In a groundbreaking move that underscores the importance of unfiltered journalism‚ Tucker Carlson has announced that his exclusive interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin will air on Thursday. This marks a significant moment as it is Putin’s first interview with Western media since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Carlson‚ a staunch advocate for free speech and a critic of US military aid to Ukraine‚ traveled to Moscow to secure this rare opportunity. His efforts to bring forth unedited content directly from one of the world’s most scrutinized leaders demonstrate a commitment to providing audiences with firsthand information‚ bypassing the often biased filters of mainstream media. You know they’re panicking when they get Hillary Clinton on MSNBC for an “exclusive” hit piece on Tucker pic.twitter.com/OmRT6lAxMQ — Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) February 8‚ 2024 The interview‚ which promises to be a candid discussion‚ will be available on Carlson’s own website and X platform at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. This accessibility ensures that the public can hear Putin’s perspective without the interference of third-party commentary or editorial spin. Hillary Clinton‚ in a recent statement‚ referred to Carlson as a ‘useful idiot’ for engaging with Putin. However‚ such criticism seems to overlook the essence of journalism – to seek out and disseminate truth from all angles‚ even those that challenge prevailing narratives. It is precisely this kind of dialogue that can foster understanding in an increasingly polarized world. Hillary Clinton is advocating not allowing Tucker Carson return to America after his block buster exclusive interview with Putin in Moscow . Clinton who funded the Russian collusion Steele dossier and was never held accountable for her lies and deceit. Kudos Tucker ! pic.twitter.com/IRCtbInLJ8 — Armstrong Williams (@Arightside) February 8‚ 2024 Carlson’s initiative also comes at a time when US aid to Ukraine has stalled due to political divisions in Washington. With Ukrainian forces facing shortages and Democrats in the Senate striving to renew military funding‚ the timing of this interview could not be more critical. It offers a platform for Putin to address these issues directly to an American audience. Moreover‚ Carlson’s decision to broadcast the interview without a paywall signifies a move towards democratizing information. In an era where knowledge is power‚ providing unrestricted access to such a high-profile conversation is a bold step towards empowering the public. Despite facing previous allegations of being spied on by the NSA in an attempt to thwart his communications with Putin‚ Carlson persevered. His determination to conduct this interview‚ funded personally and without any government or group’s financial backing‚ speaks volumes about his dedication to journalistic integrity. In conclusion‚ Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin is not just a media scoop; it’s a testament to the pursuit of truth in journalism. By offering an unedited and widely accessible interview with a key figure in global politics‚ Carlson is upholding the principles of free speech and informed citizenship. As viewers anticipate this historic broadcast‚ it is clear that such journalistic endeavors are essential for a transparent and open discourse on international affairs.   The post Clinton Lashes Out At Tucker Carlson’s Exclusive Interview with Putin appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Leaving their child’s favorite toy behind someplace is every parent’s nightmare‚ but Domino’s made sure one family’s forgotten T-Rex was none the worse for the mishap. In fact‚ according to a TikTok video‚ it looks like the plastic toy had the time of his life! Distraught parents called up a Domino’s in New Zealand to find out if they’d accidentally left their kid’s beloved dino toy‚ “Bitey‚” behind while picking up dinner. Since it was already too late for them to retrieve the toy‚ employees reassured Bitey’s family that they’d take care of him until the next day. However‚ it turns out that Domino’s didn’t just keep an eye on the T-Rex — they also put him to work for the evening! They took a series of hilarious photos showing Bitey’s shift at the restaurant. Apparently‚ the plastic reptile cooked up some delicious pizzes‚ washed dishes‚ and even answered the phone! Of course‚ Domino’s had to give the little dino his own official nametag‚ as well. Screengrab from TikTok Commenters loved seeing the T-Rex’s first shift at Domino’s. “This is so wholesome my heart is bursting‚” wrote one user. Screengrab from TikTok It was so sweet of these restaurant employees to let Bitey help out! Most children don’t think of their toys as objects‚ but as their best buddies. It can be really distressing when they get lost! Now‚ the T-rex’s owner can rest assured that their favorite dino was neither scared nor alone spending the night at Domino’s. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post When Little Kid Loses Their T-Rex‚ Domino’s Employees Go Above And Beyond To Make The Experience Unforgettable. appeared first on InspireMore.

One sentence...

Libs of TikTok showed how they said they were using other people's children for their political or sexual pleasure

The claim is false and stems from a Feb. 3 article published on the satire site‚ 'Real Raw News'

Oasis was‚ at one point‚ the biggest rock band from the UK and one of the greatest to break through the other side in the early 90’s. They had this likable anxiety to them that neatly punctuated the discrepancy between their erratic‚ off-stage antics and their larger-than-life‚ on-stage persona. Formed in Manchester‚ England‚ and led by the creative spark of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher‚ Oasis stomped onto the scene in 1994 with their classic debut Definitely‚ Maybe‚ and the rest was certainly history from there. They took the pop and psychedelic delicacies of their heroes‚ The Beatles‚ and layered The post Top 10 Oasis Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

By the author of Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City and The Ultimate Survival Gear Handbook It’s time to review and update the unfolding of Thirdworldization‚ or the slow descent of First World countries into banana republic territory‚ in light of the latest local and global events and trends. In Brazil‚ the new year only starts after the Carnaval‚ beginning February 10. Everything is open‚ and everyone has been working since January 2. But – and this is kinda awkward and difficult to explain – the period between that and the end of the world-famous popular festive on Fat Tuesday (yep‚ like Mardi Gras) is sort of considered something of a “warm-up”‚ and not really the game. Or so dictates the tradition. That little idiosyncrasy‚ a folklore typical of less developed nations‚ might be the perfect introduction for my first post of 2024 for The OP. Wars Even though I don’t consider conflicts and geopolitical disturbances as Thirdworldization by themselves‚ no doubt wars can impact in more than one way the standard of living in countries not directly (i.e.‚ physically) involved in the conflicts but by proxy or some other way. That’s the pickle the US and its allies in Europe find themselves in at the moment‚ their governments intent on keep funding Ukraine against Russia with billions of taxpayer’s euros and dollars‚ on top of what has already been spent. People at large have lost count of the total‚ and few are even following that much anymore. The media keeps covering the scam because it’s impossible to hide it and also to give an alibi so that‚ in the future‚ no one will be able to say the politicians did it on the back of the population. Now‚ that could be some 4D chess strategy‚ or maybe these governments know something we don’t. Perhaps this time‚ it’s different. However‚ this process has led to more than one empire’s bankruptcy. Wars are costly. Things keep heating up on the geopolitical stage‚ with other conflicts looming (check this out). Meaning that we can expect more of the above to happen and‚ consequently‚ more Thirdworldization. Border and migration crisis First‚ let’s call it what it is: an invasion. Engineered or not‚ intentional or not‚ it’s past the point of crisis. Impacts are already being felt in the US‚ the UK‚ and countries in Western Europe and for some time now. Notably‚ there’s been a rise in all kinds of crime and violence. However‚ the actual plight is yet to come. Borders and migration are being weaponized. Look at the Texas quarrel or how the US government uses the issue to hold the Senate hostage and get even more money for conflicts in distant lands. It borders on criminal‚ pun intended. The issue isn’t much better in Europe. Other practical effects will come from that. Mass migration at this level is a time bomb. No one knows the true extent of the effects once it goes off. Sleeper cells‚ overburdening of the welfare system‚ cultural and religious conflicts‚ impacts on jobs‚ legislation‚ and the market – the list of potential threats goes on. All that contributes to Thirdworldization‚ but there’s more: the reactions to those developments can be as harmful and damaging as the original problem and end up worsening it‚ things like extremism‚ nationalism‚ xenophobia‚ the rise of divisive populist leaders and politicians‚ and so on. Farmers protests I was in Germany this January when the farmers first took to the roads and cities to protest against the government’s over-taxation and over-regulation. I watched it happening up close. It was all very German‚ i.e.‚ very organized‚ civilized‚ and (mostly) peaceful‚ with the support of the population and all that. However‚ in the short period since‚ it’s grown more tense. It is spreading to Belgium (capital of the EU and NATO)‚ the Netherlands (the second biggest food exporter in the World)‚ and France (anyone remembers the summer Olympic Games are coming?) and gaining momentum. It’s also becoming more physical‚ more violent and these are concerning developments.  (Read more about the farmer protests here.) I’ve been trying to warn about strikes‚ sit-downs‚ and other similar second-and-third-order effects from the beginning. They are not immediate but lagging. I know we’ve seen that before and whatnot; also‚ it’s one of those “Big Circles” things. But pissing off the people that grow our food or transport our stuff can get very real on the ground and quickly. Economy and markets This is where all other chickens come home to roost. When money that could otherwise be used for education‚ rebuilding‚ improving‚ and expanding infrastructure‚ law enforcement‚ disaster mitigation‚ or reducing the debt (i.e.‚ lower interest and combat inflation) gets squandered or used up abroad‚ that feeds Thirdworldization. The blanket is short in nations holding the printing press or the World’s reserve basket of currencies‚ too‚ and the channeling of already-scarce resources ends up crippling further the finances and worsening the already-dire fiscal situation of the countries involved. The long-term effects will be much worse. Markets are rigged and keep going up when news are good or bad. They no longer reflect the real economy and production of goods and services‚ but if something triggers the algorithms‚ it can become a bloodbath in a snap. Everything is so interconnected and complex that it’s even hard to fathom all the consequences‚ but more Thirdworldization will be one of them‚ that’s for sure. Societal decay That’s one trend that keeps getting worse by the day. Increased poverty and homelessness‚ crime and violence‚ and social unrest are the part of Thirdworldization which directly impacts people’s standard of living and quality of life‚ what they feel the most. The undoing of the social fabric is more visible than ever‚ but I expect it to aggravate much more in the coming years‚ and that’s very Thirdworldizing (I made that word up). People realize something big is brewing. They also feel the system failing‚ the cracks‚ the corruption and decadence. Hence‚ the tension‚ radicalization‚ polarization‚ and tribalism are on the rise. The question remains whether‚ at some point‚ this will lead to torches and pitchforks on the streets or not. I can’t detect something reversing this trend‚ so we might see more pushback and unrest in the near future. Prepare. China What does China have to do with Thirdworldization‚ you may ask? Lots. If China’s two-digit GDP growth for almost two decades pulled the entire World‚ what can we expect once its economy declines‚ or worse‚ busts? I suspect few are prepared for that‚ especially considering China’s official numbers can’t be trusted. If something breaks‚ we may not even know something happened after the fact. Other potential short-term consequences are funds freezing‚ banks shutting down‚ pensions disappearing‚ and those things. (More information here.) That sort of event can affect the standard of living in short- and mid-term terms globally‚ but particularly in countries with close trading and investment ties with the big country. Keep watching that closely because a crack in any major nation or sector will lead to markets going down and investments stalling – those kinds of things. And it’ll be much worse if that happens in China‚ for obvious reasons. Freedom‚ liberty &; other issues That is hitting home hard for me right now. Somber times as Brazil slides into authoritarianism‚ under the banner of “defending democracy” and courtesy of the leftist government and Supreme Court. I’ve already addressed this topic‚ but it’s getting awful. We even have a CBDC now. My country sits in between the First-and-Third Worlds‚ so we can go lower. Brazil’s recent drop in the Transparency.org Corruption Perception Index is just another step towards Thirdworldization. That was expected‚ with the election of Lula last year and the attacks on the operation that sought to combat widespread corruption during his previous terms. The fiscal timebomb has also been set‚ but that’s for another article. There are concerning attacks on freedom and liberty taking place in places like Canada‚ Australia‚ and also Europe‚ increasing Thirdworldization in these places too. No one is going to advertise dictatorship‚ so any time a government or authority takes the initiative to “save democracy‚” you can bet it will do the opposite and take away from freedoms and liberties. I’ve been addressing Thirdworldization for years. It’s the cornerstone of my work in preparedness and survival. This mindset comes from being born and living in a developing country with many hindering deficiencies and crippling disorders‚ which is exactly what I see now spreading everywhere (actually for some time now). Anyway‚ I mention that because this update is an excellent opportunity to provide a more in-depth and objective perspective of how I see it unfolding in places like the UK‚ the US‚ Canada‚ Europe‚ and Australia. The $64‚000 question then: How far will the First World slide into banana republic territory‚ after all? I don’t foresee the First World countries like the United States becoming as dysfunctional as Third-World countries. It would take severe or multiple consecutive shocks quickly to shake institutions and society enough for that to happen in less than a generation. Others may disagree‚ and I could be wrong‚ but I know both realities‚ the differences and similarities‚ well enough to affirm that. I’m not saying it’s impossible‚ just improbable‚ at least given the actual conditions. That doesn’t mean things will be fine. They won’t‚ and that’s the main takeaway of what I just presented. We should also remember that a fall from grace is more painful when it happens from a high position. Good times can be artificial‚ but bad times are very real. Trends and events in these arenas indicate turmoil and more Thirdwoldization in the near future. It is accelerating‚ and a soft SHTF can still be pretty bad. Not counting the possibility of Black Swans‚ which come in flocks during volatile times like these. But I’m not saying anything new or unheard of. It all happened before. Not prophesizing anything‚ either‚ just offering my perspective. When searching for a balanced view‚ I do my best to consider actual threats‚ but always with perspective on history and past events. And therein lies the silver lining: history shows things never end up as good as we hope‚ nor turn out as bad as we feared. It all sounds darker in prospect than it is in reality. Call me an optimist if you want‚ but in my opinion‚ citizens of the First World will feel the loss more than the actual consequences of it. The majority will adapt and march on; that’s always been the case. Finally‚ even though prosperity is on a slump‚ humankind keeps advancing. Evolution is not linear nor without setbacks or suffering. Actually‚ we advance through suffering. Still‚ we’re living the most peaceful and prosperous time ever right now. I find it important to keep that in mind and be grateful for that. Keep saving‚ keep preparing‚ but keep enjoying‚ too. What are your thoughts? Have you seen symptoms of Thirdworldization in your area? What are they? What do you see as the biggest cause of American Thirdworldization? How are you planning for continued decline? And finally‚ how bad do you expect things to get? Let’s talk about it in the comments section. Fabian Ommar is a 50-year-old middle-class worker living in São Paulo‚ Brazil. Far from being the super-tactical or highly trained military survivor type‚ he is the average joe who since his youth has been involved with self-reliance and outdoor activities and the practical side of balancing life between a big city and rural/wilderness settings. Since the 2008 world economic crisis‚ he has been training and helping others in his area to become better prepared for the “constant‚ slow-burning SHTF” of living in a 3rd world country. Fabian’s ebook‚ Street Survivalism: A Practical Training Guide To Life In The City ‚ is a practical training method for common city dwellers based on the lifestyle of the homeless (real-life survivors) to be more psychologically‚ mentally‚ and physically prepared to deal with the harsh reality of the streets during normal or difficult times. He’s also the author of The Ultimate Survival Gear Handbook. You can follow Fabian on Instagram @stoicsurvivor The post The Thirdworldization of the First World Is Ramping Up appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

“She was a voluptuous creature.” So said veteran San Francisco police detective Ben Bohen in 1890 when recalling Belle Cora (depicted at right)‚ the most notorious woman of Gold Rush–era California. The beautiful and cultured Cora ran San Francisco’s preeminent bordello. Among her clients and friends were influential politicians‚ businessmen‚ lawyers and judges. But when Belle’s lover shot and killed a prominent U.S. marshal‚ she found herself in direct conflict with not only the city police and prosecutor but also the feared 1856 Committee of Vigilance. Despite such formidable adversaries‚ in the end her true nemesis proved to be another woman‚ a California pioneer of an entirely different cloth. The Coras Head West San Francisco’s Gold Rush vixen was born Arabella “Belle” Ryan in Baltimore‚ Md.‚ in 1828. Belle and sister Anastasia‚ two years her senior‚ were orphaned in childhood. The Ryan girls attended grammar school‚ but as teens they went to work in a dressmaking shop. Detective Bohen‚ a few years Belle’s junior‚ also grew up in Baltimore and knew the Ryans. As he later explained‚ the sisters often delivered gowns from the shop to the “hurdy gurdy” girls in a nearby bordello. “The girls were compelled to go to and from this place frequently‚ and in time developed a desire to lead the free and rollicking life of the women for whom the dresses were intended‚ and shortly afterward commenced a career of dissipation.” Belle Cora In 1848 a restless Belle boarded a steamship bound for Charleston‚ S.C.‚ where she took up with a lover. Her choice of companions was poor‚ for he was soon killed. Belle then boarded another ship‚ this one bound for New Orleans. There‚ as Bohen recalled‚ “She met Charles Cora. He was a prosperous gambler and was struck by her beauty.” Twenty-year-old Belle was indeed attractive‚ with a round face‚ thick brown hair‚ hazel eyes‚ a fair complexion and a plump‚ well-endowed figure. She in turn fell for the dashing gambler. Cora was a well-known figure in the card rooms of New Orleans. Born in Genoa‚ Italy‚ in 1817‚ he immigrated to America with his family as a boy. One of his gambler friends‚ J.J. Bryant‚ later said Charles’ parents had abandoned him in the wide-open town of Natchez‚ Miss. “He was an ignorant Italian boy‚” Bryant said‚ “and had been picked up and raised by a woman who was the keeper of a house of prostitution in Natchez.” Before turning 30 Cora had plied the Mississippi River as a successful and wealthy gambler. In 1846 he drifted back downriver to settle in New Orleans‚ where he became noted for his success at the faro tables. Cora stood 5 feet 7 inches and was heavyset‚ with hunched shoulders‚ dark hair and a drooping mustache that covered his mouth. Like most gamblers‚ he dressed immaculately‚ accessorizing with an embroidered vest and a top hat. He was also quarrelsome. In May 1847 Cora got into a brawl and assaulted a New Orleans police officer. Five months later he engaged in another fracas in a New Orleans dance hall and landed in jail. A year later Cora met Belle Ryan‚ and from then on the pair lived together as man and wife‚ though they never legally married. At the time Charles and partner Sam Davis were running a faro bank on Carondolet Street‚ near the French Quarter. In the spring of 1849‚ in a precursor of later events in San Francisco‚ Cora assaulted a man who’d insulted Belle. In revenge the man turned in Cora and Davis‚ who were arrested and charged with running an illegal gambling house. After a much-publicized hearing a judge released the pair after each paid a whopping $5‚000 bail bond‚ roughly equivalent to $200‚000 in today’s dollars. News of the huge gold strike in California was then sweeping the globe. Resolving to join the Gold Rush‚ Charles and Belle boarded a gulf steamer‚ crossed the Isthmus of Panama‚ and took another steamship north to California. Fellow passenger E.L. Williams recalled that Cora and three companions started trouble aboard ship until the captain finally clapped all three in irons. Rumor had it Cora and cohorts carried on them $40‚000‚ with which they planned to start a faro bank in San Francisco. In late December the steamer sailed through the Golden Gate. Belle and Charles surely found ramshackle San Francisco a far cry from Baltimore or New Orleans. The harbor of the roaring boomtown was crammed with hundreds of abandoned vessels‚ their crews having jumped ship and left for the goldfields. Its 25‚000 inhabitants were overwhelmingly young and 90 percent male. Most lived in canvas tents and rough wood-frame houses. A promising sight to the disembarking couple‚ however‚ were the dozens of saloons‚ gambling halls‚ fandango houses and bordellos. An Incident at the Theater In 1849 women were so scarce in San Francisco that when a member of the fairer sex strolled down the board sidewalks‚ crowds of lonesome‚ homesick miners would flock out of the saloons and gambling tents‚ hats in hand‚ just to catch a glimpse. Prostitutes accounted for much of the scant female population. Leaving San Francisco for richer grounds‚ Belle and Charles took a ship bound up the Sacramento River to Marysville‚ gateway to the Sierra Nevada goldfields. There‚ in partnership with one James Y. McDuffie‚ they opened a gambling hall and bordello called the New World. “I remember seeing a bet of $10‚000 made at poker by Charles Cora‚” recalled one Forty-Niner who patronized the New World. “He won his bet.” In 1852‚ flush with cash‚ the couple returned to San Francisco‚ where Belle took to using her paramour’s surname. There‚ at the corner of Dupont (present-day Grant Avenue) and Washington streets‚ in what today is Chinatown‚ she opened a brothel in one of the ubiquitous wood-frame houses. As women remained scarce‚ men flocked to Belle Cora’s bagnio‚ which became the most successful of the more than 100 brothels in town. Though plain on the outside‚ its interior was replete with fancy furnishings and even fancier courtesans. Among the clientele were prominent merchants and political figures‚ including the mayor. As Belle prospered‚ she lavished money on Charles‚ which he quickly lost in the faro dens. The modish madam also tapped her newfound wealth to buy a fancy carriage‚ in which she enjoyed riding about town with her girls and to the theater with her husband—that is‚ when he was in town. Charles Cora As he had on the Mississippi‚ Charles roamed widely‚ following the gambling circuit to Marysville‚ Sacramento and around again. On Oct. 26‚ 1852‚ he got into a quarrel with a dangerous gambler‚ Thomas Moore‚ at the El Dorado saloon in Sacramento. Both men jerked out Colt revolvers‚ one walking out into the street‚ while the other stood in the brick doorway. Customers scattered as the two opened fire. Fortunately for Cora‚ none of Moore’s shots found their mark. A police officer soon arrived on the scene and arrested both men. Each was released after forking over a $1‚000 bond‚ and neither faced prosecution. In the spring of 1855 Belle moved into a new‚ two-story brick building at 27 Waverly Place. By then San Francisco had greatly modernized. Replacing the tents were multistory brick buildings on streets paved with cobblestones and illuminated by gas lamps. The improvements prompted miners and merchants alike to send for their wives and families‚ bringing more and more respectable‚ middle-class women to town. The latter development brought Belle no end of trouble and scorn. At the same time Charles remained fiercely protective of her. On the night of Nov. 15‚ 1855‚ Belle and Charles attended a play at the American Theater‚ with seats in the exclusive first balcony. In the row directly in front of them was William H. Richardson‚ 34‚ the U.S. marshal for northern California‚ accompanied by his 22-year-old wife‚ Lavinia‚ and a female friend. The Richardsons had been married for two years‚ and Lavinia was six months pregnant. Richardson‚ like many San Francisco pioneers‚ was a former soldier‚ a heavy drinker and quick to take up an insult or a quarrel. Neither he nor his wife had any idea a notorious madam was sitting directly behind them. On Nov. 15‚ 1855‚ as the Coras sat in the balcony of San Francisco’s American Theater‚ men in the pit leered up at Belle. Initially thinking the men were leering at his wife‚ U.S. Marshal William H. Richardson learned Belle’s identity and demanded the Coras leave. At intermission the lights went on‚ and Lavinia and her friend noticed men in the pit below leering at them and laughing. Lavinia complained to her husband‚ and Richardson went down to confront the offenders. The men explained they had not been looking at Lavinia‚ but rather at Belle Cora‚ just behind her. A furious Richardson stormed back to the balcony and demanded Charles and Belle leave at once. When they refused‚ the marshal complained to the theater manager. The latter declined to eject such wealthy patrons‚ so the Richardsons left in a huff. The next evening William Richardson happened across Charles Cora in the Cosmopolitan saloon. Both had been drinking‚ and they exchanged angry words. Cora then announced to onlookers‚ “This man is going to slap my face!”   Richardson replied with a grin‚ “I promised to slap this man’s face‚ and I had better do it!” At that‚ their respective friends stepped in and separated the pair. The next evening‚ November 17‚ Cora was drinking in the Blue Wing saloon on Montgomery Street. As was his custom‚ he carried a pair of single-shot derringers in his pockets. When he heard that a man outside was asking for him‚ Cora stepped through the door and found Richardson waiting on the sidewalk. The marshal was also armed‚ carrying a concealed derringer and a silver-sheathed bowie knife. In conversation‚ the two walked to the corner of Clay and Leidesdorff streets‚ where Cora suddenly pushed Richardson into a doorway. “What do you mean to do?” exclaimed Richardson. “Do you mean to shoot me?” “No‚ but I want to talk to you‚” declared Cora. The gambler instead seized the marshal’s collar with his left hand‚ then yanked out a derringer and thrust it into Richardson’s breast. “Don’t shoot!” the marshal pleaded with his assailant. “I am unarmed!” Cora fired once‚ and the bullet tore into Richardson’s chest‚ a mortal wound. Cora held the marshal upright for long moments‚ then abruptly dropped his corpse and strode up the street. Arrested almost immediately‚ Cora was scarcely in jail before outraged citizens had gathered outside‚ calling for his lynching. Belle was overcome with anxiety‚ for she well knew that on the California frontier murderers were generally sentenced to death by hanging. She was determined to save her man from the noose. Witness Tampering At the coroner’s inquest two days later the first witness called was 35-year-old Maria Travis Knight‚ who‚ like her husband‚ came from a respectable‚ well-to-do New England family. In testimony confirmed by other eyewitnesses‚ Maria described the killing and swore Richardson had not been holding a weapon when shot. Her testimony was critical‚ as she’d been passing down the same sidewalk and was standing only steps away when the fatal shot was fired. Belle grew frantic when Charles was indicted for murder‚ his trial set for Jan. 3‚ 1856. She sent a prominent attorney to the Knight home. Explaining that his client was overcome with grief‚ the lawyer beseeched Maria to meet with Belle. At first Knight refused‚ but when a family member appealed to her Christian sense of duty‚ Maria finally consented. The next evening‚ guided by a confidante of Belle’s‚ Knight climbed a vacant lot to the rear of the notorious bordello. “A long path through a beautiful flower garden led to a door of the house‚ which was opened from within by two servants‚” Maria recalled. “Behind the servants stood the madam‚ who called herself Mrs. Cora. She was smiling and cordially invited us to enter.” Forty years later Knight recalled her hostess vividly. “She was superbly attired in black silk with costly laces‚” Maria wrote. “Although she possessed the grace of a highly cultured woman‚ I shrank from her and wanted to run‚ but feared to make an attempt to escape.” After 10 minutes of casual conversation‚ Belle poured her visibly anxious guest a glass of wine. “You seem nervous‚” Belle said sweetly‚ “and the wine will help you.” But middle-class women did not socialize in brothels‚ and they did not drink alcohol. “I have never tasted liquor of any kind‚” Knight told Cora. “[Belle] quietly put the glass on the tray and then sat down by me‚” recalled Maria. “She talked about the weather‚ her health and trivial things‚ and then most particularly inquired after my own health.” Belle then briefly left the parlor and returned with a cup of tea‚ saying‚ “I have brewed it expressly for you.” By then Knight was overcome with fear‚ suspecting both the wine and the tea were poisoned. Again she refused. After more small talk‚ Belle finally turned to the topic of Richardson’s death. Maria replied with the same account she’d given at the coroner’s inquest. Then Belle asked‚ “What did Richardson have in his hand?” “Nothing whatever‚” Maria responded. “I distinctly saw that his fingers were extended and that it would be impossible to hold anything with his hands wide open.” Belle cross-examined Knight‚ trying to get her to change her story‚ but Maria wouldn’t budge. Seething with anger‚ Belle abruptly stood and loomed over her guest. “Woman‚ if you expect to get out of this house alive‚ you must say that you saw Richardson with a pistol in his hand! That is the only ground we have to save my husband’s life.” Though terrified‚ Knight managed to reply in an even tone‚ “Madam‚ I did not see a pistol in Richardson’s hand‚ and I cannot say that I did.” An enraged Belle rushed to the parlor door and swung it open. Two men burst through the doorway. Knight recognized one of them—Dan Aldrich‚ a well-known gambler. He held a steel dagger in his hand. Maria later testified that Aldrich towered over her with the knife and growled threats. “My life would be spared if I would accept $1‚000 and leave the country‚” she recalled the trio telling her. “I must also promise never to return.” Frantic to escape‚ Maria readily agreed. Belle told her they would later reveal where the bribe money was buried. Knight then rushed from the bordello and down the long hillside to her home. As soon as she’d recovered her wits‚ she reported the whole affair to the prosecuting attorney. Meanwhile‚ Belle set out to bribe other witnesses. She also hired three of the most prominent lawyers in California‚ paying them $5‚000 each to defend Charles. Within days of the murder of Richardson by Charles Cora‚ Belle invited prosecution witness Maria Knight to her manse on Waverly Place. There the desperate madam bribed and threatened the witness to change her testimony. Knight reported on her. When the trial began a few weeks later‚ Knight was again a key prosecution witness. Charles Cora’s lawyers produced a parade of witnesses for the defense. Several of his gambler friends from New Orleans swore he had a reputation there as a peaceable man‚ which was false. Few of the defense witnesses had appeared at the coroner’s inquest‚ yet two men in turn took the stand and claimed Richardson had had a knife in hand when shot. On cross-examination both admitted they had visited Belle at her brothel before the trial‚ though each insisted he’d not been bribed. Though it was clear there had been witnesses tampering and bribery‚ the trial resulted in a hung jury. San Franciscans were shocked. Knight had testified not only that Richardson hadn’t had a weapon in hand‚ but also that Belle Cora had threatened her life and tried to bribe her. Her account was plainly true‚ for no respectable woman would ever admit having set foot inside a brothel. Public shock turned to outrage when evidence surfaced that Belle had also offered a bribe to at least one of the jurors. “Rejoice‚ ye gamblers and harlots‚” wrote crusading newspaper editor James King of William in ridicule of the verdict. “Assemble in your dens of infamy tonight and let the costly wine flow freely‚ and let the welkin [heavens] ring with your shouts of joy!” The editorial struck a chord‚ for the city had been under the thumb of corrupt Tammany Hall politicians from back East. The latter’s enforcers‚ known as “shoulder strikers‚” were ruffians from the street gangs of New York. That May 14‚ while Cora languished in jail awaiting a new trial‚ a crooked politician named James P. Casey mortally wounded King‚ who had exposed Casey as an ex-convict from New York. In short order upward of 8‚000 men‚ many of them veterans of the Mexican War‚ reorganized the city’s famed Committee of Vigilance. Seizing weapons from state militia armories‚ they took control of San Francisco’s government. Their headquarters‚ a two-story building on Sacramento Street fortified by a sandbag breastwork‚ was known as “Fort Gunnybags.” Vigilante Headquarters at ‘Fort Gunnybags’: Equipped with weapons and uniforms seized from state militia armories‚ some 8‚000 members of San Francisco’s 1856 Committee of Vigilance set up operations in the fortified two-story building on Sacramento Street depicted above. There they tried Charles Cora. On May 18 more than 1‚500 vigilantes surrounded the jail and‚ at the point of a heavy cannon‚ seized Charles Cora and James Casey. Two days later‚ within the confines of Fort Gunnybags‚ the prisoners were tried by the vigilantes and sentenced to death. Belle’s money and influence were irrelevant. On the day of execution‚ May 22‚ Charles asked a Catholic priest to give him the last rites. The father refused unless he first married Belle. She promptly came to Fort Gunnybags‚ where the priest performed the wedding. An hour later Cora and Casey‚ with nooses draped around their necks‚ stepped onto gangplanks protruding from two second-story windows. Within moments both plunged to their deaths. Over the next two months the vigilantes hanged two more murderers and rounded up some 40 shoulder strikers and other hard cases‚ placing many aboard ships bound for Central America and Hawaii. Meanwhile‚ Belle Cora returned heartbroken to her bagnio on Waverly Place. Perhaps to deal with her grief‚ Belle took opium. She soon became addicted to it and later to chloroform. In myth and popular history the madam gave up her wild life and lived quietly in San Francisco. That was hardly true. She continued to run her bordello another six years. In 1857‚ when a policeman tried to make an arrest in Belle’s place‚ one of her girls broke a bottle over the officer’s head. Two years later another of her courtesans was arrested after promenading downtown in a revealing “French square neck” dress. Several other disturbances and scandals took place at her brothel. Then‚ in 1862‚ Alexander Purple‚ a thug whom the vigilantes had run out of town in 1856‚ cut his throat in the basement of Belle’s brothel after she’d rejected his advances. He later died. Members of San Francisco’s Committee of Vigilance Two weeks later‚ on Feb. 18‚ 1862‚ Belle herself died at the bordello from the effects of the habitual abuse of chloroform. California’s most notorious woman was only 35 years old. What became of Belle’s nemesis‚ Maria Knight? In 1859 she divorced her husband‚ months later marrying prominent sea captain Samuel J. DeWolf. Six years later‚ on July 30‚ 1865‚ DeWolf’s steamer‚ Brother Jonathan‚ ran aground and sank off northern California‚ taking with it DeWolf and most of his 244 crewmen and passengers. A year later Maria stopped by the art studio of Gideon Jacques Denny‚ San Francisco’s foremost marine painter‚ to buy an oil on canvas of Brother Jonathan‚ when Denny’s ex-wife walked in and spotted the pair talking. Overcome with jealousy‚ the woman pulled a pistol and fired as Maria fled for her life. The widow DeWolf outran the bullet and lived to age 86‚ dying in 1906. In later years she often regaled listeners with the story of her run-in with Charles and Belle Cora. She was the last living eyewitness to the deadly quarrel that helped ignite the nation’s largest vigilante movement. this article first appeared in wild west magazine See more stories SubscriBE NOW!   San Francisco-based writer John Boessenecker is a special contributor to Wild West and the author of 12 books about the American West. For further reading see his book Against the Vigilantes: The Recollections of Dutch Charley Duane‚ as well as The Madams of San Francisco‚ by Curt Gentry‚ and History of California‚ by Theodore Henry Hittell.

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