Spin doctoring at it best.

Photo (Google Images): The hanging of Remus ... (Take your pick from the list below.)

This is a (possibly) apocryphal story sent to me but I love it. The people that wrote this verbal slight of hand could do really well at writing speeches for politicians. After a little research to find out more about it I also found similar tales surrounding such characters as Remus Gore, Remus Bush, Remus Dunham, Remus Kerry, Remus Biden, Remus McCain, and Remus Reid.

“Judy Wallman” a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton’s great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription:

“Remus Rodman, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1883, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.” Judy emailed Hillary Clinton for information about her great-great uncle.

Hillary's staff of professional image consultants, cropped Remus's picture, scanned it in as an enlarged image, and edited with image processing software so that all that's seen is a head shot.

They then sent the photograph with the following biographical sketch. “Remus Rodman was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisitions of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana Railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency.

In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor, when the platform upon which he was standing, collapsed”.