Take Ma home for the holidays.

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Ma Barker: America’s Most Wanted Mother

She began with a hymn book in her hand; she died clutching a gun. That was “Ma” Barker, mother of four outlaw sons whom J. Edgar Hoover, chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice described as the real “public enemy No. 1.”

Kate Barker – “Ma” as she was known to her criminal associates was the “brains” of the Barker-Karpis gang – kidnappers, bank robbers, and murderers. And she died as most criminals wanted by the federal government do. Ma Barker began her public career in Kansas City, Missouri. In either an attitude or assumed or real piety she was the leader of a small band of religious zealots who used to hold meetings in the street near city hall. Whenever one of her followers was arrested for picking pockets, vagrancy, or street walking or casual misdemeanor, she would go before the police judge, shed tears and claim that she alone was left in the world to befriend the poor defendant. In most cases the defendant went back to more and bigger crimes and “Ma” Barker’s friendliness and a slight ability as a defense witness soon became a racket.

“Ma” and her boys were responsible for kidnapping two of the country’s wealthiest men and holding them ransom. The Barker-Karpis gang murdered police officers and federal agents and any outlaw who double-crossed them. Ma Barker’s life ended at a home she was renting in Florida on January 16, 1935.

To learn more about the life and violent death of Ma Barker and her sons read

Ma Barker: America’s Most Wanted Mother

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The Cowboy & the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

On December 30, 1951, The Roy Rogers Show debuted on NBC. Children across the country were poised in front of their parents’ television sets on Sunday nights at 6:30 to watch their favorite singing cowboy fight for law and order in the contemporary West. The theme song for the program, written by Dale Evans, was “Happy Trails.”

Dale joined Roy in the series, as did actor-singer Pat Brady, who played a bumbling sidekick. In addition to the human actors, the show featured Roy Roy’s horse, Trigger; Dale’s horse, Buttermilk; her dog, Bullet; and Pat’s cantankerous jeep, Nellybelle.

Critics believed the show was popular not only because audiences loved the mix of action and comedy, but also because of the high morals it brought to light. Roy and Dale’s faith in God and their desire to live according to His ways were evident in each episode. (Roy read the Cowboy’s Prayer at the Riders Club meetings at theatres that featured his movies and television shows.) The programs struck a positive chord with children and parents alike. The show remained on the air for seven years.

Evangelist Billy Graham invited Roy and Dale to perform at his crusades and give their testimony. New attendance records were established wherever they appeared. Dale went on to record her testimony in a series of books about her life and faith. Each one was a popular seller for the publishing house, the Revell Company.

To learn more about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans read

The Cowboy and the Senorita.

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The Cowboy & the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Early in Roy’s career as a western star, Republic Pictures created a fictitious promotional campaign to introduce him to the public. Press agents decided it would add to Roy’s appeal if they told potential moviegoers that he was a real cowboy born in Cody, Wyoming. Citizens in Wyoming and Ohio wrote to the studio protesting the false reports. Within a few days an accurate biography of Rogers was released.

The studio sent Roy on press junkets after each of his films was released. According to Republic executives, Roy came across much better in person than on the screen. They felt his eyes were more expressive and his shy smile more appealing. Fans agreed, and his personal-appearance tours proved to be profitable ventures.

Roy was grateful for his success and went out of his way to show his gratitude to his family and friends. With a portion of the money he earned, he purchased his parent’s home in California and got the Sons of the Pioneers a contract working with him in all his westerns. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction to be doing something for those he loved and those who had befriended him in the lean years.

To learn more about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans read

The Cowboy and the Senorita.

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The Cowboy & the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

A few quotes by Dale Evans.

Time and experience have taught me a priceless lesson: Any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child. I have born two children and had seven others by adoption, and they are all my children, equally beloved and precious.

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.

Cowgirl is a spirit, a special brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she’s just as likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut.

Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights.

If we never had any storms, we couldn’t appreciate the sunshine.

To learn more about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans read

The Cowboy and the Senorita.

These days men are being accused of sexual misconduct and assault at a rate that rivals the number of times the Skipper blamed Gilligan for the millionaire, his wife, the movie star, the professor, and Mary Ann’s inability to get off that tropical island. Every day the deviant kinks of men in political office, newsrooms, on television shows, and running film companies are exposed.  Pun definitely intended.

With all the accusations being leveled on a daily basis it’s easy to believe every accuser without question. That’s a dangerous practice.  Some accusers lie and their reasons vary.  It’s easy to forget that a person is innocent until proven guilty.  Rushing to judgement is costly.

Statistics show there is a 97% conviction rate for anyone accused of sexual molestation. Lawyers generally encourage clients to take a plea amend such allegations because they know a jury moves to convict 97% of the time even with compelling evidence proving the accused innocence.  Juries refuse to believe anyone would make such a heinous claim if it weren’t true.  A legal battle is hugely expensive and most people can’t afford it so they take a plea.  But even if you had an unlimited amount of cash, the best legal defense in the nation, and you happen to win your case the stink from such an accusation will never leave you.  A false accusation is the perfect crime.

Years ago I volunteered to be a mentor for a local organization to help a teenage girl write a short story. The first day I met with the young woman to discuss her work she shared with me that her science teacher was “giving her grief” about her homework and if he didn’t stop she was going to say he molested her.  The teenager knew exactly what she was doing and could not be talked out of such an action.  The science teacher had never touched her, but she was well aware that it didn’t matter.  She knew he would have to take a leave of absence pending an investigation and that her homework problem would cease to be at that point.

I recently heard an accuser make a statement about the difficulties in coming forward with claims of sexual harassment or assault because their entire lives are then exposed and subject to question. People who claim they saw a person murder another human being are held to the same scrutiny.  A good investigator will want to know if the witness wears glasses, is on hallucinogenic medications, if they’re prone to seeing things, if they knew the accused, etc., etc.  And shouldn’t it be that way?  Don’t you want authorities to fully investigate such claims?  What investigator simply takes the word of anyone accusing someone of a crime?  An accusation of sexual misconduct or rape takes from the alleged perpetrator everything they are and everything they are ever going to be.  Women making claims should be questioned like any other witness should be questioned.  It ridiculous to think the accuser should get a pass because of their gender and frightening to know that there are those who think all an accusers should be required to provide is the accusation.

I’ve been in situations as a grown woman where grown men in position of authority act like idiots and make unwanted, sexual advances. I regard them as bullies.  I’ve told them so and I kept my distance from them.  And that’s my next point.

Everything isn’t a criminal act. Someone shoving his tongue down a person’s throat during the rehearsal of a skit for a USO Tour is inappropriate and a good kick to the groin is called for, but it isn’t a crime and shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same category with someone who has been assaulted.  The legal definition of assault is as follows:  An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. Poor taste and bad manners are not assault.

These are frightening times.