ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND 02

OK, look.

That last post turned out to be trouble, so I will now re-write it.

The following was sent to me in an email.

Here is a story that illustrates a fine political tradition.

A professional genealogy researcher was doing some personal work on her own family tree.

She discovered that an un-named politician had a great-great uncle named Rasmussin who was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.



The genealogist and the politician share this common ancestor.

The only known photograph of Rasmussin shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory.



On the back of the picture, the genealogist obtained during her research is this inscription:

'Rasmussin, 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.'

So the genealogist recently e-mailed the politician for information about their great-great uncle.

The politician's staff is reported to have sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

'Rasmussin 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 government service, 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.'

Can you say the word, "Spin?"

(If you want to see the post that caused all the flack, just look below).