PO8

Rollo Tomasi is a metaphor for the criminal who gets away with the crime. Tomasi is a purse-snatcher, murderer, false-accuser, the one never held accountable for the evil they’ve done. The Old West’s version of Rollo Tomasi was known simply as PO8. PO8 was a highwaymen and stage robber. After stole from his frightened victims he left poems behind to brag about the job he did. One such poem read as follows: “Here I lay me down to sleep, to await 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 money in my purse.” The poem was signed PO8. Law enforcement agents in the 1870s, believe the bandit and talent less poet was Black Bart, alias Charles Bolton. Detectives finally tracked the thief to a hotel in Northern California using the laundry marks found on a handkerchief left behind at the scene of the crime. He spent six years in prison and when he got out he returned to his life of crime. Police could never catch him a second time. Rumor had it that Black Bart had been killed by police. But when highway robberies persisted and ridiculous verses scrawled on a pieces of paper and signed PO8 continued to be deposited at the scene of the crime, there was doubt the police really did their job. According to one newspaper report from 1895, PO8 stole more than one hundred thousand dollars after his so-called death. PO8 was never held accountable for those crimes. I spent my morning dealing with prison officials trying to get the situation with my brother resolved. It’s a grueling undertaking brought on by the Rollo Tomasis and PO8s in this world. Whatever can be done to hold people accountable for the evil they do I’m going to do it. Even if I have to stand alone, I will not be afraid to stand alone. I’m going to fight for real victims. I’m going to fight for what’s right. I’m going to fight to hold people who destroyed lives accountable. Now, where’s my horse?! It’s time to ride.