A sheriff, a posse, and some sheep...
Down in the deep south (where things are done a bit "differently") self-appointed sheriff Willy Shafter was a slick dude. He was getting kickbacks from sheep sales from two farmers in the region whose properties adjoined, and life was good. For a while. But soon the two farmers fell out over money owed and a bit of alleged sheep rustling. Things got tense.
One night, Farmer Jones approached the sheriff's deputy to sound him out about what the sheriff would do if Jones sent a few of his boys over the fence to "sort out" the other farmer, Farmer Smith. The deputy got back to Farmer Jones in due course and told him not to worry and that sheriff Shafter would turn a blind eye.
But no sooner had Jones's boys ridden onto Smith's property and started getting a bit rough with Smith's boys, than Shafter formed a posse, rode in, and drove Jones's boys back onto their own property with a brutal baton charge, where Shafter's posse then did massive damage to Jones's barns, farm house, wagons, and other farm equipment, in a clear case of destructive vandalism. Jones was dragged before the court (the judge was a close friend of Shafter's) and was ruined, being prevented from selling any sheep in future except those he needed to sell in order to buy only the most basic necessities.
Shafter stayed good friends with Smith and in fact had some of his posse stay around for a while to "keep the peace". Smith's sheep sales improved considerably.
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Your comments on sheriff Shafter's methods, ethics, and motives would be most welcome.
One night, Farmer Jones approached the sheriff's deputy to sound him out about what the sheriff would do if Jones sent a few of his boys over the fence to "sort out" the other farmer, Farmer Smith. The deputy got back to Farmer Jones in due course and told him not to worry and that sheriff Shafter would turn a blind eye.
But no sooner had Jones's boys ridden onto Smith's property and started getting a bit rough with Smith's boys, than Shafter formed a posse, rode in, and drove Jones's boys back onto their own property with a brutal baton charge, where Shafter's posse then did massive damage to Jones's barns, farm house, wagons, and other farm equipment, in a clear case of destructive vandalism. Jones was dragged before the court (the judge was a close friend of Shafter's) and was ruined, being prevented from selling any sheep in future except those he needed to sell in order to buy only the most basic necessities.
Shafter stayed good friends with Smith and in fact had some of his posse stay around for a while to "keep the peace". Smith's sheep sales improved considerably.
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Your comments on sheriff Shafter's methods, ethics, and motives would be most welcome.
posted by The Editor at
7:41 PM
4 Comments:
OK, I'll bite.
1. "Nothing poisonal, Jonesy, it's just business."
2. Shouldn't you be asking questions about the un-named deputy who misled Jones? Did he really consult with Shafter? Is he reliably reporting what Shafter said if he did consult?
@AndrewM: We can take it as read that the deputy was briefed by the sheriff to say what he did. ;-)
In that case, Gerry, I don't want to play with this one. It's just tram lines with no points or bends; there's no complexity in the narrative, no room for debate.
@AndrewM: I understand that's your interpretation. I sense that you are somehow peeved. I'm disappointed. I had great plans for this post.
Ah well... Maybe someone else will engage with it.
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