Update Titled, "Dave's Updates 1-1-00 "
by David Hedgepeth, Dallas Texas - [email protected]
Subject: Dave's Updates 1-1-00
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 22:21:22 -0600
From: [email protected]
To: Mailing list members
Re: Courtney/James Debate: To Kathy Kathy Reynard (12/30/99) on the
Courtney Genforum 1-1-00. (Link provided below)
Kathy,
I will respond to the main points in your letter of 12-30-99.
1. I do welcome a challenge to what I have to say. I do hope through
exchange understandings and opinions might bring us all to a common
truth. Perhaps you have felt as I in that this process has been hampered
by misunderstanding. I do not mind people disagreeing with me, but not in
a demeaning way. Maybe I may not always perceive things correctly. I do
think if you will reread the last two major letters you have written and
imagine if they had been sent to you from me, then you would get my
point. Regardless I do not intend to be rude to anyone and if that has
ever been the case I apologize to all concerned.
As far as Phil Stewart, I consider him a friend who does not always agree
with me. That's OK. We have our strange senses of humor but it is not
disrespectful as far as I'm concerned on either side. Each of us have a
little fun in what we do.
2. As I have explained before, at the September 17 hearing you were very
soft spoken. I thought you identified yourself as a professional
genealogist from Kansas City. As a compliment to you, you did seem
professionally prepared. I did not introduce myself then because I did
not see that as appropriate. There is no shame in that. I'm not sure how
that relates to your not contacting Betty Duke in the early stages of
your research to get your personal questions answered.
3. I gave you the court record quote from the Judge's decision.
| "Petitioner's (Betty Duke) request for exhumation did not raise to the
level of necessity or compelling reason requiring the sanctity of the
grave to be disturbed." |
That is it. The judge never said the Max's presentation, your genealogical
input, or the Judges denial for exhumation was because of proof or the
reason for exhumation. It was for the above reason as stated.
Again I
respectfuly ask you to change the statement posted on the Andruss
website at http://www.andruss.net/courtney.htm:
"On September 17, 1999, in a Falls County, Texas courtroom, a judge
decided not to allow the exhumation of James L. Courtney's body for DNA
testing after a forensic scientist proved that the picture of Dianna
Courtney-Haun in Mrs. Duke's book had been altered."
With what I have said, surely I have presented valid documentation to
back my request. Please oblige.
4. Your history of Zerelda James Samuels and Diannah Courtney Haun
present a good and valid question. Can Zerelda and Diannah be the same
person? Are the people properly identified? There obviously has to be
some more discovery here on Betty's part.
As far as the more clear photo you speak of, is it the original and if so
who has it? Keep in mind a professional facial recognition lab did
identify faces as a match. Hands or not, the faces match. Now if you
think your picture is the original I am sure Visionics will make an
evaluation. I suggest you do it. However if it has been altered, then
that will be reported. Getting this test done would be a minimum charge
compared to previous Courtney expenditures.
5. You said, "There you go again, David, making a statement with no
supporting documentation. Naughty, naughty!! When, and where, did JLC
address his brother Theodore as "Cosin"?"
Guess I had rather you simply asked, where did I get my information. I
may be in error at times but I do not make things up. The letter to
"Cosin Theodore" was referred to in JLC's dairy, which is on page 113 in
Betty's book.
6. I/we don't know why the Courtney name was changed to Haun. I/we do not
know for sure if Stephen Courtney and Andrew Jackson Haun were the same
people, although I/we believe they were. That was my point. With James
listed as a Haun on the 1870 Census leaves a question. As far as I know
there is no documentation on a marriage between Stephen and Diannah in
1845 but is in 1851. Go figure on that one. It is true that the Hauns did
address JLC by that name when he moved to TX. Still I don't know why JLC
would not have taken the same name as his family. Another mystery.
7. Can I prove Bill Wilkerson that associated with JLC was a James Gang
member? Well, JLC also associated with Bud Singleton another James Gang
name. All things considered, what would be the chance of those men not
being James Gang members? Also James Wilkerson and Howard Carr are
possibilities that need further research as to their relationship if any
to the James Gang.
8. My point about the Carr living in the Haun residence in 1875 is this.
You researched the records and did not find that info. Yet you seemed to
think Betty should have found the additional information that you
discovered in the 1868-1869 records. It is no big deal. It is easy to be
missed by anyone. That's all.
9. Mae Courtney was a genealogist. It is hard to imagine that she really
would destroy anything. That is the first I have heard anyone say what
happened to those documents. If so, that is a real tragedy. Mae knows
more about all this. Again I would invite anyone who can to ask her. The
story has been covered too long.
|
Good luck on your new book. If something new develops, I am willing to
discuss it.
David
Click here to read Kathy's Last Post to David on 12-30-99
Your comments, information and support would be greatly appreciated.
David Hedgpeth- E-mail: [email protected]
Contact me if you want to be added or deleted from the update notices.
David Hedgpeth
Dallas, TX
Send Regular E-mail to: [email protected]
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Note to readers: You may review all the past and present correspondence
on the Jesse James/James L. Courtney Debate at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ivyplace/hedgpethg.html
Also you may contact David Hedgpeth at [email protected] to be added to the
e-mail list ("Dave's Updates") or for direct comments/questions.
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