Balladeer’s Blog kicks off a multi-part examination of the neglected 1800s folk figure called the Fool Killer. I will cover the various stories featuring the Fool Killer and the different ways the character was used by the authors. If I ever examine the related character called the Rascal Whaler it will be in a separate series of blog posts.
NOTE: FOOL KILLER LORE IS STRICTLY FOR ADULTS. IT IS NOT FOR FOOLS WHO ARE SIMPLE-MINDEDLY OFFENDED BY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
The Fool Killer stories began in 1850s North Carolina. Charles Napoleon Bonaparte Evans, editor of the newspaper called The Milton Chronicle, introduced the character around 1851 (some sources say as early as the late 1840s). If Evans had been a political cartoonist he might have used the Fool Killer as his mascot, like the figure Punch over in England or Puck here in the U.S.
However, since Evans was all about the written word, he used the Fool Killer as a much more active figure. Evans’ Fool Killer – claiming Jesse Holmes as his real name – roamed North Carolina and Virginia (which at the time still consisted of what would become West Virginia) looking for fools to kill with a club/ walking stick he always carried with him. The character would then send letters to Editor Evans explaining why he had chosen victims, defending his actions with puckish commentary.
I’ve always been struck by the similarity with the way real-life serial killers would correspond with newspapers, explaining and/or defending their deeds. In the case of Charles Evans’ Fool Killer, it was Evans himself writing the letters as if they were pieces of correspondence that “Jesse Holmes” sent to him.
The killings never happened, of course, and were simply Evans’ way of using political commentary in an entertaining way. Instead of high-brow social criticism, the Fool Killer Letters were very dark satire in which the mock author of the letters bashed the life out of corrupt politicians and other malefactors. Continue reading
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS and the WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS started things off. The Tigers seized control and by Halftime they were clobbering the Crusaders 42-24. From there Georgetown College simply had to keep WCU at arm’s length, which they did for a 94-83 triumph. Chris Coffey led the Tigers with his Double Double of THIRTY-TWO points and 12 rebounds. 
This blog post is not targeted at you if you are a rational person who simply doesn’t like President Trump. This is targeted ONLY at the Hillary-supporting loons who have been sniveling to me about the Russian Collusion fantasy for years. Watching the unhinged reaction of those fascists to the “No Collusion and No Obstruction” findings from their beloved Robert Mueller has been almost as much fun as Election Night 2016. 
CAREER CRIMINAL HILLARY CLINTON FAILS IN BID FOR WHITE HOUSE
VOTERS TO OBAMA: DROP DEAD
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Tournament were the 3 seeds – the VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS – and the Cinderella 8th seeded RANGER COLLEGE RANGERS. The Trailblazers had things firmly in hand with a 50-34 Halftime advantage over the Rangers, then coasted to an 87-77 triumph. Kevin Osawe led Vincennes University with a Double Double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. * THE TRAILBLAZERS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded KIRKWOOD COLLEGE EAGLES took on the 2 seeds – the JOHNSON COUNTY COLLEGE CAVALIERS – for the NJCAA Division Two national title. The Eagles were on top of the Cavaliers 33-26 at the break. From there Johnson County College could only cut into Kirkwood’s lead by a fraction. The final score was Eagles 64 Cavaliers 58. Kirkwood College was led by Doug Wilson’s Double Double of THIRTY points and 15 rebounds. * THE EAGLES ARE CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA DIVISION TWO * 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – In this game the WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS clashed with the UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS. The Drovers were threatening an Upset at the midpoint with their 51-40 lead. The Crusaders came storming back from there to force Overtime with an 86-86 tie. In the extra session William Carey University emerged with a 102-98 victory. Twenty-one points from Javontae McDavid led the Crusaders. 
With the superhero movie season already upon us Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of another old, old, OLD Marvel Comics hit continues. 
PART TWO
After his clash with Warlock last time around the Magus has alerted his empire’s starships to be on the lookout for any sign of our hero. The first vessel to come across Adam is the spaceship called The Great Divide, commanded by the blue-skinned Captain Autolycus of the Black Knights of the Church (more on them shortly). 
The proverbial wailing and gnashing of teeth on the part of those anti-Trump fascists who actually believed the Russian Collusion fantasy has been hilarious! Yesterday and today have provided memes aplenty from the comedy gold produced by the slobbering psychopaths who were suckered in by accused suborner of perjury Robert Mueller. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the 8th seeded RANGER COLLEGE RANGERS took the court against the 4 seeds – the COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS. The Rangers provided another Upset, leading the Red Ravens 38-30 at the Half before polishing them off 84-61. Brayan Au led Ranger College with his 27 points. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2 seeds – the JOHNSON COUNTY COLLEGE CAVALIERS – found themselves facing the 14th seeded CECIL COLLEGE SEAHAWKS. The Cavaliers were chasing the Seahawks 29-28 at the end of a defense-oriented opening Half. From there Johnson County College came back to force Overtime with a 68-68 tie. In the extra session the Cavaliers emerged with an 81-78 victory. Twenty three points from General Williams led Johnson County College. 
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – In this game the 4th seeded COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS did battle with the 5 seeds – the NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI PIRATES. A 32-31 Halftime edge for the Pirates wound up as a 60-60 tie to end Regulation. In Overtime the Red Ravens emerged with a 67-66 triumph. Keon Queen led Coffeyville with a Double Double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. 
