Help Ward Bird of Moultonborough

[tummyman]

Somehow there is a wide difference in the sentence that Erica Blizzard received vs. Ward Bird. In one case a person is killed and in the other, no physical injury. Guess he maybe didn't have the "right" legal counsel. There does not seem to be equal treatment under the law in this situation when you look at the Blizzard case. There is a difference between doing things right and doing the right thing. The law isn't intended to destroy a person for relatively minor issues......... WAKE UP !

[Happy Gourmand]

There just has to be another side to this bizarre story. Was anybody from the forum in the courtroom to hear the whole story? I have no dog in this hunt, I'm just curious to know "the rest of the story."

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

There just has to be another side to this bizarre story. Was anybody from the forum in the courtroom to hear the whole story? I have no dog in this hunt, I'm just curious to know "the rest of the story."

I completely agree. I watched this story on the news last night, and my first thought was...what am I missing?

[VitaBene]

There are several petitions going around town to free Mr Bird. I signed one last night at the athletic awards at the Academy.

From what I understand, there really is no other side to the story other than an overzealous prosecution of a case by liberal former County Attorney, Robin Gordon (recently ousted in the elections earlier this month).

[wuwu]

Originally Posted by chipj29

I completely agree. I watched this story on the news last night, and my first thought was...what am I missing?

You are not missing anything! This is why this community has come together to stand with the Bird family.

[fatlazyless]

Have you seen the long article in today's Union Leader starting on page B1 complete with two very attitude-positive color photos of Ward and his wife, Ginny. The article is most definately written with a helpfull editorial slant in support of Ward. It says he had a 45-caliber handgun so does that mean something like a world war-II combat pistol or does it mean a western style six-shooter? ....


In a case like this, even if one manages to stay out of prison, then how much do you end up paying to a defense attorney who usually gets their money up-front, before a sentence is issued by a court. You can probably just about go broke just by trying to prove your case in court.....from what I have heard? ...

The Union Leader article brings up some negative background info about the plaintiff and it suggests the info was not allowed to be heard in the trial.

So is it the reporter or the newspaper editor who makes the decision on how the reporter writes up a news report; slant positive - slant negative - slant neutral ??? It's pretty common for the Union Leader as well as other papers to chose photographs that help to support their story slant.

As the saying goes; there's two sides to every story.

[RailroadJoe]

If he had Blizzard's money it may have been a different ending. Equal justice under the law! You have got to be kidding. Maybe Lynch will pardon him, if he can.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

If he had Blizzard's money it may have been a different ending. Equal justice under the law! You have got to be kidding. Maybe Lynch will pardon him, if he can.

When you have a biased County Attorney who's case history has always seemed to favor the womans side, you don't need money. The unofficial word I hear, is it that she prefers donuts over éclairs.

[Lakesrider]

Originally Posted by tummyman

Somehow there is a wide difference in the sentence that Erica Blizzard received vs. Ward Bird. In one case a person is killed and in the other, no physical injury. Guess he maybe didn't have the "right" legal counsel. There does not seem to be equal treatment under the law in this situation when you look at the Blizzard case. There is a difference between doing things right and doing the right thing. The law isn't intended to destroy a person for relatively minor issues......... WAKE UP !

Exactly. Maybe if it was dark rainy/foggy, had been drinking, and running around his property at speed, and simply ran into the woman, he would have been let off......

[dpg]

Like others have stated I have no dog in this fight either I'm just blown away by the clear one-sided opinions "for" Mr. Bird. He WAY over reacted plain and simple. This is 2010 folks not the Cartwrights trying to protect their cherished Ponderosa...

[fatlazyless]

Isn't there a number of utility and local town people who have a legal right to be on your land; cable, electricity, telephone, water & sewer, town assessor, DPW, and local police come to mind.

The whole concept of ownership of land needs to be re-considered because who really owns the land? If you do not pay your property taxes then the town can auction it off at a fire sale price so it's more like the town has a lien on it and you are required to pay a monthly tax payment, similar to a rent payment, to the town. So, who really owns the land, and does the land itself have any personal feelings? Does the land say, well just look at all this snow piled up on top of me, will somebody please remove all the snow so I can feel that sunshine....don't ya know.....no, the land does not usually say things like that.....at least it does not say them to me?

Does your land talk to you? ...

[tis]

fll ---Or if the town or state decided to take it by eminent domain, good luck fighting them. Maybe all of us need to protect our land that way.

In the case of Mr Bird though I do think they way over reacted. Going to jail for that? I think there is a lot to the story, she must have really agitated him in the past.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by tis

In the case of Mr Bird though I do think they way over reacted. Going to jail for that? I think there is a lot to the story, she must have really agitated him in the past.

Or maybe HE has a way to short of a fuse...Just sayin.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by dpg

Or maybe HE has a way to short of a fuse...Just sayin.

If you walked out on to your porch to find somebody on your privately posted land, peeking in windows, and then that person wouldn't leave when told to, how would you react ? Just asking.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

If you walked out on to your porch to find somebody on your privately posted land, peeking in windows, and then that person wouldn't leave when told to, how would you react ? Just asking.

Well I can tell you that if that happened at my house, I wouldn't have to worry about the peeping tom calling the cops or trying to sue me later...

Dan

[MarkinNH]

The big question and concern at this point of the situation is.
Does this man truly deserve to spend the next 3 to 6 years behind bars for protecting his property ? NO ! However extreme his actions may seem to some the answer is still NO !
This man is not and never has been a danger to society. The standard sentence that comes with this conviction is absurd !
Erica Blizzard is out walking the street, working and living a somewhat normal life after her actions, poorly chosen or otherwise, took a human life.

Ward Bird, is destined to spend a minimum of 3 years in prison after his actions, poorly chosen or otherwise, for kicking a trespasser of his property.

Now, irrelevant of whether anybody here thinks Mr Bird acted irrationally or not. Does this sentencing sound like proper justice. NO !
To take this man away from his family, to take up prison space and tax dollars better spent on locking up a Real criminal. Is just plain, flat out, absurd.
Anyone of us, who has the kahonies to do what they feel is necessary at the time, to protect their home or property, could easily be the next person to suffer the same ludicrous sentence.
Many of you will say and think. It can't and won't happen here, not to me !
You keep thinking that !!!
I only hope that you have the kind of genuine friends and loving family that Ward Bird has. Who will be willing to fight for you and support you, the way Wards friends and family are doing for him..

[Puck]

This was a jury trial, right? Twelve people listened to this case being argued and unanimously decided this gentlleman was guilty of criminal threatening. The thing I can't figure out is where the heck did they find 12 peple who thought this was criminal threatening? We can all scream at the top of our lungs about the law, and the judge, and the attorneys, but if this was a jury trial then 12 other NH citizens made the decision to to return a guilty verdict. How on earth did not one of them say "hmm... I think something iis wrong here?"

Was this somehow not a jury trial?

[TheProfessor]

The judge reads the law to the jurors and states to jurors that the law must be followed. Not individual opinions of jurors - but the laws.

The law apparently in this case seems to have gone too far - and no one noticed until this case.

Apparently, the law is going to be changed if legislature agrees.

[RailroadJoe]

Just because it is the law, does not make it right. Remember Germany in the 1930's

[Yosemite Sam]

Below is the link to the video of THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE hearing about the verdict of THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE V. Ward Bird.

Notice how the Supreme Court Justices ask questions about the law/laws that sent Bird to jail. If they couldn’t understand them how did the jury figure them out?????

http://www.courts.nh.gov/pastsession...20090372va.asx

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

Below is the link to the video of THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE hearing about the verdict of THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE V. Ward Bird.

Notice how the Supreme Court Justices ask questions about the law/laws that sent Bird to jail. If they couldn’t understand them how did the jury figure them out?????

http://www.courts.nh.gov/pastsession...20090372va.asx

Terrific public service of you to find this video/audio and post a working link here.....now if only my 'puter had working audio. Wonder if either the Laconia or Meredith libraries have working audio on their public 'puters?

And, wonder what is the length of this State of NH vs Ward Bird video/audio?

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Great public service of you to find this video/audio and post a working link here.....now if only my 'puter had working audio. Wonder if either the Laconia or Meredith libraries have working audio on their public 'puters?

And, wonder what is the length of this State of NH vs Ward Bird video/audio?

It is 31 minutes long.

Do you have Headphone jacks on your computer?
Go to your favorite walmart store and buy some speakers that hook to your headphone jacks.

Have fun!!

[RailroadJoe]

I just watched the video of the Supreme Court hearing and realize the stupidity of our law. Over and over it was satated "A non deadly force" yet they ruled it okay. Too bad we can not have people who look at justice being logical and sensible.
I still can not understand why the woman got away with out a trial

[CTYankee]

It appears that Mr. Bird is being punished by a law that won't be found on the books. In criminal law, the "law of unintended consequences" often results in sentences that are disproportionate to the crime. I'll explain. Legislatures often respond to "hot button" issues by crafting statutes that permit or even mandate enhanced sentences when the criminal act includes certain "aggravating" factors. Often these statutes prevent judges from exercising discretion when fashioning sentences. It appears that Mr. Bird is caught in just such a situation. In his case a gun was part of the fact pattern. The New Hampshire Legislature previously enacted a law making this an aggravating factor. This resulted in a sentence way out of proportion to the crime. This is an issue that has been hotly debated for many years among academics, the judiciary and the criminal bar. What starts out as a "tough on crime" law ends up snaring average citizens in a legal nightmare.
In my view, in Mr. Birds case the prosecutor should have exercised her discretion by charging him in a way that would not yield such a draconian result.

[Heaven]

Originally Posted by Puck

This was a jury trial, right? Twelve people listened to this case being argued and unanimously decided this gentlleman was guilty of criminal threatening. The thing I can't figure out is where the heck did they find 12 peple who thought this was criminal threatening? We can all scream at the top of our lungs about the law, and the judge, and the attorneys, but if this was a jury trial then 12 other NH citizens made the decision to to return a guilty verdict. How on earth did not one of them say "hmm... I think something iis wrong here?"

Was this somehow not a jury trial?

I think one would have had to be on the jury, or at least in the courtroom, before making a judgement.

[Yosemite Sam]

On the front page of todays LDS it states the following:

"Police records suggest Ward Bird’s accuser stumbled into
a heated dispute between members of large M’boro family"

This is a very interesting read!

I didn't realize that there was a family feud going on about the land that Harris was interested in buying.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam[B

This is a very interesting read![/B]

Looks like Ward definately goes first class with both his choice of a handgun and his choice of a defense attorney.

I had been think'n that he had an old .45 WW2 style gun, but this article says it is a Sig Sauer 45 which is something that a police officer could easily be carrying. A gun like that probably costs about $750, and is made in Switzerland.

I still say that for about 8.99, he could of got himself a first class corn broom and then used the broom to be waving off any lost women look'n for directions. Besides, no way can you sweep the floor with a $750 Sig .45!

[nvtngtxpyr]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

... and is made in Switzerland.

The Sig Sauer factory is located in Exeter New Hampshire.

[fatlazyless]

Something like the individual parts get machined back home in Switzerland, and then they get assembled in Exeter, in order to save money on U.S. import fees? Or, something like that, I don't know?

Have you seen the little white oval rear windshield stickers on local cars that say Sig Sauer? What's the message there?

Anyone know where I can get a similar white oval sticker that says O'Cedar, which as you probably know, is a high-priced maker of mops and quality brooms? Protected by an O'Cedar.....so just back off....you there!

[Shedwannabe]

Curious what people think about the long article in the LDS? If it is true (i.e. the extensive police interactions re: dispute between Bird and wife's family pre-Harris incident) that would be a pretty big egg on your face to much of the pontificating going on these last 290+ posts.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Shedwannabe

Curious what people think about the long article in the LDS? If it is true (i.e. the extensive police interactions re: dispute between Bird and wife's family pre-Harris incident) that would be a pretty big egg on your face to much of the pontificating going on these last 290+ posts.

If Harris' past can't be used in court, why would Bird's past be used in court? Isn't that a double standard?

Even if the article is true, why would that justify a man spending 3-6 years in prison because he waved a firearm at someone running her mouth, refusing to leave, and being a pest? I could see some prison time for that, perhaps... apparently there was no reasonable doubt left that he did something wrong; but isn't the sentence just a bit extreme?

What's next? Are we going to start cutting the hands off kids who steal lollypops?

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by Shedwannabe

Curious what people think about the long article in the LDS? If it is true (i.e. the extensive police interactions re: dispute between Bird and wife's family pre-Harris incident) that would be a pretty big egg on your face to much of the pontificating going on these last 290+ posts.

I don't see how it would put egg on anybodys face. It doesn't change the Fact that the woman was tresspassing and refused to leave when asked and then ordered to. It doesn't change the Fact that there is No Proof that Ward ever "waved" a gun in her face or threatened her in any way. It doesn't change the Fact that Ward should not be spending a minimum of 3 years in prison.
All it means is that he doesn't or didn't get along with some of his relatives.
I am sure that the same thing can be said about 99.9% of every family in the world.

[rrr]

I agree with AW that you can't look at his past if you can't look at hers.

According to the article: Harris said she was trying to ask him if he was Steven. Steven was not the owner of the property she wanted to see. Steven was 'romantically involved' with the owner. How much information do realtors give out about the owners of property they are showing? Before they show it? I can't imagine how Harris would have known about Steven.

They waited to take his statement because he was recovering from surgery. If he wasn't up to giving a statement, what are the chances he was jumping around waving a gun?

Maybe he's not squeaky clean - but neither is she. Why was her version given more credence than his? He said he overreacted. Maybe he was referring to the language he used.

[Lucky1]

Is there a simple paragraph that would say what Ward did? I came in mid posts list and thought he shot someone. Are you saying that he just showed the gun?? And got three years in jail? I know it is early and I have not had a lot of sleep but can this possibly be what happened?

I was once in my home in Moultonborough with my daughters and heard what sounded like someone on the roof and then someone coming up the basement stairs. My daughters and I sat with our feet against the bedroom door. We were so scared that we shouted out something like, "GO AWAY. LEAVE US ALONE." I called 911 immediately. We were so terrified that I remember saying, "Please hurry" to 911 as I thought there was someone on the stairs coming up to harm us. It turned out to be a male teenager who was just trying to scare one of my daughters?? The policemen risked their lives racing down the neck road to get to us. The teenager had meant no real harm so after the police scolded him they let him go. I do know how someone feels who is thinking someone is breaking into their home to harm them. I have never been tempted to get a gun though. We are sure lucky to have such wonderful public servants such as the police and firemen who do their best to keep us all safe.

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Is there a simple paragraph that would say what Ward did?

The only thing Ward Bird did was to ask someone to get off his property (which was clearly posted)….he didn’t have a gun in his hand…that’s it…..now he is spending 3-6 years in prison.

I hope that paragraph clears it up for you.


Merry Christmas!

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Is there a simple paragraph that would say what Ward did?

Ward was RUDE. NB

[XCR-700]

Wow this is indeed a very troubling situation,,,

I would not be surprised to see such madness down here in MA, but I thought (or more correctly hoped) that NH would have treated a situation like this very differently.

It looks like NH has turned to the dark side and the MA border really has moved north, sadly much farther than I had imagined,,,

I am an outsider to this, but I can tell you all that if you don’t find a way to turn this tide back, you will surly regret it.

I do not know Mr. Bird and make no attempt to use him as any example, but the situation speaks for itself. If you concede that he was on his land, then so long as he was not using his gun in any other way than displaying it as a warning (drawn or not) and this is the outcome, then you folks are in serious trouble of becoming another Massachusetts!

I don’t care to debate the folks who argue run if you have the option, we need not live in fear regardless if we are on our own land or ANYWHERE.

If you trespass you risk a serious warning which should include display of a firearm and a potentially citizens arrest until LE can respond.

If we are in a public place and face any reasonable perceived danger we must have the right to defend ourselves, which should include removing a gun from its holster. Using it is another matter and carries its own consequences, but if we continue to allow our ability to defend ourselves to be taken from us, we will surly become a people of the government, and the foundation to which our country was founded (a government of the people) will have come to pass and our way of life where personal freedom is a cherished right, not a privilege for the wealthy and powerful few, will have come to an end.

Unlike those of us in MA you folks still have a chance,,, but don’t wait too long or you will not have any say.

If what I have read here is even partially true, this is a travesty. And to that end, I salute the overwhelming majority of you who appear to be supporting the Bird family. I sincerely hope their suffering ends soon and this matter is resolved and Mr. Birds freedom is restored.

[twoplustwo]

Originally Posted by Shedwannabe

Curious what people think about the long article in the LDS? If it is true (i.e. the extensive police interactions re: dispute between Bird and wife's family pre-Harris incident) that would be a pretty big egg on your face to much of the pontificating going on these last 290+ posts.

Funny how in the "extensive police interactions", the aggressor is never Ward. When normally wonderful people turn into the poster children for not mixing alcohol, anger, and firearms, you call the cops and you get restraining orders. Nothing about the long standing feud changes my mind (and I "pontificated" about it earlier, so none of that is news to me).


FLL, your "Jailhouse Rock" joke makes me want to dope slap you. Too bad you can't buy a clue from the McD's Dollar Menu.

[Gearhead]

I've seen enough. Excuse me, I just passed judgement.

[Argie's Wife]

...If Ward hadn't come forward to confess back in 2002, - eight years ago - he probably would have gotten off, as when the officer at the scene checked the guns, it didn't appear that any had been recently fired. It sounds to me like Ward fully cooperated with the police in that incident, including admitting he was intoxicated.

Did he do the right thing? No. Firing the gun in an area like that was highly irresponsible - no doubt about it. However, he owned up to the crime, paid the price. It sounds like he could have played it cool and let it slide. After all, what police dept is going to chase down a complaint like that on Bike Week? (They'd have bigger fish to fry, I'd think...)

When Ward had the encounter he had with Harris he wasn't intoxicated (by any records I've read so far), he didn't fire the gun, and we don't know if it was loaded, even. It sounds to me like he cooperated with police.

I'd wager that in the next couple of days you're gonna see some letters to the editor flyin' in the LaDaSun in rebuttal to the article.

[Heaven]

Target shooting while drinking in a location that was not familiar? It does make one question his judgement. How many other times was his judgement questionable but there were no consequences, out of sheer luck? I guess we'll never know.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

...If Ward hadn't come forward to confess back in 2002, - eight years ago - he probably would have gotten off, as when the officer at the scene checked the guns, it didn't appear that any had been recently fired. It sounds to me like Ward fully cooperated with the police in that incident

Not exactly.

He kept "mum" about the 30-caliber shooting and showed the police his 25-caliber pistol—allowing the police to report that his 25-caliber pistol "wasn't fired recently".

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

I don't know

This is the most accurate thing you've posted in this thread so far!

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Anyone know where I can get a similar white oval sticker that says O'Cedar, which as you probably know, is a high-priced maker of mops and quality brooms? Protected by an O'Cedar.....so just back off....you there!

FLL, every time you post about using a broom I have this picture go through my head about you.....

[John A. Birdsall]

I have not gone back and reread the newspaper article, but I think I read that Harris was going around the house looking in windows. If that was the case, then would not Ward think that perhaps she was casing out the place to rob it, and then pulled his gun?

Another part, was there ammo in the gun? He wanted her off his property so he took an empty gun and waved it in the air. See what I got, now get off my property.

By the way I hope you all have a Happy, Safe, and Healthy New Year, now look for Ice OUT

[SIKSUKR]

Very interesting.It seemed there had to be more to this than just a man innocently defending his property.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

If you walked out on to your porch to find somebody on your privately posted land, peeking in windows, and then that person wouldn't leave when told to, how would you react ? Just asking.

I wouldn't pull a gun. Besides, who knows she wouldn't leave? Not you or me. Just answering.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

If you walked out on to your porch to find somebody on your privately posted land, peeking in windows, and then that person wouldn't leave when told to, how would you react ? Just asking.

I'd be rather upset, but IMO, one should only take out a pistol when one intends to use it. I don't think trespassing and boorish behavior warrant deadly force, so I would not brandish a pistol unless I though there was some danger.

That said, the penalty in this case is WAY too severe for the crime, I hope he gets out soon.

[fatlazyless]

Worst case scenario......July 30 2001, Meredith NH......Robert Whitney, age 58, former city councilor of Concord NH.....was found strangled......by Gary Sampson (age aprox 30 ?)......a handgun would probably have been helpfull for him but who really knows....it's conjecture....what might have happened.....but there's no reason why a can of spray mace or just a billy club....or even a broom handle....... could have been just as helpfull to scare off Gary Sampson.....and then you call the police.

Even if you are totally in the right with the law on using a handgun to defend yourself, you probably still run up some serious attorney bills.

Handguns have too many legal issues that the lesser mace or billy club just does not get into......plus if you show a handgun....could be that the next "Gary Sampson" has a handgun too. That was supposedly a totally random murder by a total stranger for no particular reason such as robbery.

[Merrymeeting]

I don't have a horse in this race, I've joined late, and I've never owned a gun. But there is one scenario in all this that I've wondered about.

If we forget for the moment the call from the niece, the steps described by Mr. Bird do not seem that unreasonable to me.

If I did own a gun, and I was worried about some crazy looking in my home windows, wouldn't it make sense that if I was going out to check, I would take the safety off the gun in order to be prepared for anything?

Similarly, it seems that it would make equal sense, that I would check and set the safety before re-entering the house to make sure nothing could happen in there.

Again, I'm not a gun owner so I don't know what is taught in gun safety classes. But checking the safety before entering a house seems like it would have been a reasonable and conditioned step for a gun owner.

Yes?

[gokart-mozart]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I don't have a horse in this race, I've joined late, and I've never owned a gun. But there is one scenario in all this that I've wondered about.

If we forget for the moment the call from the niece, the steps described by Mr. Bird do not seem that unreasonable to me.

If I did own a gun, and I was worried about some crazy looking in my home windows, wouldn't it make sense that if I was going out to check, I would take the safety off the gun in order to be prepared for anything?

Similarly, it seems that it would make equal sense, that I would check and set the safety before re-entering the house to make sure nothing could happen in there.

Again, I'm not a gun owner so I don't know what is taught in gun safety classes. But checking the safety before entering a house seems like it would have been a reasonable and conditioned step for a gun owner.

Yes?

He made a mistake, one that no handgunner should make. I imagine he was pissed off and wanted to make an impression. This is now legal in NH (as of 1/1/11) but it wasn't legal when he did it.

He should pay a $100 fine. 3 years in the slammer is a travesty. I, too, hope he's home soon.

[Colby]

Originally Posted by gokart-mozart

He made a mistake, one that no handgunner should make. I imagine he was pissed off and wanted to make an impression. This is now legal in NH (as of 1/1/11) but it wasn't legal when he did it.

He should pay a $100 fine. 3 years in the slammer is a travesty. I, too, hope he's home soon.

I am incensed by this example of so called justice. There are so many really bad people who are guilty of something and get no jail time at all. People who have hurt others or done dastardly deeds walk free.

This man, Ward Bird, has hurt no one. He was on his own land. He does not deserve such a life altering consequence. This is just not right.

He should not have a criminal record or spend any time behind bars.

[fatlazyless]

I agree that Ward Bird should be getting some type of community service sentence to be determined by a judge who knows about alternative sentencing as opposed to doing three to six years in prison/jail. Put Ward to work with an electric sander and a gallon of tile red floor paint and have him refinish the Moultonborough library floor and staircase that goes down to the basement. Follow that up by painting the basement walls a warm friendly shade of medium yellow. If he does a good job working down in the basement, then have him start refinishing the bookshelves upstairs with some satin finish polyurethane, the expensive stuff, or something!

Sometimes people just get annoyed and go wave a handgun around as a power gesture when they should be keeping it holstered and out of sight. It happens?

I continue to say that his irritability factor could easily have been influenced by his medical operation recovery at the time of the incident as that tends to make people a little cranky, sometimes.

Instead of sticking to his guns and maintaining his determination and taking his case to the NH Supremes, maybe he would have been better off just agreeing to settle for less legal success by accepting the offered plea bargain?

As an alternative to sitting around a jail and not doing much except reading and watching tv, it could well be that he would welcome the opportunity to scrape, sand, and paint some of the inside walls and surfaces at the Carroll County Jail?

www.carrollcountynh.net

Ok, excuse me while I run for the bomb shelter, before you all start hurling the proverbial mud and rocks at me!

[SAMIAM]

http://www.grassshoppingminpins.net/page34
This is the lady who's word the MPD and the county attorney took over a local scout leader, church deacon, farmer who has lived most of his life in this community.

[RailroadJoe]

And of course, they can not allow that to appear in court. Stupid justice. The part truth aand only the part truth.

[fatlazyless]

....hey, if anyone tries to break into my place in the middle of the night or something....or set's foot onto my 1/4 acre....all's I have to do is show them my Meredith property tax bill, and that will scare the daylights out of them!


Excuuuuuuuse me Mr Burglar....would you mind kindly taking a look-see at this town tax bill............egaaaaaddd.....that would have sacred off even a Gary Sampson ....... !

[Lakesrider]

My thought about all of the gun stuff..

If you are going to pull a gun on someone that is on your property or trying to get into your house or trying, or looking like they are trying to hurt you. Shoot them. If you don't kill them, shoot them again until they are dead. It is their word against yours. If they are dead they have no word. And if they were trying to assault you, they should have no word to begin with and belong dead. Very, very dead.

The only reason I would ever raise and point a gun at anyone is to shoot them and kill them. I am going to do my level best to make sure that person does not make it out of my house alive.

That is my theory on home defense. Kill them before they kill you.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

My thought about all of the gun stuff..

If you are going to pull a gun on someone that is on your property or trying to get into your house or trying, or looking like they are trying to hurt you. Shoot them. If you don't kill them, shoot them again until they are dead. It is their word against yours. If they are dead they have no word. And if they were trying to assault you, they should have no word to begin with and belong dead. Very, very dead.

The only reason I would ever raise and point a gun at anyone is to shoot them and kill them. I am going to do my level best to make sure that person does not make it out of my house alive.

That is my theory on home defense. Kill them before they kill you.

A chief of police once told me the same thing.

[fatlazyless]

www.freewardbird.org.... Today, Sunday afternoon out in the sunlight, up at the Meredith roundabout on State Route 3, approximately ten people were demonstrating with various home made signs in support of Ward Bird. All over the area in Meredith and Center Harbor; there's a number of "Free Ward Bird" or "www.freewardbird.org" homemade style signs showing at homes, businesses and one church in Center Harbor next to the post office.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

www.freewardbird.org.... Today, Sunday afternoon out in the sunlight, up at the Meredith roundabout on State Route 3, approximately ten people were demonstrating with various home made signs in support of Ward Bird. All over the area in Meredith and Center Harbor; there's a number of "Free Ward Bird" or "www.freewardbird.org" homemade style signs showing at homes, businesses and one church in Center Harbor next to the post office.

Isn't it GREAT !!
There were groups of friends, neighbors, family and even people whom have never met Ward scattered at various intersections, from the Meredith rotary all the way to the junction of Rt. 16 & 25 both Saturday and Sunday. All willing to take time out of their weekend and stand out in the cold because they believe in Ward and they feel there was an injustice done.
This is what I call Community Spirit !

FREE WARD BIRD

[RI Swamp Yankee]

With all the commentary in the media, has there been any comments by jurors from the trial? I wonder what they were thinking when they deliberated and if their opinion changed later when they heard more about that "victim".

[Knockers]

Harris wandered onto Ward's property looking at neighboring land that was listed for sale on March 27, 2006. But 6 months later after her altercation with private property owners, her residence of 15 years is condemned a few doors down from Jeffery and Kay Bird in Salem,NH She's charged with simple assault for allegedly shoving a tow truck operator removing her cars, failing to comply with a search warrant, being held on $10,000 cash bail and complaints with police back to 1998. After reading the newspaper article below i'm finding it awfully hard to believe there's no evidence that Bird's attorney couldn't use. There's got to be more going on between the Ag's office, county/local PD and municipal officers not to adjust an ill placed law before the charge was issued.


Police seize dogs from Salem home; owner charged with assault

The Eagle Tribune Fri Sep 14, 2007, 10:37 PM EDT

SALEM, N.H. — Police removed about 40 dogs yesterday from a Salem trailer where they had been living in squalor.
The owner of the dogs, Christine Harris, 54, of 75 S. Policy St., Lot 61, was charged with simple assault for allegedly shoving a tow truck operator and with failing to comply with a search warrant. She is being held on $10,000 cash bail.
The odor of dog feces filled the air outside Harris' blue, vinyl-shingled trailer yesterday. A chorus of yelps could be heard from behind the home.
"I've been here four years, and you can hear it day, night, weekends," said Tina Fairfield, a next-door neighbor. "We've learned to sleep through it. You learn to live with the stench."
The home, cloaked by a row of overgrown bushes, was condemned yesterday by Salem Health Officer Brian Lockhart due to the poor conditions and the number of dogs living there. Around noon, police posted a sign on the front door saying that Harris can't move back in until the home is cleaned.
"It's deplorable. It stinks," said Kelly Demers, Salem's animal control officer, as he carried out the dogs yesterday, one by one.
Demers said he went to Harris' home yesterday around 9 a.m. with a search warrant that allowed him to inspect the home and count how many dogs she had on her property.
"She wouldn't come to the door," he said. "It just so happened that a tow truck driver came to take away a couple of her cars, so then she came out."
Angered by their orders to remove two unregistered cars on the property, Harris then allegedly approached one of the two truck operators and shoved him. Police arrived and charged her with simple assault and refusing to comply with Demers' warrant. She has not been charged with animal cruelty.
Police had already charged Harris on Aug. 18 with her dogs being a public nuisance and with having several dogs without licensing them. Demers had rounded up four of them that day that were running loose outside her trailer, according to Deputy police Chief William Ganley.
"She quite possibly could be running a breeding kennel," Ganley said.
The dogs collected yesterday included pugs, Boston terriers, miniature pinschers, three Rottweilers, an English bulldog and mixed breeds. At least twice, Demers removed clear, plastic tubs full of puppies. One had a small dog with three smaller pups nursing.
This isn't the first time Harris has caught the attention of police and neighbors.
Complaints made to police date back to 1998. In 2002, she was charged with keeping more than five dogs in an area not zoned for a kennel and building an addition to her home without obtaining proper town permits. A judge had ordered the addition — which held nearly 40 dogs — to be torn down, but the case was ultimately dropped because she began complying with town regulations, Ganley said.
"Everybody knows you have yapping dogs over there going all night long," said Larry Taylor, a neighbor. "It's brought down the resale value of our property."
"I wanted to go to Florida," he said. "My wife said, 'We can't go. We'll get nothing for our property.'"
Neighbors said the enforcement brought by town officials comes at a time when the trailer park's owner, Martin Taylor, has made efforts to improve the park. Those improvements include removing unregistered cars.
Currently, Taylor is fighting to evict Harris from the property in a case that is now being decided by the state Supreme Court.
Jeffrey and Kay Bird, who have been living a few doors down from Harris for nearly 14 years, said yesterday that they have never had a problem with Harris, but feel sympathy for the animals locked away in her home.
"A lot of people have had problems with her, but we've never had a bad word with her," Jeffrey Bird said, sitting on his shaded front porch.
Kay Bird said, "I feel sorry for her, but she hasn't abided by the rules."
Ganley said both neighbors and police have praised Demers for dealing with Harris' case.
"He's been working on this for a very long time," Ganley said. "He really loves and cares for those animals."
Police said yesterday that if Harris posts bail, she could be allowed back into the home to clean up the property, but she can't live there.
The dogs and puppies will likely be held at local animal shelters. It's uncertain if Harris will be able to get them back at some point

[Lakesrider]

I edited my comment due to my rational not being so good until I have had my coffee......

I agree. I will not be using my gun unless I feel I am under great threat of harm.
I will definitely let the intruder know I have one and that I intend to use it.
Hopefully I will have the presence of mind to grab my video recorder and use that at the same time I am dialing 911.

Yes it will cost money....If I shoot.....
Hopefully I will never have to worry about any of this.

One thing I will not do is wave my gun around at any time......

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

I will definitely let the intruder know I have one and that I intend to use it.

There is nothing like the sound a Remington 870 (or any other pump action shotgun) having a round chambered!

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

There is nothing like the sound a Remington 870 (or any other pump action shotgun) having a round chambered!

And there is nothing like the visual effects of this little fella standing beside you when someone comes onto your property with bad intentions:

[JDeere]

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

I agree. I will not be using my gun unless I feel I am under great threat of harm.
I will definitely let the intruder know I have one and that I intend to use it.
.

Great harm or threat? You only get to shoot in NH if you are in fear for your life. If you are 6 foot tall and a 5 foot women who has come into your home illegally comes at you with pocket knife and you shoot her you will be arrested and charged. You cannot reasonble argue that that small women even with her 6 inch knife was not something you could have reasonble protected yourself from WITHOUT lethal force.

[Gearhead]

I wonder how many Americans would open their front door to someone (anyone) in a uniform. It may not be the Maytag man.

Once that door begins to open, you could be in big trouble, because gun or no gun, he can knock you off your feet with the door and be on you before you realize what happened. First be sure your door's got a stout chain or a peephole so you can ID your caller. Second, when in doubt, don't invite him in. If he wants in, he'll get in. In the meantime get on the phone and prepare for fight (or surrender) or flight, whichever you're more comfortable with.

[Belmont Resident]

You might want to freshen up on gun laws.
Inside the home gun protection differs from outside the home.
Inside then home you have every right to shoot and kill an INTRUDER weather they are armed or not, if they are coming at you. Then refuse to talk to the police until you have first talked to your lawyer.
Outside the home they best have a gun or you probably will be guilty of murder.
You cannot just shoot someone weather they are on your property or not. That is what the law is for.
This whole thing is a freaking joke. What are we going to do next pass special laws that only apply to nice people? Give me a break.
While I agree the sentence is quite stiff I still feel he deserves to be punished and have a record that prohibits him from carrying a gun or at the very least requires him to take a mandatory gun, no make that every available gun safety class so that he knows gun laws.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

You might want to freshen up on gun laws.
Inside the home gun protection differs from outside the home.
Inside then home you have every right to shoot and kill an INTRUDER weather they are armed or not, if they are coming at you. Then refuse to talk to the police until you have first talked to your lawyer.
Outside the home they best have a gun or you probably will be guilty of murder.
You cannot just shoot someone weather they are on your property or not. That is what the law is for.
This whole thing is a freaking joke. What are we going to do next pass special laws that only apply to nice people? Give me a break.
While I agree the sentence is quite stiff I still feel he deserves to be punished and have a record that prohibits him from carrying a gun or at the very least requires him to take a mandatory gun, no make that every available gun safety class so that he knows gun laws.

How many "gun safety class's" have you taken ?

[rander7823]

Tried to read through this entire thread. But doesn't he have an opportunity to appeal the decision?

[wuwu]

here is a interesting link
http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird_Motion.pdf
notice how the crazy lady cannot recognize the defendant. This sounds like a witch hunt!

[Newbiesaukee]

I did read through the link. Except for the fact that there was a previous mistrial, nothing really new. It is true that the defense counsel made an issue of the woman not being able to identify the defendant, this really did seem to be a legal ploy and did not really carry any weight. A lot of this stuff seems to be procedural that only attorneys can really follow.

I may not be correct on this but it seems that this document is from before the trial that convicted him.

I really don't have a horse in this race, but I don't think much will be settled in the Forum. But that doesn't mean I don't read every word.

[fatlazyless]

Good Man - Bad Law, Free Ward Bird; along with one or two other home made signs, created in a style similar to the Burma-Shave roadside signs of the 1930's where you see a number of small signs which create a message as they get pieced together and read in one sentence as one drives down the road have been placed along the Moulton Farm field alongside Route 25 in Meredith.

Over on Route 104 in Meredith not far from Lake Wicwas, there's about two large painted plywood signs held up by 2x4's promoting freewardbird.org
.................


If I were his defense attorney I would have brought forward the premise that he had recently had a medical operation and was in a recovery mode. It is not unusual for people to be stressed when undergoing a recuperation and to react with more anger than ordinary and to overreact due to recuperation grumpiness. Asking a judge to take that into consideration seems like a reasonable request?

[Yosemite Sam]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Good Man - Bad Law, Free Ward Bird; along with one or two other home made signs, created in a style similar to the Burma-Shave roadside signs of the 1930's where you see a number of small signs which create a message as they get pieced together and read in one sentence as one drives down the road have been placed along the Moulton Farm field alongside Route 25 in Meredith.

Over on Route 104 in Meredith not far from Lake Wicwas, there's about two large painted plywood signs held up by 2x4's promoting freewardbird.org
.................


If I were his defense attorney I would have brought forward the premise that he had recently had a medical operation and was in a recovery mode. It is not unusual for people to be stressed when undergoing a recuperation and to react with more anger than ordinary and to overreact due to recuperation grumpiness. Asking a judge to take that into consideration seems like a reasonable request?

FLL,
In one of the below trial documents that www.freewardbird.org posted on there website they talk about Bird’s operation. Spend some time reading these documents about the trial and maybe it might help you.


http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...pplemental.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ardBird_JS.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u..._JS-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird_Motion.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ion-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...Bird_Index.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...tvWardBird.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...tvWardBird.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...tvWardBird.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...tvWardBird.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...tvWardBird.pdf

http://freewardbird.org/wp-content/u...ird-ERRATA.pdf

[wifi]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

FLL,
In one of the below trial documents that www.freewardbird.org posted on there website they talk about Bird’s operation. Spend some time reading these documents about the trial and maybe it might help you.

He will just go off on some other tangent.

[fatlazyless]

Anyone looking for something to do on Friday evening? www.freewardbird.org has a Christmas virgil & songfest sing-a-long planned for the Center Harbor band gazebo, just across from the post office, on Friday, December 24, from 6-7pm. Should maybe be a big turn-out what with all the strong local interest plus there will be a musical band and some talented singers/musicians.

Not able to get there? You should be able to attend it "virtually" on line, I believe at www.freewardbird.org, but that may be incorrect.

What would be real nice to see would be a strong rendition of Jail House Rock, the popular Elvis song, but performed by an Elvis style look-a-like made up to look just like WARD. Would that get any attention or what? Oh well......ho-hum.....just a thought......I bettcha that Annie & The Orphans band from Center Harbor could put that all together real good in about 20-minutes of rehearsal time.

...arrrrrrrooooooooo.....oops...sorry Hound-Dog...it's not your song!

You might be surprised about this, but just a little bit of Elvis can go a long way in motivating public support!

Can you believe it, this Christmas Eve "Free Ward Bird" virgil & songfest is the lead front page story in today's Dec 22 www.unionleader.com .......

The Center Harbor band gazebo is a terrific designer-archirtected public structure located on the sloping town green just across from the Center Harbor Congregational Church, Center Harbor post office, & fire station/police station/town office and Center Harbor Public Library, and the sloping hill creates a large outdoor ampitheater style venue. One heck of a good spot for an outdoor concert, and hopefully the weather will be friendly!

Will you be there?

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by dpg

Or maybe HE has a way to short of a fuse...Just sayin.

From what I've seen and read this issue isn't from Bird having a short fuse. It seems that he took MANY reasonable precautions to keep trespassers off of and away from his property. I would like to think that in the US, and especially NH, we are entitled to our freedom and personal space.

The only REAL mistake Ward Bird made in this case appears to be offering a statement before consulting with qualified legal counsel.

[Irish mist]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

From what I've seen and read this issue isn't from Bird having a short fuse. It seems that he took MANY reasonable precautions to keep trespassers off of and away from his property. I would like to think that in the US, and especially NH, we are entitled to our freedom and personal space.

The only REAL mistake Ward Bird made in this case appears to be offering a statement before consulting with qualified legal counsel.

Yes......this is a CLASSIC case of not giving the police the rope to hang you with your own words. Say nothing to the police until you secure legal counsel. It's your right not to talk to an officer unless you want to.

[NoBozo]

This is probably not relevant to this case but it came to mind after reading many of these posts. MANY of you will not remember this because it was 50 years ago.

I was in the NAVY (Onboard Ship) at the time and we had a movie every night on the mess decks.

The name of the movie was "Billy Budd". It was about a young Seaman Apprentice in the Royal Navy (Around 1812) that evidently "Touched" the "Master At Arms,"... breaching naval etiquette. The Master At Arms on a Naval Ship is the person, or persons charged with maintaining law and order onboard ship. When I was in, they actually wore a badge like a police officer.

Billy Budd (beloved by his shipmtes) was tried, convicted, and hanged at the yard..........you have to see the movie...

I remember the reaction of MY crew members to the movie.. They were mortified that such an event could happen. There was a deeper reason (Absolute Discipline) why the verdict was justified...

BUT that would not be relevant in the Bird case. NB

[jeffatsquam]

Mr. Bird has been wearing suspenders at least for the 25 years I have know him.

His and Ginnie's land could definitely be considered for a episode of bonanza.

He has been asking trespassers to leave his land for decades.

His very well posted land is at the very end of a road called Yukon trail.

His family lives off the grid in a beautiful home he built with the help of his wife.

This land he is protecting is the major water shed for Shannon brook.

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

..no, the land does not usually say things like that.....:

No, Land does not make assanine comments. That job is reserved special, Just for you because you are so proficient at it !

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Does your land talk to you? ...

No, my land doesn't speak to me and I wish you wouldn't either !!