Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Susan — The Death of Innocence
Posted August 14, 2008

http://radnichole.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/susan-the-death-of-a-friend-the-death-of-innocence/ (http://radnichole.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/susan-the-death-of-a-friend-the-death-of-innocence/)

In 1972 I met Susan Hampton. Susan had recently been divorced from her husband of five years. They had one child, a daughter, aged two. Susan and Roger were a Caucasian, middle-class couple living what I suppose everyone must have thought was a fairy-tale. His father was a wealthy and prominent Democrat in mostly Republican East Tennessee. Roger's father had bestowed a house upon the couple and seemed solicitous of their marriage, often encouraging them to resolve their difficulties.

Susan and I became friends in the course of majoring in English together in our state university that was in the town we both lived in. What began as a study-dyad soon became a relationship in which we confided our fears and desires, our hopes and our disappointments to one another.

Well there is no justice like Southern Justice, 'cause Southern Justice is no justice at all.  The reloading - alone - is murder one alone in most places.

Abuse almost always escalates and should ALWAYS be taken very seriously.  That why people making light of having a stalker should be discouraged from doing so, because that kind of obsessive behavior is a big, big sign that things are not going to get better.

I would be willing to bet that political influence used to "show compassion" to convicted criminals isn't limited, nor was it ever limited, to the South.

That particular governor was quite abusive of the office -- his successor was sworn-in early so he wouldn't wholesale pardon all sorts of political cronies interest-buddies. He was then tried on corruption charges and convicted. In the end, Roger being executed would never have brought back my friend, Kat. Although when he was released I felt a rage that was very great.

She deserved a better revenge than him getting a job on the governor's staff. *sigh*

N~

I'm not a fan of the death penalty but two counts of murder one (he brought the gun, and reloaded) is 25 years to life X 2 at a minimum.

Couldn't agree more, but in 1973 there were different laws, different ways of viewing spousal abuse. I mean, he may well have had a jury of men (it was all male) who thought that "I'd do the exact same thing if my wife took up with another man after she divorced me."

Things such as rape were still open-season on any sex and clothing the victim might have been having or wearing. It really was a different age, being a woman anyhow.

I'd have loved to have seen him fry -- over a slow-roasting barbeque pit. He murdered one of the most lovely people I have ever known.

Now, years have passed and she's long-dead. I've no idea if he's still alive or not. If he is I imagine he views the entire deal as the "perfect divorce." No alimony -- which he was paying, no problem with having a troublesome ex around.

Sometimes I imagine who Crystal grew into. Wondered how much she resembles Susan.

Sometimes those ghosts come 'round and I simply sigh. What was done was done and I wonder how and if Susan and I would still be friends over all this distance.

*sigh* Memory is a very strange well to drink from.

Nichole

True that, its why were were made to walk the soft paths of forgetting so easily I suppose.

Yep, Lethe-water does have its ways, no?

N~

If nothing else, the pool of forgetfulness is refreshing.

That it is, Kat.

Although I have these moments when I think a full bath in it might be the best of all. :) *sigh*

N~

You know dear, as I'm sitting here out on the deck, watching what's left of the creek (not much at this time of year) and feeling the hot sun beat down through the trees my mind wanders to a discussion we had on this site this week, or a week ago, about the punishment of the kid down south (Cali) who shot the other kid in school, and there was talk of the families and all.  But reading what you wrote reminds me that the cost of such violent and depraved actions carry ripple effects far beyond just the family.  And I think of all those kids in that school, and how they too will have to carry all that with them.  And its sad stuff.  And what cost is that for all those kids who lost that same innocence right there in their high school, and what's that going to do to them in both the short run, and in the long run, because try as we might, there is some stuff we just never forget.

Quote from: Nichole on August 14, 2008, 03:20:46 PM
I would be willing to bet that political influence used to "show compassion" to convicted criminals isn't limited, nor was it ever limited, to the South.

That particular governor was quite abusive of the office -- his successor was sworn-in early so he wouldn't wholesale pardon all sorts of political cronies interest-buddies. He was then tried on corruption charges and convicted. In the end, Roger being executed would never have brought back my friend, Kat. Although when he was released I felt a rage that was very great.

She deserved a better revenge than him getting a job on the governor's staff. *sigh*

N~

      

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Lyrics
Artist(Band):Bob Dylan    



William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'.
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder.

CHORUS
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland,
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling,
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking.

CHORUS

Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen.
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn't even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level,
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room,
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle.
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger.

CHORUS

In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom,
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'.
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished,
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance,
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence.
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears.

Obviously there have been other events and in other places that looked similar all the way around. But, Claire, as a border state MD was and is to a great degree considered "southern." :) But, thanks for the Dylan lyrics nonetheless.

N~

Jerry and Bob, my two faves.

I saw Bob do that song one night, just him on stage at the moment, and the 7K people there, you could have heard a pin drop.  Still powerful stuff.

Quote from: Nichole on August 14, 2008, 08:32:45 PM
Obviously there have been other events and in other places that looked similar all the way around. But, Claire, as a border state MD was and is to a great degree considered "southern." :) But, thanks for the Dylan lyrics nonetheless.

N~

Maryland certainly has a Southern flavour in some areas.  Baltimore, though, always seemed more Mid-Atlantic.  Even the accent is more like Philly than Richmond, which are about the same distance. from Baltimore.