----- Original Message ----- From: Dorothy Nanninga Sewell <dsewell@alaska.net> To: <ILMASON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2000 12:53 PM Subject: Creative genealogy > A cousin sent this and thought it was worth sending to > the list as to how we need to be aware of how some wish > to skue the actual facts. > > An amateur genealogical researcher discovered that his > great-great uncle, > Remus Starr, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged > for horse stealing and > train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known > photograph of Remus shows > him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture > is this inscription: > > "Remus Starr; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial > Prison 1885, escaped > 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by > Pinkerton detectives, > convicted and hanged in 1889." > > In a Family History subsequently written by his > descendant, Remus's picture > is cropped, scanned in as an enlarged image, and edited > with image processing > software so that all that's seen is a head shot. The > accompanying > biographical sketch is as follows: > > "Remus Starr was a famous cowboy in the Montana > Territory. His business > empire grew to include acquisition of valuable > equestrian assets and intimate > dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, > he devoted several > years of his life to service at a government facility, > finally taking leave > to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he > was a key player in a > vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton > Detective Agency. In 1889, > Remus passed away during an important civic function > held in his honor when > the platform upon which he was standing collapsed." >