Varina, I think you are splitting hairs. Not much that is posted here can be expressed as FACT. You are beating up a poster because they didn't structure their sentence properly. I'm sure if you would have asked Sherlock nicely he would have informed you that it was indeed not a known fact but only his opinion that Thurber was affraid. By the way I happen to be of the same opinion. I don't mean to be speaking for Sherlock but I have been offended at the badgering he has taken tonight.
I'll certainly try to be nicer. My views have been attacked so often on this thread by sherlock and J.G. -- I guess I just got carried away for a moment.