Dressing for Success

            I don’t have much use for people who hit other people.

            My mother taught me early on that the rule with regard to getting along with other folks was simple…you do not put your hands on other people’s children unless they ask you to.  There are bushel baskets full of State and Federal laws surrounding the acts of assault and battery and we as a society usually take these things fairly seriously.  Of course, if you happen to live in Aberdeen , Mississippi , these little legal details can get a bit convoluted.  Take Tony Walker for example.

            Tony Walker is a convicted felon. Tony used to do a bit of drug dealing and he was not altogether successful in that enterprise. Former Chief of Police Brent Coleman had Tony’s number and, as it happened, Tony spent some time in the penitentiary for those dealings.

            During last summer’s marathon election in Ward 2, Tony was among the many “good citizens” who were questioned on the witness stand about his relationship with incumbent candidate Cloyd Garth. It appeared that some, several of whom were convicted drug dealers, were also working on the Garth re-election team.  It further appeared that they were doing so on the strength of promises of present and future “perks.” Naturally, the “good citizens” denied the existence of any such favors and, because they made their denials under oath, we are expected to believe them.  Then there’s Tony Walker.

       Beyond the continuing gainful employment, Tony enjoys other protections not afforded to regular citizens. For example, on Monday, September 22^nd, it seems that a woman with whom Tony has had intimate relations went to the local Police Department to complain that Tony had physically assaulted her.  Be encouraged, Aberdeen ! Tony was arrested forthwith.  Almost immediately, though. Tony’s good friend Cloyd Garth made an appearance at the PD, made a telephone call to the municipal court jester Adrian Haynes and, as if my magic, he managed to “spring” Tony before the ink was dry on the complaint. And, while it is considered to be standard operating procedure in bona fide law enforcement offices to hold an abuser for a 24-hour cooling-off period, Tony was on the streets in no time.

            Now the state of Mississippi recognizes that domestic violence all too often results in homicide. Our state has rules about these things. Our state has even created a special fund which is fed, in part, by fines levied against abusers. This fund is to assist in creating shelters and safe havens for battered women and children. As a matter of fact, our state takes these matters so seriously that if Tony were to engage in the sport of treating one or more of his significant others like a punching bag three times, he’d find himself back in Parchman. At least that’s what the law says.  Sadly, though, we all must remember Cloyd Garth’s stirring words, “The attorney general doesn’t run Aberdeen . I do.”

            For the time being, we are stuck with alderthug Cloyd Garth.  He will continue to lavish these kinds of  “gifts” upon his cronies until such time as his term is over, or he is removed from office because of his total disregard for the law. In the meanwhile, let us not lose track of  Garth’s abuses of his power and of the citizens he is sworn to serve.

            While we’re at it, lets take up a collection to buy old Tony a new shirt….if you’re going to be a wife beater, you might as well wear one.