Dialogue From A Teenage Gang Fight, Chicago, 1877
June 11th, 2011
Murphy to Holden: “I’m not going with the bad boys anymore.”
Murphy’s friend Nelson to Holden: “I can knock the stuffin’ out of you.”
Holden: “No, you won’t.”
Nelson grabs Holden.
Holden: “I know you can whip me and I don’t want to fight with you.”
Nelson knocks Holden down and kicks him.
Holden: “Is it fair to kick?”
Nelson: “Yes, in a rough and tumble anything is fair.”
Holden flies into a rage and knocks Nelson down, kicking him in the stomach.
Nelson: Â ”That’s enough!”
Nelson collapses and dies from internal injuries.
Holden was found innocent due to self-defense.
(Chicago Tribune, June 9, 1877)
Stuffin? He actually said stuffin? Or did the paper do a little censoring?
I guess if I was on the jury I’d have a hard time throwing the whole book at Holden. I mean, the “victim” really was asking for it, even explained the rules and gave the go-ahead for kicking.
Lots of victims are idiots. Quickest way to get to be a victim.