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We had been having
trouble on the ranch with burglaries, robbery, violence and some beatings
for several weeks. Some of the residents had been violently beaten and
several of them were cut rather badly during the course of a couple fights
that took place. The trouble seemed to be caused by one individual who
delighted in terrorizing others. This individual seemingly had no fear of
reprisal or respect for the law or the property of others. He came and went
as he pleased and wreaked havoc where ever he chose. If there was something
he wanted he just came and took it. When any of the residents tried to
withstand him he would fight. And as I said, during the fights several were
cut rather badly. So far no one had died, but the situation appeared heading
in that direction.
Since no one
seemed able to stop him I decided to take matters into my own hands. I
figured I would be justified (in my own mind at least) in doing whatever I
had to do to take care of this guy. I did not tell anyone what I was about
to do. The less said the better. And at this late date any evidence that may
have remained of the ensuing events is long gone.
I waited until one
evening when there was no moon and my family was gone, visiting friends. I
shut off all the lights in the house and left only the light on the porch
burning. As far as anyone could tell we were all away from the place. On the
porch I placed an object I hoped would be of much value to the terrorist.
(For that is what he was.) Then I sat in the darkened living room my gun
loaded and ready. I had the hammer cocked so I could shoot quickly, for I
figured I would get one chance only.
Let me say here
that with some individuals I have no moral compunctions to give them any
warning at all. Their lifestyle and criminal activities have removed from
them the right to "fair play". You may not agree with me, and that is OK. I
am simply telling you the moral choice I have made.
I sat there in the
dark for the better part of the evening, pondering if I would have the nerve
to follow through if he did indeed show himself. About 10 PM there was a
stir and in a moment the thief slipped up onto the porch, checking out the
goods. Without thinking I brought the gun up, got a quick sight picture on his head and fired.
At the shot he dropped without a
sound, thrashed around in the yard and rolled off the small hill into my horse
corral. I grabbed a flashlight and ran out to find him. Checking all around I
could see the tracks and marks but not much blood. Apparently my shot through
the screen door had deflected the bullet enough that it was not a fatal wound.
Investigating the next morning confirmed my worst fears. He had gotten away.
No one was reported
needing medical attention at anyplace in town. I kept my ears open but did not
hear any rumors or stories. After several weeks I figured maybe he took the hint
and moved to a safer part of the world. As far as I was concerned it was over
and done.
Then one morning when my two young daughters were playing in the yard I happened
to glance out the back window and there he was! He had sneaked up through the
grass was hiding near the edge of our yard, eyeballing my daughters! I thought,
"This is IT!" and went and got a rifle. Running a shell into the chamber I eased
around the corner of the house and lined up the sights on his chest. He had not
seen me and the shot was a complete surprise to him. At the shot he leaped about
2 feet into the air and then took off into the brush.
I tracked him about
200 yards and lost him when the tracks came out onto a road. The tracks were
digging in deeply as he ran. You could see the claw marks clearly. I found some
fur where he went through thick brush. But I never found him or saw him again.
Big cats are hard to
kill, even housecats. And while we had a number of big feral cats come onto the
ranch, this had to be the toughest one I ever saw.
He never returned so I figure the shot must have done him. He was a tough old
tomcat, I will give him that.
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