Three Killed in Celebrated Violence on American Street October 26, 2009

Stories May Differ, but End Result the Same

I always Wanted a Moustache Like Wyatt Earp

On This Date In History:  In the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona an event occurred that would be etched in western lore: The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Trouble is many historians say it didn’t happen at the OK Corral and it wasn’t much of a gunfight (here is one account).  The main protagonist in most of the tales was Wyatt Earp (see photo gallery).  This may be because the main story teller ended up being Wyatt Earp.   There had been many disputes between the Earps (Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan) and a group of ruffians known as the Cowboys. Five of the group gathered on this date in 1881 on a vacant lot near the OK Corral. Virgil was the town Marshall with Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies. Their friend and gambler, John (Doc) Holliday joined the Earps and the quartet went down the street to greet the Cowboys. At about 3 pm the gunfight began. About 30 seconds and 30 gunshots later, it was over.

You Don't Find Too Many Pictures of Doc Holliday

Unlike the movie versions, particularly Gunfight at the OK Corrall with Burt Lancaster and My Darling Clementine with Henry Fonda and Louisvillian Victor Mature, it apparently involved the Earps and Holliday walking up to the bad guys and gunfire breaking out. There is dispute about who fired the first shot but in the end, 3 of the 5 cowboys lay dead and all but Wyatt was injured, though one of the remaining Cowboys fled. There was a trial for the Earps but they were found not guilty with the judge saying they were “fully justified in committing these homicides.”

Wyatt Earp Later in Life

If you go and look this up, you will find all sorts of conflicting stories. The early movies were based almost solely on the reminiscences of Wyatt Earp, who spent his later years in Hollywood as a consultant to those making westerns. So, the stories tend to lean toward Wyatt’s heroics. Later films try to be more realistic. But there is no real clear cut truth. However, one interesting aspect to the Earp lore appears to be true. That is that Wyatt, through all of his gunfights and violent episodes never once was shot. The same can’t be said of those who rode with him or against him. Wyatt died in quietly in his sleep 1929 in Hollywood, CA. Many of the western movie stars of the day attended his funeral.

Great Fonda Waltz

Which is your favorite portrayal of Wyatt Earp in film? I kinda liked My Darling Clementine…Henry Fonda does a great dance.   Aside from Gunfight at the OK Corral, AMC lists ten films depicting Wyatt Earp.  The AMC list notes that the portrayal of Erroll Flynn in Dodge City (1939)  was of the character Wade Hatton, but claims the role was “clearly based on the gunslinger.”  Why would they not just use the name Wyatt Earp? AMC doesn’t say but maybe it was to protect the innocent.  But, it may have had to do with the fact that Randolph Scott had the role of Wyatt Earp in Frontier Marshal from the same year.        So popular is the lore of Wyatt Earp, Colleen Coughlin has an article on the Law in Popular Culture collection at the University of Texas’ Jamail Center for Legal Research called Law at the OK Corrall: Reading Wyatt Earp films.   

A Very Weird Film

One other thing about Victor Mature. He sorta retired in 1961 but he did appear in the Monkees last (and only) movie called Head. It was a really weird movie and was a sorta good-bye from the Monkees as their tv show either had been cancelled or if they made the film it would be cancelled. It’s really a psychedellic late 60′s film produced by Jack Nicholson and was totally un-Monkee like. Even Frank Zappa was in it. To give you an idea of how off the wall it was, the premise is that the Monkees are living in a world that is really a spot of dandruff on Victor Mature’s hair. See it if you can. There are really some pretty good songs(especially The Porpoise Song) that, again, are very un-Monkee-like.

Tuesday Evening

Weather Bottom Line:  The upper level disturbance associated with a surface low to our south is still out there, it’s just behind schedule.  A few days ago I was looking toward Monday for the clouds and maybe a shower but I thought it would be generally dry.  Well, the disturbance is still going to come through and will still bring clouds but most likely on Tuesday and I still think most of Tuesday will be dry but now indications are that Tuesday night we may see some showers.  Now, a vigorous storm system will be swinging through toward the end of  the week with a pretty deep trof in association.  Seems to me that Friday we will probably see rain and possibly some thunderstorms.  The SPC is looking more at the lower Mississippi Valley for strong storms on Thursday but it will be interesting to see how it shakes out around here.  There is a lot of low level convergence down there and the disturbance moving through is pretty robust.  The big stuff will probably get cut off down that way but, it will be of interest to see if some of that action moves up our way.   I say that the trof is deep but its more accurate to say its very pronounced.  By the time it comes our way, its already lifting up and out and damping.  Hence, we will get coolish but not too terribly cold for the weekend behind the cold front.

Justice System Perfect? 35 Years for 5 Dollars! March 16, 2009

What if You Were in Jail for 35 Years Over a $5 Theft? Justice Served?

On This Date in History:  In recent years, there have been legal cases in the news in which an person accused of a crime have been cleared following DNA testing.  Just a week or so ago, a tv news magazine show had a story about a man who was in prison for rape for 11 years.  The victim was absolutely sure that he was the attacker.  But, DNA evidence pointed to another man.  While people claim that we have the best legal system in the world, cases of the wrong person being put in jail have been a part of legal history since the inception of the country.  It is for this reason that I am against the death penalty.  It assumes a perfect system, which it is not.  While there is no evidence that a convicted and executed person was later exonerated, it is possible.  In non capital cases, at least you can release the wrongly convicted.

The Real Clarence Gideon

When someone is released from prison after he has been found to be guilt free of a crime, the state often compensates the person for their incarceration…which is tough because it is difficult to ascertain the worth of a portion of someone’s life.  Sometimes, compensation is given to people who may have been guilty but whose time did not fit the time.    That is exactly what happened on this date in 1966 when Stephen Dennison was awarded $115,000 after being imprisoned for 34 years after being convicted of stealing a $5 box of candy.  This case may have had some connection with the 1963 Supreme Court Case of Gideon v Wainwright.  That case was turned into a made for TV movie called Gideon’s Trumpet starring Henry Fonda.

Elimira Reformatory

Dennison was 16 years old when he plead guilty in a New York court in 1925 for stealing a box of candy worth about five dollars.  He was given a 10 year suspended sentence.  That seems pretty fair.  But, he failed to make a monthly report to a local minister which was part of the deal.  So, Stephen was shipped off to the Elmira Reformatory in 1926.  The following year, he was given a rather interesting classification.  He was designated as a “low grade moron” and sent to the Institution for Male Defective Delinquents(Dannemora).  There he stayed for nearly the remainder of the 10 year sentence.  Just 6 months before the sentence was completed, he was sent to the state hospital for the criminally insane.  There was no judicial review or court hearing.  He was simply given a certificate of lunacy.  I’m not sure if that is the same of getting a certficate of broadcast meteorology or not.

Guards at Dannemora

Anyway, Stephen had a half brother named George who fought for his release for 24 years.  Finally, in 1960 George gained Stephen’s release on a writ of habeas corpus.  Stephen was 51 years old.  Now, Stephen was deemed a “low grade moron” and a lunatic by the state but he wasn’t stupid.  He sued the state for illegal incarceration and he was awarded $115,000 on this date in 1966.  But, the judge in the case said “No sum of money would be adequate to compensate the claimant…”  Which brings me back to my original point….had this been a capital case…who would or what would be paid in the case of a wrongful execution?

 Weather Bottom Line: Forecast still looks on track.  Cloudy today with highs pushing 60 or so.  Tuesday, more in the way of sunshine with highs in upper 60′s to near 70.  Wednesday, low 70′s.  Cold front approaching will help pick up winds from the south and southwest.  As front moves through, we will see rain chances increase Wednesday night.  Severe threat is minimal…just not enough time for stuff to come together and the timing is no good.  Then we cool down to near seasonal levels for the remainder of the week.

DAY 3 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0221 AM CDT MON MAR 16 2009
  
   VALID 181200Z – 191200Z
  
   …NO SVR TSTM AREAS FORECAST…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
   SOME AMPLIFICATION OF THE UPPER PATTERN IS FORECAST THIS PERIOD…AS
   THE FLAT TROUGH CROSSING THE N CENTRAL CONUS EXPANDS AS IT MOVES
   INTO ERN CANADA/ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION. 
  
   AT THE SURFACE…A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING EWD ACROSS ERN
   CANADA/THE NERN CONUS…AND SEWD ACROSS THE MIDWEST/OH
   VALLEY/CENTRAL U.S. THROUGH THE PERIOD.
  
   …MID MS/LOWER OH VALLEYS INTO THE OZARKS…
   RETURN FLOW MOISTURE IS FORECAST TO BE LIMITED ACROSS THE S CENTRAL
   CONUS AHEAD OF THE SAGGING SURFACE FRONT…AS A SURFACE RIDGE
   PERSISTS ACROSS THE NRN GULF/GULF COAST REGION RESULTING IN
   ELY/ENELY LOW-LEVEL FLOW ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO.
  
   WHILE THE MARGINAL MOISTURE COMBINED WITH RELATIVELY COLD MID-LEVEL
   TEMPERATURES /AROUND -18 C AT H5/ SHOULD YIELD AMPLE AFTERNOON CAPE
   FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INVOF THE
   FRONT…CAPE SHOULD PROVE INSUFFICIENT FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE
   POTENTIAL.  ATTM…IT APPEARS THAT A FEW STRONGER CELLS — AIDED BY
   MODEST SHEAR FORECAST ACROSS THIS REGION — COULD REACH SEVERE
   LEVELS DURING THE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING.  THUS — WILL INTRODUCE A
   LOW PROBABILITY THREAT FOR HAIL/WIND…WHICH SHOULD DIMINISH RAPIDLY
   AFTER PEAK HEATING.
  
   ..GOSS.. 03/16/2009

Three Killed in Arizona Street Gun-Battle; Take Advantage of Sunday While You Can October 26, 2008

Famous Gunfight was Near the OK Corral and wasn

Our weather: The clouds built in by midday in Louisville on Saturday but gave way to sunshine in the afternoon but the mercury only got to the upper 50′s. Okay, it was 60 at the airport but no one lives there. Sunday at the airport it will probably get to around 72 but in your backyard upper 60′s to low 70′s will work out just fine. It will be breezy ahead of the next front which will bring down some cold air. Most likely many people will not get out of the 40′s on Monday afternoon so take advantage of the nice Sunday while you can. We’re running out of days like this as we move through the calendar. First freeze of the season area wide, perhaps Tuesday morning but certainly Wednesday morning. Then we warm up as the week progresses. At this point, I don’t see much chance for rain though a little upper feature will wander through on Thursday night that may bring a shower or two.

Wyatt Earp Later in Life

I always Wanted a Moustache Like Wyatt Earp

On This Date In History:

In the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona an event occurred that would be etched in western lore: The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Trouble is many historians say it didn’t happen at the OK Corral and it wasn’t much of a gunfight. There had been many disputes between the Earps (Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan) and a group of ruffians known as the Cowboys. Five of the group gathered on this date in 1881 on a vacant lot near the OK Corral. Virgil was the town Marshall with Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies. Their friend and gambler, John (Doc) Holliday joined the Earps and the quartet went down the street to greet the Cowboys. At about 3 pm the gunfight began. About 30 seconds and 30 gunshots later, it was over. Unlike the movie versions, particularly the one with Burt Lancaster and My Darling Clementine with Henry Fonda and Louisvillian Victor Mature, it apparently involved the Earps and Holliday walking up to the bad guys and gunfire breaking out. There is dispute about who fired the first shot but in the end, 3 of the 5 cowboys lay dead and all but Wyatt was injured, though one of the remaining Cowboys fled. There was a trial for the Earps but they were found not guilty with the judge saying they were “fully justified in committing these homicides.”

If you go and look this up, you will find all sorts of conflicting stories. The early movies were based almost

You Don't See Many Photos of Doc Holliday

solely on the reminiscences of Wyatt Earp, who spent his later years in Hollywood as a consultant to those making westerns. So, the stories tend to lean toward Wyatt’s heroics. Later films try to be more realistic. But there is no real clear cut truth. However, one interesting aspect to the Earp lore appears to be true. That is that Wyatt, through all of his gunfights and violent episodes never once was shot. The same can’t be said of those who rode with him or against him. Wyatt died in quietly in his sleep 1929 in Hollywood, CA. Many of the western movie stars of the day attended his funeral.

Which is your favorite portrayal of Wyatt Earp in film? I kinda liked My Darling Clementine…Henry Fonda does a great dance.

A Very Weird Film

One other thing about Victor Mature. He sorta retired in 1961 but he did appear in the Monkees last (and only) movie called Head. It was a really weird movie and was a sorta good-bye from the Monkees as their tv show either had been cancelled or if they made the film it would be cancelled. It’s really a psychedellic late 60′s film produced by Jack Nicholson and was totally un-Monkee like. Even Frank Zappa was in it. To give you an idea of how off the wall it was, the premise is that the Monkees are living in a world that is really a spot of dandruff on Victor Mature’s hair. See it if you can. There are really some pretty good songs(especially The Porpoise Song) that, again, are very un-Monkee-like.