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Assasinated
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Assasinated |
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John Yaws Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 860Texas 
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In a cemetery in Fort Stockton, TX is a gravestone which bears the name Andrew J. Royal, the date Nov. 19, 1894, and a one word epitaph: "Assassinated". No one was ever brought to trial for the murder of this brave lawman. West Texas legends said that five prominent business men feared that the Sheriff knew too much of their nefarious deeds, and that on the night of November 19, 1894 they drew beans from a hat in which there were placed four white beans and one black. In the late evening hours while Sheriff Royal was doing paperwork at his desk, the murderer crept up to the window of the Sheriff's Office and emptied a shotgun into the back of the unsuspecting Sheriff's head. This poem is my tribute to one of the nameless ones who "won the West", and made America a safe place to live. Beneath a clear West Texas sky- There stands a weathered stone… A lawman, fate decreed must die, Now rests there all alone. Murdered by a villain foul- At night the deed was done…. A shotgun blast, a window smashed Away the killer run. “Assassinated”, reads the stone- What more was there to say? No killer hung to right the wrong- Unsolved until this day. The Pecos County Sheriff, they say- Knew far too much to live… They chose a rather novel way… The dirty job to give. Five men were gathered late that night- Each one to draw the lot.. Four of them drew beans of white, Just one the black bean got. Sheriff Royal, at his desk- Looked up, he’d heard a sound- A silver badge pinned on his vest, The night they gunned him down. The law, it holds no terror- For the honest this is true.. I’ve heard it said the guilty flee Although no men pursue…. The killer did his dirty deed- Buckshot in the head…. He killed a better man than he… And then he turned and fled. The nineteenth of November In eighteen ninety four… A good man slain, the lawless reign No need to tell you more. Way out in old Fort Stockton- In a lonely, unkept grave… The Pecos County Sheriff sleeps The slumber of the brave. < !signature--> Visit My Home Page http://www.geocities.com/montcogunslinger/HomePage.html [This message has been edited by Gunslinger (edited 03-04-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
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HelmutB Senior Member
since 2000-01-06
Posts 964Canada |
A very intriguing story you have fortold History so reach as A pot of gold Well done i love stories like that especially when it cames in form of a poem. Thank you The ability to describe life with words is similar to painting a picture; both can be powerful tools. |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
Wonderful! I love it! You have the gift of the ballad...  dp |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Thank you, GS - for gracing our forums with some wonderfully enlightening work.. We always learn something when we read your poetry.. Keep 'em coming, my friend..  |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Fabulous writing, as always, Gunslinger! Captivating story. Denise |
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Danny Holloway Member Elite
since 2000-01-15
Posts 2034Tulsa, OK |
Gunslinger, I enjoyed this story and the writing. History is so full of unexplained and interesting happenings. You help reveal what might otherwise lie unknown forever. Nice work, as always. |
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KimW Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 268Medford, Oregon, USA |
(I know you!) ; ) GS, Another informative and clever writing here! I always enjoy reading whatever you post. Kim |
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RufffRyder Member
since 2000-02-25
Posts 143<------Over There------> |
Another bit of knowledge for the learning. You do seem to have a way with bringing the past(history) to life. Thanks for the read G.S. |
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Meadowmuse Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263 |
Gunslinger, a well written and intriguing story, to be sure. Thanks for this! ~ Claire |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
If our history text books had been written like this, I wouldn't have had so much trouble with the subject. Well done again. Liz |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
GS...what an excellent tale you've told here. Perhaps this is my favorite of all of yours. It reads like a song  |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Wow! This is wonderful! Great work, GS! |
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