The Poet

I've labored long and hard for bread,
For honor, and for riches,
But on my corns too long you've tread,
You fine-haired sons of bitches.

— Black Bart, 1877

Black Bart's stagecoach robberies are the archetype of Wild West legend. Alex Taylor's Tuesday continues with his story and an unrealized tip. Hmmm... road trip?

As published in the Gainesville Times, 

Tuesday, February, 2nd, 1988. 

 

For those of you who geosurf: Smoke Creek Desert  

You'll notice the main thoroughfare in the area is "Surprise Valley Road", and I've read the valley acquired that name sometime in the 1880s. ...yep. 

Here I lay me down to sleep
To wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success, perhaps defeat,
And everlasting sorrow.
Let come what will, I'll try it on,
My condition can't be worse;
And if there's money in that box
'Tis munny in my purse.

— Black Bart

The Short of It - Part II

Original Publication Date: 1/26/1988
The Gainesville Times, Page 3A
"NE GEORGIA" section

Alex Taylor continues Elizabeth Short's murder mystery with a clarification to NBC's fictional take, which ran two weeks earlier. It is was 30 years ago, the case was never solved and still open. Take it from an official source -- the FBI.

Of course, this hasn't stopped others from "closing" it, even as recently as last year.

Kiss Me Nots

More from the vaults of Prof. Alex Taylor...

As it appeared in the January 19th, 1988 Gainesville Times, the NE Georgia page exhibits the Professor discussing the history behind the mob's "Kiss of Death." For those not aware, my father endured his own "examinations" by organized crime while serving in Tampa Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit during the late '60s through mid '70s. Many of these trials were used in the creation of Bolita.

This 11/1940 *Mittelman photo to the left is either unfortunately-timed by the photographer or purposely-subverted by the most infamous KoD girl. Nonetheless, it appears to be the only known photograph of her. Too bad we don't get to see those remarkable lips.

*Mittelman, also widely spelled Mittleman.

 

To add...
Evelyn Mittleman was Pittsburgh Phil's (Harry Strauss) girlfriend at the time. Prosecutors during his trial picked her up after visiting his holding cell three times. Each time she carried messages from his associates who were still free. Mittleman made the grand mistake of wearing expensive jewelry and fur coats during her visits, even though known to have been unemployed during the previous five years. (Different times and methods of assessment in those times, FYI). The prosecutors were apparently obliged to toss her in a cell under $50,000 bond until she testified as a material witness. 

Material Kiss of Death Girl.

The Short of It

Alex Taylor's Tuesday continues with a cold case from World War II America. Published in the Gainesville Times, Tuesday, January 12, 1988. The weather in Gainesville that day, according to Weather Underground, was likewise cold and blustery by Gainesville norms. Low 21F, high 43F. Brrr!

Nothing like a good mystery to get the juices flowing. Elizabeth Short's case has captivated followers for several decades. Many now say solved, yet not officially. Justice, well, is somewhat a subjective word here.

Shortly before my father's column ran, James Ellroy's novel hit the shelves to critical success, and around twenty years later, Brian De Palma would direct a movie starring Scarlett Johansson -- albeit concentric to the investigators.