Tom Barnes's Blog: Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog - Posts Tagged "jefferson"

'We hold these truths to be self evident...'

Excerpt from 'The Goring Collection'
Jacob Meyers, a short balding man in his early seventies sat, before his living room fireplace, waiting for the others to arrive. The apartment overlooked the East River and the living room was comfortably furnished with wall paintings; a soft leather couch, chairs, and a large coffee table made from the hatch cover of a World II Liberty ship. Jacob glanced out the window and saw a small sailboat flying a large American flag and tacking to the wind. That flag somehow reminded him of his turn and how it all came together. It must have been during that prescribed course in citizenship, which turned out to be nothing more than an appetizer. For when he finished those studies, he began reading biographies on the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist papers. Jacob believed that the most profound difference in his thinking was provided by a short phrase written by Thomas Jefferson into the Declaration of Independence. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
And while those words from the Declaration of Independence rang loud and clear, it seemed to Jacob that the words of Karl Marx were now sounding hollow and thin.' (To be continued)

Cochise County political ring Fight's Back.
The ring and their cowboy's lost a round at the OK Corral, but they were by no means ready to concede defeat.

Coroner H.M. Matthews called for an inquest to begin Friday, Oct. 28th.
At the same hour the coroner's jury was being impaneled, ring lawyers filed papers with the Cochise County Court demanding the arrest of Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday. Charging them with the wanton and willful killing of Frank McLowry, Tom McLowry and Billy Clanton.
Word leaked out regarding the ring's intentions and the would-be defendants began making plans of their own. Bogus charges or not, they had to be legally countered. Wyatt's personal attorney, Tom Fitch, hired their defense team. He selected Judge T. J. Drum to work with him in the courtroom and the law firm of Howard and Street agreed to do the legal research. That firm would also coordinate the day-to-day legwork of rounding up and interviewing potential witnesses.
Col. William Herring, a staunch supporter of law and order volunteered to work with the defense team on their overall strategy.
Doc and Wyatt attended a Saturday breakfast meeting with their lawyers at the Melrose Restaurant on Fremont Street. The group had just assembled in a small banquet room when Tom Fitch gestured for everyone to take a seat. He removed a letter sized paper from his pocket, cleared his throat, smiled and began to read, "Goodrich and Goodrich, Campbell and Robinson, Smith and Colby, J.M. Murphy, District Attorney Lyttleton Price, his chief assistant Earl Smith and that's just the ones on record."
“What's that suppose to mean, Tom?" Wyatt drawled.
"That's the group of attorneys the ring hired to prosecute a case called -- Arizona Territory Vs Earps and Holliday."
"Good God Almighty ... they do mean business,” Doc declared." Then he frowned and sipped his coffee. But he was heartened when he looked around the table and realized that there was not the slightest sign of intimidation on the faces of their lawyers.
Col. Herring leaned in and talked in a manner that would exclude the walls from hearing. "There is no way in hell that Ike Clanton could finance that gaggle of legal talent. It appears to me that the Cochise County political ring is still backing their cowboys.”
A good part of the meeting was taken up with Doc and Wyatt giving their accounts of the shoot-out. Doc did not volunteer that his shot to Billy Clanton's wrist might have been the opening round.
Col. Herring made it clear to the defendants that the prosecution would likely try and have them arrested.
T.J. Drum gave a report he had gotten from the coroner's inquest. And how the bias was running against the Earps and Holliday. However, the coroner was not swayed by politics and refused to add inflammatory language to his report. Dr. Matthews simply stated that Tom and Frank McLowry and Billy Clanton died from gunshot wounds. (To be continued)

Santa Anita and the Breeders Cup
Not since the days of Seabuscuit has more attention been focused on the Santa Anita race track and it's not really so much about horses as the track surface the horses will run over.
My idea to do a pro and con post on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride racing surface didn't pan out. Why? Because the only real opposition to the synthetic surface to go on record is Jess Jackson, a co owner of Rachel Alexandra. He has indicated that the only reason the super filly won't be running during the Breeders Cup series is because of the track surface.
Most racing fans, including myself, would like to see the filly run in the Breeders Cup, but apparently that is not to be.
However, at the present time we have two of the top 3 year olds Mine that Bird and Summer Bird (half brothers) that are expected to square off against each other in the 5 million dollar classic.And don't forget the added competition coming in from Europe. They'll give you handicappers a few anxious moments, but like they say, that's horse racing.
In the meantime I'll pass along what ever tid bits of information I come across regarding the run up to the Breeders Cup.

Writers Notebook:
You have committed to a project, finished the basic research and character prep work and you’re all set to begin writing. Suddenly you’re overcome with anxiety – you’ve got a knot the size of a baseball in your stomach. Stop!
You are not alone. It might give you some comfort to know that John Steinbeck experienced some of those same anxious moments. In one of his letters written in February 1936, which was included in his ‘A Life in Letters’ Steinbeck said, ‘I have to start [writing:] and am scared to death as usual – miserable sick feeling of inadequacy.’ Then in the very next sentence he said, ‘I’ll love it once I get down to work.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com