Tipper Gore, an amateur genealogical researcher,
discovered that her husband's great-great uncle,
Gunther Gore, a fellow lacking in character, was
hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in
Tennessee in 1889.
The only known photograph of Gunther shows him
standing on the gallows. On the back of the
picture is this inscription:
"Gunther Gore; horse thief, sent to Tennessee
Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Tennessee
Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton
detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
After letting Al Gore and his staff of
professional image consultants peruse the
findings, they decided to crop Gunther's
picture, scan it in as an enlarged image, and
edited it with image processing software so that
all that's seen is a head shot.
The accompanying biographical sketch was sent to
the Associated Press as follows:
"Gunther Gore was a famous rancher in early
Tennessee history. His business empire grew to
include acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and intimate dealings with the Tennessee
railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several
years of his life to service at a government
facility, finally taking leave to resume his
dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a
key player in a vital investigation run by the
renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889,
Gunther passed away during an important civic
function held in his honor when the platform
upon which he was standing collapsed."
