Posted on 06/28/2004 9:09:55 AM PDT by ijcr
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:42:32 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
My thoughts exactly. Dude sounded like a bad neighbor from the get go. The lawsuits probably cost more than the cost of the fencing.
Jerk.
Another "why bother to read the article" poster.
FYI, the victim was NOT trying to enforce his property rights, he was destroying the fences of the lawyer.
Next door, Frances Hurt heard the shots -- "one, then a hesitation, then five in a row," she said. "I had no idea what had happened. My first thought was, 'That's odd, it's not hunting season.' "
Six rounds at a guy armed with either a stick or a cattleprod (odd that he can't remember which one it was). First one round, then five rapid shots...
This doesn't quite pass my smell test.
Got to agree with Ames. I had to get rid of my bull and cows cuz they got to be fence jumpers , or in the bulls case a fence bull dozer. I am lucky my neighbors at the time didn't sue me, or shoot me, for dammages to their gardens and at one time their house.You got cattle, you are responsible for them. They get out and cause an auto accident it is your fault.
"He spent two nights in jail before being freed on $100,000 bond, secured by his mother's house in Virginia Beach."
He doesn't appear very wealthy if his mother has to put up her home to secure his bail. On the other hand he could just be a spoiled momma's boy.
He's a lawyer. Hang him.
There's a lot missing from this story.
The SC said the law was valid. As for being 'right', one can argue that the animosity might never have happened had he not used the old law to make his neighbors pay for a fence he wanted.
You read the article....Ames is an a$$hole and he wasted an old man with 6 shots who may have had a stick or cattle prod in his hand.
Are you sure you're on the right forum where you think it's cool to justify all that with archiac "property rights" law.
What if Bill Gates moves in and builds a 1000 dollar per foot fence around his spread, would all his neighbors have to share the fence costs?
Are you a blind law follower no matter how absurd or outdated it might be?
If guns are outlawed, are you going to obey that one?
Hey look! Lots of folks "proudly posting without reading the article." Is it contagious?
...Ames used the law, and the state Supreme Court sided with him....
Don't necessarily make it right.
The US Supreme Court also sided with laws, probably some of them in effect in Virginia at the time, that said it was OK for one man to own another as property.
No, I said that someone using obscure 17th century law to force neighbors to pay for his fencing is a jerk.
I have horses, I paid for the fencing to keep them in their pasture. I didn't expect the neighbors (one of whom also has a horse) to pay for my fencing.
Apparently, I'm not sophisticated enough to allow you to graze your cattle on MY LAND.
This is a very touchy subject for me. Last week some lowlife took down my neighbors new $30,000 fence. A survey had been done, but the perp just didn't like the idea of the neighbor's 46 wooded acres being fenced. The reason he fenced it in the first place was because the people down the hill were using his property for everything from ATV race tracks to dumping garbage. No amount of "nice" helped. The intruders were just plain determined to not allow him his property rights.
"Mr. Brooks' bull, which was not certified disease-free, barged through the barrier and mingled with Mr. Ames' Black Angus herd."
twenty years trying to keep your neighbors bull out of your herd. yes, the right person got shot.
LOL....I am reknown for my sophistication.
*that was funny actually...I salute you even though I disagree with ya.
Again, I'm telling you that Indiana has a similar law on the books, and I'll wager most "rural" states do as well. Finally, securing a 1991 state supreme court decision in one's favor does not allow one's opponent to claim the law is "archaic," or "obscure."
One more time.......he "wanted" the fence so that the victim's cattle would stay off his land. Is that so wrong? AND...the victim repeatedly cut down the fence. I'm not saying anyone deserved to be killed, but a thing like this can push a person BEYOND frustration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.