Monday, July 27, 2009

Shot Him Dead

I always knew that Grandpa Cox (William) was tough and sometimes down right mean. Daddy used to tell me stories about Grandpa Cox when we would go fishing and hunting. I can’t remember what sparked this story about Grandpa Cox and the Coal Wars.

Daddy said that he came home from school one day and Grandpa was setting at the table with a big bandage on his cheek. Daddy asked him what had happened and Grandpa said that he had been shot. This is what daddy said.

Grandpa went to a mine where picketers were blocking the entrances to the mine or business offices. He got out of his car and a guy came up and shot him in the face. Grandpa was talking at the time and the bullet entered his mouth, hit a tooth and exited through the side of his cheek.

Daddy said that grandpa always carried two, pearl handled handguns, with him wherever he went.

I asked daddy what grandpa did. He said that Grandpa Cox took out his gun and shot the guy dead. I asked daddy if grandpa went to prison. He said no. It was not that uncommon for someone to get shot and even killed and anyway the other guy shot grandpa first.

Daddy said that grandpa and the men he hung around with would not hesitate to protect themselves, their families or their friends. Cross Grandpa Cox and you could end up dead.

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