Wadsworth & Custer

This wasn’t a good day for outlaw Mike Morose back in 1895. The Texas badman was hiding out in Juarez when lawmen lured him back across the border. George Scarborough killed him while resisting arrest. Scarborough was a deputy at the time he gunned Morose down, but he wasn’t necessarily a good guy. He dabbled in both sides of the law. Scarborough was best known at the time for his association with John Wesley Hardin. The two frequently robbed people and split the victim’s money between then. Corrupt officers and investigators like Scarborough were not uncommon in the Old West. They aren’t uncommon in the New West either. Timothy Masters, a man wrongfully accused of murder 10 years ago, was released today after the DNA evidence the prosecution used to build their case on was found to belong to someone else. The prosecuting attorney withheld that information along with a number of other things and that aided in their efforts to have the 15 year old Masters sentenced to life in prison. It took a team of dedicated lawyers and investigators (hired by Masters family) to dig deep and find the truth. This kind of story gives me great hope for my brother. The team I’m working with is just as fierce and driven to get at the truth and the surprises that are going to be revealed will make front page headlines everywhere. On this day 135 years ago, Elizabeth Custer was going through her slain husband’s personal effects and packing up to return to Monroe, Michigan. Among the items she found was a note from a dear friend who lived in Michigan. Elizabeth frequently had George travel to her hometown to collect her friend and bring her to Fort Lincoln where the Custer’s were stationed. Elizabeth introduced Nellie Wadsworth to some of the single officers on post in hopes that she might meet the man of her dreams. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, Nellie had already found such a man in George. Among George’s things were letters from Nellie pleading with him to meet her and professing her love. I’m sure Elizabeth felt doubly betrayed. I’d like to find out what, if anything, she ever said to Nellie about the matter. She was such a classy lady she probably never said a word. She just waited for that day. Elizabeth just knew Nellie would eventually be exposed and indeed she was. I suppose the fact that the world now know after all these years that the prim and proper Ms. Wadsworth was not what she seemed is payback enough. Life can be a witch…and then you sleep with her husband. And if you have the patience you eventually see what becomes of liars and cheats. More on Elizabeth Custer Friday.