In Western lore, rustlers found justice at the end of a rope.

We, gladly, have moved away from such punishments for theft, but when we hear about callous activities like those last week, we wonder where Judge Roy Bean is when you need him.

Last Tuesday night, somebody cut the fence on an Oxford farm and waited for elk to escape. The first one out was wounded by a poor shot from a bow and arrow and got away temporarily, only to die about 100 yards away. The rustlers, undeterred, then waited for more elk to come through the fence. After several of the animals gathered in the road, the criminals rammed two with their vehicle, killing one and hurting another. They loaded up the dead animal and took off.

It must have been a ghastly scene.

Bean practiced his particular brand of law in Pecos County, Texas, in the 1800s. He attracted the moniker of the “Hangin’ Judge,” though there’s scant evidence he ever ordered an execution. But he did have a reputation for putting common sense to good use and being hard-nosed and crafty. Those are elements we could use today.

Rustling can be big business. A researcher from the University of Georgia estimates that 50,000 horses and another 20,000 head of cattle are stolen every year. Most of those animals end up in slaughter houses.

The crude nature of Tuesday’s attack suggests the Oxford rustlers aren’t professionals. It’s possible they were just looking to put meat on the table.

But regardless of the motive, theft, destruction of personal property, and the use of a weapon in the commission of a crime are serious offenses. Good luck to our modern-day Marshal Dillons as they track these criminals down.


Good and bad


Just hearing about a study that ranks Maine in the top 10 for overall health makes us feel better.

But like a lingering cough that hangs on after a cold has been banished, the good news is tempered by some persistent problems. Even though Maine ranks eighth in the country when many factors are considered, the number of deaths per 100,000 from cancer and the risk of heart disease kept the state from scoring better.

On both counts, our behavior directly affects our health. Smoking, poor diets and a lack of exercise are direct contributors for cancer and heart disease. On these fronts, the state must remain vigilant and not allow financial pressures to reduce our commitment to better health.

At the same time that we examine the things we can do better, there’s plenty to applaud. Maine has a low rate of violent crime, a low infant mortality rate and high access to prenatal care.

States that ranked higher than Maine in the study are Minnesota and New Hamsphire, which tied for first, Utah, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. At the bottom of the list are Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina.

Dr. Dora Mills, who leads Maine’s Bureau of Health, cites good cooperation between businesses and government for the state’s success. It’s important that cooperation continues, and we all recognize the good that comes from investment in our health care.


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