hope for the best, since they never found the murder weapon.
Along the way in this crime program, we get a lot of history of the General Wayne Inn and of Merion, both of which had long histories. We get some goofy ghost story about the restaurant which only goes to show you how gullible people are, and we get glimpses of the centuries--old big and beautiful brick mansions in the historic area.
We also get a glimpse on how difficult it is to run a successful restaurant, even when you have a fabulous chef who's working 16-hour days. It's a tough business. Too tough for some, obviously.
- ccthemovieman-1
- Apr 13, 2008
- Permalink
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content