Templeton’s Ox-Bow Incident
Templeton residents who are following along with events surrounding the
Recall Election slated to be held on February 6th 2012 at the Middle
School gym might consider the similarities of the current recall effort to the
book and movie “The Ox-Bow Incident”.
The story of the Ox-Bow Incident takes place in Bridger’s Wells a small
town in Nevada in the year 1885.
The story begins with the town folks gathered at the local watering hole
trying to figure out who has been rustling cattle off the local ranches. Suspicion is everywhere when suddenly
someone comes into the saloon with news that a local rancher Art Kincaid has
been killed and his cattle taken.
The messenger has more details concerning the murder and rustling and
soon a posse is assembled to track down the bad guys.
The messenger’s claims are never investigated or verified.
After deputizing one of the men due to the Sheriff being out of town the
posse is told by the local judge that they are to bring back the perpetrators
for a fair trial.
Twenty-five of the locals head out to the Ox-Bow canyon in search of the
three men assumed to be involved with the murder and theft. When located at the Ox-Bow canyon it is
found that these men have cattle with the assumed murdered mans brand on
them. It is further learned that
one of the men has Art Kincaid’s gun.
The three assumed guilty cowboys explain to the mob that they purchased
the cattle and gun from Art Kincaid but they do not have a bill of sales.
The deputized mob is not concerned with these minor details about the
bill of sales and does nothing to investigate the three cowboys claims.
Well it isn’t long before a vote is
taken that evening to hang the assumed guilty rustlers. The vote count is eighteen yes and
seven no to “hang em high”.
Justice must be served.
Apparently there was no ballot box to seal and the assumed cattle
thieves did not file for a recount.
After the three assumed rustlers are hung the vigilantes heading back to
town meet up with the now returned sheriff. The sheriff informs the group that Art Kincaid is not dead
and that the men who stole Art’s cattle have been put under arrest. Art Kincaid
further verifies selling the cattle and gun without a bill of sales to the now
hung cowboys.
The sheriff strips the deputy of his badge and learns of the eighteen
who voted to hang the innocent cowboys.
The sheriff states “God have mercy on you because you won’t get any from
me”.
All of the eighteen who voted guilty to hang the assumed rustlers are
now thinking a better review of the facts would have been prudent.
Later as the guilt sets in for hanging three innocent men one of the leaders
of the vigilantes who should have known better shoots himself.
After eighteen years in Templeton politics it is my belief that most of
the people who have joined the Let the People Speak group that intends to
Recall Selectmen Farrell and Mitchell are ignorant of what has been going on in
town politics for the past twenty-eight years. These misinformed voters are represented in the “Ox-Bow
Incident” by the angry ignorant mob.
Before you hang these two good people for doing what many believe to be
in the Town of Templeton’s best interest, I hope you do your due diligence and
get the facts. In my opinion you
will be shocked at the alleged dishonesty and fraud involving “team Skelton”.
For those who just like a good hanging, it is my hope your self
-interest is not served on Election Day.
Just vote No then vote Farrell and Mitchell below on February 6th
2012.
Pete Farrell
24 Myrtle St.
Baldwinville Ma. 01436
978-939-2501