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Dead Scotsman, African snakes likely connected [Clinton Library Cobra claims first victim]
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | May 21, 2004 | MICHAEL FRAZIER AND C.S. MURPHY

Posted on 05/21/2004 11:55:33 AM PDT by HAL9000

Investigators have reportedly drawn a connection between a Scotsman found dead last week in east Little Rock and venomous African snakes discovered the next day in a wooden box about half a mile away.

Though Little Rock police confirmed the Scotsman and the snakes were connected, they wouldn’t say how they were linked or whether the man died from a snakebite, said Scott Carter, spokesman for the city of Little Rock.

Police interviewed Little Rock Zoo officials Thursday morning, asking questions about venomous bites and the four snakes taken to the zoo last week. "They wanted to know what kind of snakes they were, and they wanted to know if they could bite through the bags," said Little Rock Zoo Director Mike Blakely, referring to the cloth bags the snakes were found in. "I said, ‘Yes, they could. ’"

Investigators told zoo officials they are investigating an unusual death that may be linked to the snakes, Blakely said.

Authorities would not comment Thursday on the investigation. "I’m not going to talk about it," Little Rock Police Capt. Tom Bartsch said. He added that he couldn’t control what zoo officials said about police work, but that he wouldn’t discuss an ongoing investigation.

On May 13, police found the body of Garrick Wales, 48, of Kilmacolm, Scotland, in a rented Chevy Blazer on Gregg Street near the Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field, according to a police report.

Wales’ body has been sent to the state Crime Laboratory for an autopsy, and the case is classified as an undetermined death.

A day after Wales’ body was found, a curious Little Rock resident discovered the foreign snakes after he spotted a wooden box in a grassy area near Sixth and Byrd streets with a handwritten message that read "live venomous reptile."

Inside the box, in separate cloth bags were a 14-inch-long twig snake, a 6-foot-long green mamba, a 4-foot black mamba and a 5-foot forest cobra. The snakes were estimated by zoo officials to be worth about $1,000.

The serpents apparently spent at least two days in the box before Paul Mitchell, a purchasing agent for IK Electric, found the snakes and took them to the Little Rock Zoo.

Police found Wales alone and reclined in the driver’s seat of the Blazer about 7:14 a.m. He was "very pale," according to the police report. Police said Wales apparently threw up in the front and rear of the vehicle.

A woman reached at Wales ’ Scotland home said she was Wales’ wife but was "not in a position to talk about" her husband’s death. "I’m still very upset," said the woman who wished only to be identified as Mrs. Wales. She said her husband was in Little Rock on business, but she wouldn’t say what he did for a living.

Investigators said in the report that Wales had been staying at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Little Rock, but they didn’t say for how long.

The four African snakes were taken to the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas, on Wednesday after a short stay at the Little Rock Zoo. No lifesaving antivenin exists in Arkansas to treat a bite from the snakes.

The Little Rock Zoo’s reptile handler, Randal Berry, drove the snakes to Texas, but couldn’t be reached at the zoo or his home for comment Thursday, the day he was to return from the trip.

After the mysterious snake discovery, Berry said earlier this week that a Delta Air Lines official confirmed that a shipment of venomous reptiles arrived in Little Rock on May 13 from Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Berry continued with plans to transfer the reptiles to Texas after airline officials wouldn’t release any details about the snakes’ owners. "Delta does not give out information about passengers or customers or information as far as who receives shipments and things," said Anthony Black, a spokesman at the company’s corporate office in Atlanta.

Information for this article was contributed by Dauphne Trenholm of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Arkansas; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: arkancide; clinton; clintonlibrary; cobra; garrickwales; mamba; scotland; snakes
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To: dennisw
"She said her husband was in Little Rock on business, but she wouldn’t say what he did for a living."

Former snake handlin' preacher?

21 posted on 05/21/2004 12:23:25 PM PDT by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: alloysteel

What did the Scotsman know? And when did he know it?


22 posted on 05/21/2004 12:24:18 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Never again trust Democrats with national security!)
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To: HAL9000
Is this some how related to the two Cobras released in an apartment complex in Dallas a month ago?

One was captured after a couple of days. Two weeks later someone tampered with the snake traps and hauled off the other.

23 posted on 05/21/2004 12:26:46 PM PDT by Deguello
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To: r9etb

Just the other day, my neighbor asked had I seen any snakes around, I said no and asked why. She stated her friend would come out and get the snake if I let her know. My wife called me in just when I was about to ask the neighbor what her friend does with dead snakes.


24 posted on 05/21/2004 12:28:21 PM PDT by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: HAL9000

And was he wearing a kilt...................? ............enquiring minds seek to know


25 posted on 05/21/2004 12:36:57 PM PDT by spokeshave (It is, as it was)
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To: r9etb

The tale about it being as fast as a horse is obviously not true .....but the part about goosebumps, well, have a look at a mamba. They will give you goosebumps ...especially when you know what they can do. And yes, when they strike they do it repeatedly.


26 posted on 05/21/2004 12:38:30 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear missiles: The ultimate Phallic symbol.)
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To: HAL9000

I'm not following something. So the Scotsman had the snakes shipped to Little Rock? Why would he, after getting bitten, leave the bag/box in a field? Why wouldn't he drive himself to the hospital?


27 posted on 05/21/2004 12:43:34 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: spetznaz

Thanks for the bump.

Very interesting.


28 posted on 05/21/2004 12:46:30 PM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: RUCKUS INC.

Sounds like something Rummie would do. Or we could blame the t wins.


29 posted on 05/21/2004 12:50:43 PM PDT by Temple Owl
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To: mtbopfuyn

No anti-venom available in the hospital.


30 posted on 05/21/2004 12:51:22 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic (Re-elect Dubya)
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To: spetznaz; HAL9000

Ahaaa.......interesting. He droppped off the snakes on his way to the airport??


31 posted on 05/21/2004 12:55:28 PM PDT by nuconvert ("America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins." ( Azadi baraye Iran)
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To: r9etb
"My great aunt had a phobia about snakes. She was scared to death of them..."

So she died of fear?

32 posted on 05/21/2004 12:55:29 PM PDT by TommyDale
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To: spetznaz
The tale about it being as fast as a horse is obviously not true .....

Apparently black mambas are very swift, as snakes go: "Known as the world's fastest snake, the black mamba can reach speeds of between 7 and 12 mph and possibly as fast as 15 mph for short distances while chasing prey."

Shudder....

33 posted on 05/21/2004 12:58:39 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: spetznaz

I think you should toss the Australian TIger Snake and the Taipan in that list. All Elapids with highly toxic venoms and a bad attitude.

Anybody keeping or purchasing snakes like this should have a supply of anti-venin around specific to the snake, some adrenalin in case they go into anaphylactic shock from the horse serum, and well-prepared last will and testament.

Impressive animals but definitely not for the amateur. Vipers and even Cobras are a lot easier to handle.


How did they know it was a Scotsman? Was he wearing a kilt?

Does ANYTHING NORMAL ever happen in Arkansas??


34 posted on 05/21/2004 12:59:28 PM PDT by ZULU
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To: TommyDale

No, she died of misplaced literalism.... ;-)


35 posted on 05/21/2004 12:59:50 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: ZULU; sweetliberty
Does ANYTHING NORMAL ever happen in Arkansas??

Ping!

36 posted on 05/21/2004 1:05:32 PM PDT by null and void (The owls are not what they seem...)
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To: HAL9000
The unforgettable battle between a Scotsman and a blancmange from outer space unfolds in the Monty Python episode "Oh You're No Fun Anymore" (1969).
37 posted on 05/21/2004 1:36:09 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 40 goals this season...)
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To: HAL9000

38 posted on 05/21/2004 1:39:50 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Rick Nash will score 40 goals this season...)
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To: HAL9000

Och, laddie - so tha's wha they keep 'neath their kilties...


39 posted on 05/21/2004 1:40:38 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: HAL9000
Though Little Rock police confirmed the Scotsman and the snakes were connected, they wouldn’t say how they were linked...

Ummm, I'm guessing by the fangs, maybe?

40 posted on 05/21/2004 1:46:34 PM PDT by HenryLeeII
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