Comments on: Debate over Del Clement continues… http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/ A master of narrative nonfiction and true crime Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:31:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Harry http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-78 Harry Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:42:59 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-78 Yes -- few people are all one thing or another. The Clements considered themselves ranchers, as opposed to farmers. They wore cowboy hats, raised cattle, and had rodeos on their land. They also carried rifles in their pickups. The Goslees, on the other hand, wore seed dealer hats, and raised few animals. As far as I know they didn't carry weapons in their vehicles. Del had another reason not to like McElroy: whenever McElroy came into the D & G, most of the other customers left. He could shut down the whole town. I also heard that McElroy was seen parked on the road alongside one of the Clement's fencelines, a rifle hanging out of the window, looking at a few of the Clements' horses in the pasture. But I never confirmed this. I went to the ranch once, and Greg Clement, threw me off as soon as he figure out who I was. I mav have said this before, but one of the saying I heard around town regarding the killers was: They deserved a medal for what they did, and they should be strung up for the way they did it, meaning on the mainstreet of town, in broad daylight. Yes — few people are all one thing or another. The Clements considered themselves ranchers, as opposed to farmers. They wore cowboy hats, raised cattle, and had rodeos on their land. They also carried rifles in their pickups. The Goslees, on the other hand, wore seed dealer hats, and raised few animals. As far as I know they didn’t carry weapons in their vehicles. Del had another reason not to like McElroy: whenever McElroy came into the D & G, most of the other customers left. He could shut down the whole town. I also heard that McElroy was seen parked on the road alongside one of the Clement’s fencelines, a rifle hanging out of the window, looking at a few of the Clements’ horses in the pasture. But I never confirmed this. I went to the ranch once, and Greg Clement, threw me off as soon as he figure out who I was.
I mav have said this before, but one of the saying I heard around town regarding the killers was: They deserved a medal for what they did, and they should be strung up for the way they did it, meaning on the mainstreet of town, in broad daylight.

]]> By: J. Ricardo http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-77 J. Ricardo Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:50:11 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-77 That's exactly right. I'm certainly not in a position to tell you that you're incorrect about Del Clement. I know nothing about the man outside of the words you've written. As far as the 'coward v. courageous' debate, I think this is simply another example of how things can't simply fall on some type of binary scale. Everything can't be one or the other. It seems as though Del Clement was just as big of a coward when it came to McElroy as everyone else was. But he was still the guy who shot him in front of a group of 40 people, or whatever that was. Now, that strikes me as more dumb than courageous, but maybe those two things go hand in hand more than we like to admit, Thanks for the response. Again, this book has really stayed with me more than anything else I've read in a long time. Just ordered "The Past is Never Dead" as well, and am looking forward to it. That’s exactly right. I’m certainly not in a position to tell you that you’re incorrect about Del Clement. I know nothing about the man outside of the words you’ve written. As far as the ‘coward v. courageous’ debate, I think this is simply another example of how things can’t simply fall on some type of binary scale. Everything can’t be one or the other. It seems as though Del Clement was just as big of a coward when it came to McElroy as everyone else was. But he was still the guy who shot him in front of a group of 40 people, or whatever that was. Now, that strikes me as more dumb than courageous, but maybe those two things go hand in hand more than we like to admit,

Thanks for the response. Again, this book has really stayed with me more than anything else I’ve read in a long time. Just ordered “The Past is Never Dead” as well, and am looking forward to it.

]]> By: Harry http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-76 Harry Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:07:12 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-76 You raise some good points. I'm not ready to pin the label "coward" on Del. I just wanted to raise it for discussion, since he had always been portrayed as somewhat of a hero. Still, the facts are facts: Del was face to face with McElroy in the bar, and said and did nothing. When McElroy left and got in his in his truck, Clement left, went to his truck, shot him in the back of the head. McElroy, don't forget, was unarmed. And in my encounter with him, Clement waited until David Dunbar left the club before confronting me. He had earlier backed down from a fight with Dunbar, and he knew Dunbar was my friend. I think on the facts of the killing alone, I would raise the question of whether Clement was a coward. But, you make a good point: authors should always be on the lookout for their own biases and feelings affecting their writing. But then, how could they not? You raise some good points. I’m not ready to pin the label “coward” on Del. I just wanted to raise it for discussion, since he had always been portrayed as somewhat of a hero. Still, the facts are facts: Del was face to face with McElroy in the bar, and said and did nothing. When McElroy left and got in his in his truck, Clement left, went to his truck, shot him in the back of the head. McElroy, don’t forget, was unarmed. And in my encounter with him, Clement waited until David Dunbar left the club before confronting me. He had earlier backed down from a fight with Dunbar, and he knew Dunbar was my friend. I think on the facts of the killing alone, I would raise the question of whether Clement was a coward. But, you make a good point: authors should always be on the lookout for their own biases and feelings affecting their writing. But then, how could they not?

]]> By: J. Ricardo http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-75 J. Ricardo Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:03:40 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-75 Harry, I just finished your book, and it absolutely floored me. I appreciate all the time and effort you put in to your reporting. A bit of a quibble over your use of the term 'coward.' Just because something isn't courageous doesn't mean that it's cowardly. While I agree that it doesn't take a brave individual to shoot someone in the back of the head, the fact that you're not looking the person in the eyes when you shoot them doesn't make you a coward. Frankly, I'm shocked that someone didn't wait for Ken Rex McElroy and shoot him late at night when he left a bar. However, if someone snuck up on him and ended his life, I'm not sure it's fair to say that person is a coward. Is it possible your personal feelings towards Del Clement have led you to describe it this way? There are clearly some personal (and justifiable) feelings of animosity you hold towards Del Clement, and it appears it might be affecting your view of the killing after all these years. Either way, I loved the book, and love the fact that it has stayed with you until this day. I currently live in Columbia, MO, and feel compelled to make a trip to Skidmore. That's great writing. Thank you. Harry,

I just finished your book, and it absolutely floored me. I appreciate all the time and effort you put in to your reporting.

A bit of a quibble over your use of the term ‘coward.’ Just because something isn’t courageous doesn’t mean that it’s cowardly. While I agree that it doesn’t take a brave individual to shoot someone in the back of the head, the fact that you’re not looking the person in the eyes when you shoot them doesn’t make you a coward. Frankly, I’m shocked that someone didn’t wait for Ken Rex McElroy and shoot him late at night when he left a bar. However, if someone snuck up on him and ended his life, I’m not sure it’s fair to say that person is a coward. Is it possible your personal feelings towards Del Clement have led you to describe it this way? There are clearly some personal (and justifiable) feelings of animosity you hold towards Del Clement, and it appears it might be affecting your view of the killing after all these years.

Either way, I loved the book, and love the fact that it has stayed with you until this day. I currently live in Columbia, MO, and feel compelled to make a trip to Skidmore. That’s great writing. Thank you.

]]> By: Harry http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-74 Harry Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:11:54 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-74 Many of the younger folks weren't around then, and know the story only as history. The older ones can still be a little touchy, if you talk to them. The cafe is very pleasant, altho I'm not sure how long it's going to stay open. Drive around and look at all the junk houses this guy Stanton has bought and trashed. I suspect the post office in Skidmore might me on the block, so check it out. Many of the younger folks weren’t around then, and know the story only as history. The older ones can still be a little touchy, if you talk to them. The cafe is very pleasant, altho I’m not sure how long it’s going to stay open. Drive around and look at all the junk houses this guy Stanton has bought and trashed. I suspect the post office in Skidmore might me on the block, so check it out.

]]> By: dawna beam http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-73 dawna beam Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:18:03 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-73 Harry: Me and a friend are going to be going to Skidmore Aug 8th. Suggestions? Harry:
Me and a friend are going to be going to Skidmore Aug 8th. Suggestions?

]]> By: Harry http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-72 Harry Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:46:10 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-72 I doubt there was much thought involved. I've heard that, as McElroy got in his truck, someone on the street shouted, "Shoot the sonofabitch!" and the shooter, most certainly Del Clement, reacted almost reflexively. I doubt there was much thought involved. I’ve heard that, as McElroy got in his truck, someone on the street shouted, “Shoot the sonofabitch!” and the shooter, most certainly Del Clement, reacted almost reflexively.

]]> By: Think about it http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/114/#comment-71 Think about it Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:42:00 +0000 http://www.harrymaclean.com/blog/?p=114#comment-71 I would say it takes a lot of courage if you are doing it in front of 30-45 witnesses. Maybe he was trying to be humane and didn't want his target to move, forcing him to take a second and/or third shot. I would say it takes a lot of courage if you are doing it in front of 30-45 witnesses.

Maybe he was trying to be humane and didn’t want his target to move, forcing him to take a second and/or third shot.

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