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. 
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). 
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. 
DAY ONE, GAME ONE – The LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) clashed with the WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. The Pilots were chasing the Warriors 32-29 at Halftime but outscored them 54-33 after the break for an 83-65 comeback win. LSU-Shreveport was led by Jeff Garrett with his Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. 
DAY ONE, GAME TWO – In this game the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM took on the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s). The Firestorm held a slight 41-40 edge at the Half then left the Pioneers a bit further behind to defeat them 81-73. Callum Lawson led the way for Arizona Christian University with a Double Double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. 
DAY ONE, GAME THREE – The WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN faced the VANGUARD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The defenses dominated in the opening Half, which ended with the Statesmen clinging to a 29-28 lead. After the break William Penn U got some more separation from the Lions for a 69-53 victory. Sixteen points from Abrian Edwards led the way for the Statesmen. 
For Balladeer’s Blog’s Number One Harry Flashman Novel click 
10. ROYAL FLASH (1970) 
“Horse riding, sword fighting, brawling, drinking and humping, Harry is always in the thick of 19th Century history! This time the lusty scoundrel is tangled up in political intrigues involving Otto Von Bismarck, Lola Montez, Karl Marx and the Schleswig-Holstein Question.” 
Synopsis: Harry Flashman, fleeing a police raid on a gambling establishment he was frequenting, winds up meeting the legendary real-life adventuress Lola Montez, one of the few women to tug at Flashman’s heart, not just his man-parts. During their romantic nine-day wonder of wild love-making and tempestuous quarreling, Harry also winds up clashing with future statesman Otto Von Bismarck in clubrooms, on the hunt and on the riding range. 
ELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – One of the remaining 1 seeds – the POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS – took on the 3rd seeded SAINT MARTIN’S UNIVERSITY SAINTS. The Sea Lions put up 30 points in the 1st Half compared to the 24 scored by the Saints. In the 2nd Half the teams notched another 30 points each, giving Point Loma Nazarene University a 60-54 victory. Daulton Hommes led the Sea Lions with 25 points.
ELITE EIGHT: SECOND BERTH – The 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA SCREAMING EAGLES did battle with their Region’s 2 seeds – the BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. The Screaming Eagles seemed doomed to defeat at Halftime, trailing the Knights 42-26. However, from there USI outscored Bellarmine U 50-27 for a 76-69 comeback Upset. Twenty-seven points from Alex Stein led the Screaming Eagles. 
ELITE EIGHT: THIRD BERTH – Another remaining 1 seed – the NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS – went up against the 3rd seeded LYNN UNIVERSITY FIGHTING KNIGHTS. The Sharks methodically parlayed a 44-39 Halftime advantage into a comfortable 89-74 triumph. Nova Southeastern University was led by David Dennis with his 28 points. 
