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Author Topic: Alfred Packer, the man-eater  (Read 1300 times)

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Offline franksolich

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Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« on: March 05, 2009, 07:21:15 PM »
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alferd_Packer

Actually, the story as related in Timber Line: A Story of Bonfils and Tammen (Eugene Fowler, 1943, Halcyon House) is much more colorful.

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Alfred G. "Alferd" Packer (January 21, 1842 – April 23, 1907) was an American prospector who was accused of cannibalism. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.

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In November, 1873, Packer was with a party of 21 who left Provo, Utah, bound for the Colorado gold country around Breckenridge. On January 21, 1874 he met with Chief Ouray, known as the White Man's Friend, near Montrose, Colorado. Chief Ouray recommended they postpone their expedition until spring, as they were likely to encounter dangerous winter weather in the mountains.

Ignoring Ouray's advice, Packer and five others left for Gunnison, Colorado on February 9. The other men were Shannon Wilson Bell, James Humphrey, Frank "Reddy" Miller, George "California" Noon and Israel Swan.

The party got hopelessly lost, ran out of provisions, and became snowbound in the Rocky Mountains. Packer allegedly went scouting and came back to discover Bell roasting human flesh. According to Packer, Bell rushed him with a hatchet. Packer shot and killed him. Packer insisted that Bell had gone mad and murdered the others.

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On April 16, 1874, Packer arrived alone at Los Pinos Indian Agency near Gunnison. He spent some time in a Saguache, Colorado saloon, meeting several of his previous party. He initially claimed self-defense, but his story was not believed. During the trial, a local newspaper reported that presiding judge M.B. Gerry said:

"Stand up yah voracious man-eatin' sonofabitch and receive yir sintince. When yah came to Hinsdale County, there was siven Dimmycrats. But you, yah et five of 'em, goddam yah. I sintince yah t' be hanged by th' neck ontil yer dead, dead, dead, as a warnin' ag'in reducin' th' Dimmycratic populayshun of this county. Packer, you Republican cannibal, I would sintince ya ta hell but the statutes forbid it."

The man-eater was reprieved because the then-Colorado Supreme Court ruled one couldn't be sentenced to death based upon ex post facto law; apparently in 1873, when Colorado was still a territory, cannibalism wasn't a crime.

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Packer is widely rumored to have become a vegetarian before his death, reputedly of "Senility - trouble & worry" at the age of 65.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2009, 07:22:48 PM »
is your google stuck on "cannibalism" tonight, frank? :-)
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Offline franksolich

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2009, 07:24:42 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on March 05, 2009, 07:22:48 PM
is your google stuck on "cannibalism" tonight, frank? :-)

Nah, it was one of those random by-chance things.

I was googling "wimples of the Elizabethan era," and somehow got stuck.

I was hoping FGL was here right now, but he's not, and Ptarmigan's absent too.
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Offline franksolich

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2009, 07:25:44 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on March 05, 2009, 07:22:48 PM
is your google stuck on "cannibalism" tonight, frank? :-)

By the way, be sure to read the quote of the judge.

That's a classic in western history, and funny too.
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Offline Rebel

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2009, 07:28:10 PM »
Someone said something about the liberal cities going "Donner Party" in a DUmp thread the other day. Maybe that was subconsciously placed into Frank's brain.  :-)
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There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site

Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2009, 07:35:26 PM »
Quote from: franksolich on March 05, 2009, 07:25:44 PM
By the way, be sure to read the quote of the judge.

That's a classic in western history, and funny too.

I have no idea how this anecdote is germane to your thread, but what the hell.

ok, so several years ago, I was on the elevator with the vice president of my company and CFO.  they were admiring the fact that john glenn was going back into space, and whether that was a good thing or not.  I snorted.  the CFO challenged me : "well, Sam, what do you think about john glenn going back into space?" 

"fine by me", I replied. "one less goddam democrat in the country on election day".

the elevator doors opened, and I walked out first, on the way to the cafeteria for coffee.

that actually happened.

 
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Offline Rebel

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2009, 07:38:01 PM »
No cop, no bushes, I give it 1 bong.  :-)
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There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site

Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2009, 07:39:05 PM »
Quote from: Rebel on March 05, 2009, 07:38:01 PM
No cop, no bushes, I give it 1 bong.  :-)

I should get at least an extra bong for it being an actual event. :whatever: :uhsure: :-)
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Offline Rebel

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Re: Alfred Packer, the man-eater
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2009, 07:41:09 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on March 05, 2009, 07:39:05 PM
I should get at least an extra bong for it being an actual event. :whatever: :uhsure: :-)

I tried to give you a Hi5 instead, but I forgot I gave you one about 30 minutes ago and it wasn't allowed.  :-)
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There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site
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