Thread: Genealogical Reprobates

This covers several cousins and family branches, been awhile since I read the book, yes there was a book by a family member and a reprint by this family member.

Most names have been forgotten, my poor memory, not to protect the non-existant innocent;
The brief story is, a distant cousin, living in Georgia at the time, had an altercation with one of the prominent members of a local branch of a well known organization, rumored to be a Grand Dragon. It ended in the shooting death of the GD. In an attempt to hide the deed he cut the body open and filled it with stone, sinking it in the local river. Not enough stone me thinks as the body was subsiquently discovered. In due time my cousin was arrested and put in the local hoosegow.

His brother, also in disagreement with said local organisation, decided to break him out. The breakout almost went as planned but my cousin was said to have been shot and wounded in the escape. Friends smuggled them out of Georgia in a produce wagon. (sounds like a bad Hollywood plot.) My cousin recovered and perhaps because of this experience, became a lawman in the Texas, Oklahoma area.
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In another incident, Ben, living in the Central Florida area, thought to be happily married started an affair with another cousins wife. As things progressed they decide to run off together They caught a boat to Cuba, but it was not to be. At that time of our history it was scandolous to such a degree the local authorities wired Cuban authorities so they were refused entry into the country. When the boat returned Ben disappeared while she returned home. She finnally returned home then dedicated her life in a hospital for the needy in Tampa. Ben was heard from only once aftwr when he snuck into town once to see his daughter then was never seen again. Some speculate he joined the army and died in the Spanish American war in Cuba or the first world war. ( Sounds Hollywood also but is the family lore).