Guest essay: A Thanksgiving Story. Denton Record Chronicle, 11-28-19

Sometimes, it’s just good to write something and have fun. The news that a Denton man robbed a bank of less than $500 and was arrested the following day got me to thinking how pathetic a person has to be to trade such a small amount of money for years of freedom. I guess I’m saying that if you’re going to rob a bank, at least make it worth the risk. I did the math. If he gets ten years behind bars, say one for robbing a bank, nine for stupid, it works out to 13 cents a day. It’s hard to figure what some people will do, or what floats their boat, and it never ceases to amaze me. The police blotter in our newspaper is always the part I read first: Woman beat son, man robs bank, woman drives the wrong way on I-35, needles and heroin found in her car. Two teens caught burglarizing cars. Woman says her roommate told her she “won’t leave the apartment alive” . . . it’s sad and it’s endless.

Here’s the link to my essay on the pages of the Denton Record Chronicle

Saludos,

manuel

PS. One of my readers sent the following email: As follows.

Thanks for your story in the Denton Chronicle. There is one robber who was famous in the 1870’s. Sam Bass lived and worked in Denton. He robbed a train of $60,000. One of his gang’s hiding places was a cave high on Pilot Knob south of town. This knob is currently part of the Hunter Ranch on I35W, which is being proposed for a major multi-use development. When asked about a dedicated park or historical site for the cave, the Denton City Council and the developer shrugged it off. Thought you might be interested.
Thanks,