The Bodie Lynchings
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(Inspired by the 1943 classic western, The Oxbow Incident which stared Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews and Anthony Quinn. It followed a posse who set out to seek vengeance for the murder of a rancher, as the movie progressed the posse became a lynch mob taking the law into their own hands with harrowing consequences.)
Five strangers rode into Bodie, a small gold mining town
They didn't look at anybody and kept their heads down
At the Citizens bank they halted, it had been a long ride
Four then entered the bank and one kept watch outside.
The sheriff heard shots and came running, but they got away
Bar one who was badly wounded, and, on the dust, he lay
But the bank teller and two townsfolk were now lying dead
The sheriff called on the townsfolk, "We need a posse" he said.
The Sheriff was concerned that the gang would come back
To rescue the robber who'd been wounded in the attack
He deputised a posse to pursue them, to pick up their trail
But stayed behind in town, to ensure any rescue would fail.
A posse and deputy assembled then rode out of town
And took the trail due west as the sun was going down
After about three hours riding, they saw a flicker of light
They all checked their weapons, ready for a gunfight.
They dismounted their horses and walked half a mile
"We've got them" said the deputy who gave a big smile
"They'll be doing no more thieving we'll make sure of that"
Around a roaring campfire three men and a boy sat.
The deputy ran forward and drew his colt forty-five
Ready to take the outlaws; either dead or alive
The posse then joined him told the men to keep still
Told them if they moved, they wouldn't hesitate to kill.
One of men said" What's going on ?, we're just camping here "
A posse member lashed out and drew blood from his ear
The deputy asked them "Where's the money from the bank ?"
They looked at each other bewildered, all their faces a blank.
One of the posse saw something that caught his eye
He kicked it away from the fire and let out a loud cry
"It's a money bag from the bank; I think we've got our men"
"That's not ours" said one of the men" you are mistaken".
The young boy then spoke up said "I found it a way back
There was nothing in it ; it was just an empty sack "
One of the posse said "Let's hang em, there's a tree over there"
They protested their innocence, but the posse didn't care.
They tied the men up and marched them, over to the tree
One brought over four ropes to hang them, no trial or mercy
One of the posse protested "What we're doing ain't right
If they were the outlaws they'd have put up a good fight".
The others all ignored him, and they got the nooses ready
Then sat them on their horses whilst two held them steady
The deputy drew his pistol and fired two shots in the air
Their horses bolted forward, and they were left hanging there.
The deputy said " We'll leave em, be to others a warning
We'll camp here tonight and head back in the morning"
At sunrise they got up and made their way back to town
Two riders approached them; the posse slowed down.
It was the sheriff and a deputy who drew alongside
Sheriff said "They came back but their partner had died
But they're all safely in jail now we took them by surprise
The circuit judge is coming; they'll all hang I surmise".
There was an eerie silence as the sheriffs' words sank in
They'd got the wrong folk who hadn't done anything
They told the sheriff everything who listened in silence
They'd hung four people who'd committed no offence.
He said "We'll get a wagon and cut their bodies down
And give them a decent burial in the cemetery in town
You'll all have to go before the judge, we'll let him decide
Whether you acted within the law or committed homicide".
Written 4th September 2020
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2020
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