Would you help Eric Rudolph? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 06-10-2003, 08:03 AM

Here are some exerpts from an article which ran in our local paper. Full story here:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/3921015.html

Quote:

If so many people knew or thought they knew where Rudolph might have been all that time, why didn't they help the government find him, especially when they might have had a chance at a million-dollar reward?

"People around here would have considered that blood money," said Billy Gaffey, who attended school with Rudolph years ago and occasionally went fishing with his former neighbor. "There's a lot of people around these parts who would have helped him."

Quote:

I wish that he hadn't got caught," Rick Sutton said in a big, who's-afraid-of-the-FBI voice Sunday, as Rudolph spent his second day in custody.

If he'd have come here, I'd have given him money," Sutton said from his stool behind the cash register. "I'd have given him something to eat

Quote:

"If he'd have come to my house, he would have been welcome," Tracy Gaffey said.

"I'm a Christian person," her husband said. "Why look for Rudolph for murder when abortion is murder, too? If he did do the bombings, what is the right in punishing him for that when they are condoning it at the abortion clinics?"

#2 06-10-2003, 05:47 PM

It amazes me that he was able to get around like he did for so long, that people didn't turn him in. I supose in that part of the country people really have an incredible sense of community-- so much that it clouds their judgement on right and wrong. I would have turned him in in a second.

Nothing justifies what he did. I'm glad he's behind bars where he belongs!

Frank X. Morris · #3 06-11-2003, 12:10 AM

Howdy All,
If he came to my door I would have let one of the dogs bite him then I would turn him in.

Kuan · #4 06-11-2003, 07:53 AM

I was particularly amused when I read the bit where "most consider it blood money." Gimme a break! If it really weighs on your conscience that much just give the money back to his victims or don't take it at all!

#5 06-11-2003, 10:46 AM

If I saw him I would hit him with a 3 iron, spit on him, and collect my $$$.

Richard Eldridge · #6 06-11-2003, 06:19 PM

I agree that Rudolph appears to be both a religious zealot and a murderous bigot, at least if he is guilty of what the FBI says he did. Of course, he is assumed innocent until proven guilty, or we should assume this until the evidence is presented.

In those mountain communities, everyone is related by blood or marriage, and I imagine that the locals would tend to regard anyone who turned him in in the same way that good union men regard a scab or churchpeople regard a madam or the owner of a honkeytonk.

Back in the 1880's, Frank James, the bankrobber, was tried three times and acquitted all three of robbing banks and killing bank employees. The juries hated banks, city slickers and Yankees, and this was their only chance to express these thoughts.

To the local yokels, Rudolph is a relative, friend and fellow Christian first and what the FBI says he is only if and when they manage to prove their case.

Note that they are trying him in Alabama first, then in Georgia.

Still, collecting the reward money and perhaps donating it to the victims all or in part would seem to be the most sociable thing for a person to do.