olds
What am I missing?
Fri May 05, 8:48

There is, in my opinion, no call for speculation and supposition, Boyer's or anyone else's, other than to speculate about, which is to say question why Wyatt so late in the day fabricated his "I killed Johnny Ringo" story. Moreover, Boyer isn't speculating so much as he is rationalizing because, pardon my French, he clearly has a hard-on for Wyatt Earp, his hero (as well as being of dubious psychological competence) and feels compelled to twist himself into a pretzel to avoid having to gainsay that Wyatt dissembled.

Again in my opinion, it is far more plausible to believe that Wyatt invented that story than it is to believe some cockamamie Boyer-concocted theory that he "compressed the time difference," a theory that rests upon the false premise that Wyatt somehow returned to AZ undetected "months after the Vendetta Ride." The issue is why Wyatt chose to invent, not whether he invented. (We know why Boyer did.)

One other point. Why is Ringo's death the outlier here (save for, maybe, Brocius)? Why the mystery? As I recall, Wyatt was not shy about more or less contemporaneously copping to the deaths of the other Vendetta Ride victims, but he didn't "own up" to or boast about Ringo's until 40 years after the fact. How come? Why this clandestine quality to that particular killing? You would need to swallow wholecloth both Wyatt's "sneaking back to AZ" story as well as Boyer's "distortion of time" conjecture to plausibly answer that question and, obviously, some of us, most of us perhaps find ourselves are unable to do that.

Finally, where are the statements from the other Vendetta Ride members or from the "posse" Wyatt references or even from any reminiscing children or grandchildren that would so much as pretend to corroborate Wyatt's claim? Did anyone at all have word one to say not only over a 40-year stretch, but even after Wyatt's death? Or perhaps those that otherwise could have made such statements, those who knew "the truth," chose silence throughout their lifetimes out of their transcendent, unshaking fealty to Wyatt B.S. Earp.

No, it isn't rocket science to understand even the little we know about the facts of John Peters Ringo's life to understand in turn the reason(s) and circumstances behind his death. With hindsight, which I grant you is not necessarily 20/20, it is difficult not to conclude that Ringo was a dead man walking. His suicide, given the larger context of his life, makes perfect sense. Quite simply, it fits.

  • Re: That's an awfully large if,Bob Cash, Thu May 04 22:51
    You write: That's an awfully large if, don't you think, Bob? Moreover, Boyer's "distortion" theory sounds (to me) less like a plausible interpretation of the facts than an after-the-fact rationalization... more
    • What am I missing? — olds, Fri May 05 8:48
      • Re: What am I missing?Bob Cash, Tue May 09 9:35
        Olds, your whole premise seems to be that there is no use in discussing whether Ringo's death was a suicide or homicide and therefore no use in discussing who the possible killer was if it was the latter.... more
        • You're mainly right, Bob.olds, Tue May 09 18:04
          That is almost my whole premise. That said, I would hesitate to suggest "that there is no use in discussing Ringo's death." Discuss away, especially after quaffing a pint or two, if that's your druthers,... more
          • Ringo's Enemies Llist # 1Bob Cash, Sat May 13 8:38
            Olds, you write: You remark that "Ringo had so many enemies." I don't disagree, though it would be helpful if you named them so we might know who you have in mind. A lot of folks in that place at that... more
            • Will I never learn?olds, Sat May 13 11:08
              Bob, I replied to your post here, but to find it you will need to click on the link to Lynn's post which apparently is the one I responded to instead of yours. I made this mistake previously. If it happens... more
            • Ringo's Enemy List # 2Anonymous, Sat May 13 9:38
              Another possibility is someone acting on behalf of sheepman James Martin https://nediscapp.herokuapp.com/discussion.cgi?disc=39627&article=29196&page=0 (I rememember Steve Gatto had some problem... more
              • No, I will never learn.olds, Sat May 13 13:24
                Did it again, Bob. You will need to click on the link to see my reply. This is getting scary. What is it that Einstein is purported to have said about his definition of insanity?
          • Re: You're mainly right, Bob.Bob Cash, Fri May 12 10:16
            Here’s the article you requsted , Olds. A reprint of a recent article in the Tombstone Prospector in the March 22nd issue of the Arizona Weekly Enterprise states: "The inquests held in Cochise county from... more
            • Thanks, Bob. Appreciate it.olds, Fri May 12 17:48
              What immediately piqued my interest was the statement, "There is more than one man living in Cochise County who knows who did it." How would PROSPECTOR, who might as well have signed off as "Anonymous,"... more
              • Re: Thanks, Bob. Appreciate it.Bob Cash, Mon May 15 9:29
                Olds, you write, "I needn't mention that both Jack Burrows and Gary Roberts are satisfied that Ringo was a suicide. I will be gobsmacked if Gatto isn't as well." Okay, you've played your Burrows, Roberts,... more
                • LOL.olds, Mon May 15 13:43
                  The Morey card is an excellent one. Well-played, Bob. I am probably Jeff's biggest fan, as I am a fast friend, and respect his opinions in these matters without reservation, so I've been aware of his... more
              • Re: Thanks, Bob. Appreciate it.Anonymous, Sat May 13 22:28
                Olds, I'm pretty sure that this means it was a reprint from the TOMBSTONE PROSPRECTOR newspaper. Gatto believes Ringo committed suicide. Because of the upside down gun belt, the missing piece of... more
                • Thanks for those articles.olds, Sun May 14 8:51
                  Fascinating stuff. End of the day, all considered, what it comes down to, I suppose, is how one weighs the importance of one fact or factor against or over another, and ultimately that is a subjective... more
                  • By the way, Bob,olds, Sun May 14 11:35
                    if the source of those statements was a newspaper and not a person--and thanks for setting me straight on that--it changes nothing save to discredit that newspaper owing to its appalling lack of journalistic... more
                  • Re: Thanks for those articles.Bob Cash, Sun May 14 10:04
                    olds, you asked: You mention law enforcement officers. Are you including in that group forensic profilers and psychologists? I don't know. At least two are still posting, one who says Ringo's death is... more
                    • That letter in Ringo's pocket....Robert Buckley, Sun May 14 12:10
                      I've always leaned toward Ringo shooting himself....but, that letter in Ringo's pocket at the time of his death gives me pause. The letter was from the law office of James A. Zabriskie. Zabriskie was... more
                      • Re: That letter in Ringo's pocket....Bob Cash, Thu May 18 8:51
                        I don't know anything about the Tiffany case, Robert, but wasn't Zabriskie a top notch defense lawyer? Maybe it had something to do with charges against Ringo concerning shooting the guy for not accepting... more
                        • Re: Re: That letter in Ringo's pocket....Robert Buckley, Thu May 18 18:26
                          Bob, Zabriskie was the United States Disrict Attorney for the Territory of Arizona at that time. Actually, Zabriskie was named to that position a few days after Ringo's death if my memory is correct.... more
                          • Re: Re: Re: That letter in Ringo's pocket....Bob Cash, Sat May 20 22:56
                            Thank you so much, Robert, for pointing out that independent researchers could lon into the JSTOR site. Over the last 15 years or so I have again and again pulled up the first pages of articles I wanted... more
                            • Bob, another article on JSTORRobert Buckley, Sun May 21 16:10
                              Bob,it sounds like you have some catching up to do on JSTOR. I'll get you started with one of my favorite articles on the site. It was published in 1970 by the Montana Historical Society and written... more
                              • Re: Bob, another article on JSTORBob Cash, Thu May 25 10:17
                                Thank you again, Robert. I truly appreciate it. This guy Robetts had some pretty interesting ideas about the street fight 53 years ago. I wonder if he ever followed up with anything else on the subject.... more
            • Re: Re: You're mainly right, Bob.Anonymous, Fri May 12 10:23
              Another article of interest. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024828/1890-01-18/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1836&index=1&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=John+Ringold&proxd... more
              • Thanks again, Bob, especiallyolds, Fri May 12 18:23
                for including the hunted-and-pecked "translation" of the article. (Couldn't read that one either.) Sorry, but I am unimpressed by the newspaper's crediting Leslie with "Ringold's" killing. Not only... more
      • Re: What am I missing?Bob Cash, Fri May 05 9:28
        I thought you said you were concerned about my finger. I'l have to start hunting and pecking on this late this weekend.
        • I misspoke.olds, Fri May 05 9:52
          I am concerned about ALL your fingers. The thumbs less so, sorry, but even those opposable digits to a certain extent. I only hope that yours are not afflicted by arthritis as are mine, though not of the... more
          • ... find of a contemporary source on ngo's death that I know of. From Steve Gatto: https://nediscapp.herokuapp.com/discussion.cgi?disc=39627&article=38777&search_page=3&search_term=Ringo Interesting... more