Time: Wed Nov 13 19:22:22 1996
To: Electra Briggs <electra@texas.net>
From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar]
Subject: fun fund raising
Cc:
Bcc:
Dear Electra,
We are facing a cash crisis here.
I must upgrade my telephone system
to accommodate a part-time partner,
and we are quickly going to need
ISDN modems because we cannot wait
for 56.6, and ISDN allows us 3 virtual
connections over a single twisted pair.
One of the firm's partners fell victim
to alcohol; he is unable to process
complex computer or legal concepts
when I need him to. I have written a
heart-breaking letter to his wife;
her husband's life is now in her hands,
not mine. Can you raise $2,500 on short
notice, by calling around? We can give
you 10% for now; that can change later.
If feel like a general whose troops were
poorly trained, and falling off the wagons.
You can take the reins here, but you must
seize the day, dearest. I know you can do it.
/s/ Paul Mitchell
attachment: for your eyes only (and Emre too)
hugs to Miranda; I WANT MY DUNCE CAP (PICTURES)!!
CONFIDENTIAL LETTER FOLLOWS:
=================================================================
c/o 2509 N. Campbell, #1776
Tucson [zip code exempt]
ARIZONA REPUBLIC
November 13, 1996
Evelyn Nordbrock
6642 E. Calle de San Alberto
Tucson, Arizona
Dear Evelyn,
Please accept my apologies for irritating you with the
request that Nancy Lord stay at your home in some future
emergency. It was not my intention to invade the privacy of your
home, or to impose upon your generosity. I was trying to set up
a soft landing for someone who appears to be imminent danger of
retaliation for the witness she has become to the same kinds of
persecution you are experiencing. I had no idea that you have
had such unfortunate experience with house guests in the past.
In the event that I might not be at home when that emergency call
might come, I wanted her to know that there are others in Tucson
who would welcome her with open arms, if only for a night or two.
That was all I meant to ask of you. I certainly did not mean to
imply that I wanted her to stay with you for any length of time
beyond that. You know, and I know, that I have an extra bedroom,
which you helped me to furnish. The only problem right now is
that I have a total of $20 in my wallet right, and I need that
money for food. I cannot as yet afford the expense of buying
sheets, pillows, and bed spreads for that nice new bed which Neil
put on the account. You already know that clients are now in
arrears to me for over $25,000. I don't know anybody for whom
that is petty cash.
I am also obligated to tell you, if you don't already know,
that Neil is bordering on clinical psychosis because of his
excessive and regular drinking habits. Although I have enjoyed
each and every one of the many meals which you have so expertly
prepared for all of us, there were many occasions when Neil has
slurred his words, lost his balance while standing, and spilled
drinks and gravy all over your beautiful table cloth. I am also
unable to communicate complex computer or legal ideas to Neil,
after he has begun to consume alcohol.
The most important thing I want to say to you here is that I
am one of the many Americans who have lost a family member to
alcohol: my brother died of complications due to chronic alcohol
poisoning about 5 years ago. My personal pain is the realization
that I never did anything to help him, because I was entirely
estranged from all of my family for too many years, during which
time Ronnie passed away quietly, having degenerated very slowly,
when he drove alone to the place where he and his only son used
to fish together, and drew his last breath. I can only pass this
enormous pain up to my Father in Heaven, and hope that he will
somehow forgive me for not intervening when I could have, and
should have, no matter what the consequences. It was the fact
that I never even tried that now weighs so heavily upon my soul.
My only defense now is that I never even knew that he was so
deathly ill. But I have myself solely to blame for allowing a
chip on my shoulder to grow into a giant personal block to any
human contact whatsoever during those terrible years. My mother
has never recovered from losing now 2 of her 3 sons. I am the
only one left, and the odds are high that I will not outlive my
parents, given the high risks that are associated with my line of
work. How often does your next door neighbor sue the President
of the United States, a person who is now implicated in dozens of
homicides, not to mention a host of other felonies, including
treason.
If I make it to my own father's funeral, it will be a most
excellent gift from the Most High, hopefully many years from now.
I do what I do, because my earthly father now casts a very tall
shadow, and I am honored to stand on his shoulders to defend this
country, as well, if not better, than he did, at great personal
risk to his own life. If I now ask a lot of myself, it is
because this is my redemption for all those many decades of
pride, hatred, drugs, sin and debauchery. Maybe I too will
someday earn the Purple Heart, and proudly share it with the
children in my life, born to others, giggling and laughing as I
bounce them on my lap, knowing that they can now breathe freely,
and grow up in a country where liberty and justice shall flourish
once again, as realities, not stale or empty phrases.
I must also tell you that I am ill equipped to intervene on
behalf of Neil and his alcohol problem. Evelyn, what I do know
is that this is a disease, and there are advanced methods
available for treating, and curing, this disease. I am telling
you this, because I am an alcoholic too, having started drinking
that day, many years ago, when my father handed me a beer after
pouring concrete on a very hot day in Santa Ana, California.
After many many decades of pain and isolation, I got up enough
courage to take my alcoholic friend to AA, where I learned from
someone who knows, that the alcohol had made me insane; that is
all there is to it. I do not touch the stuff now, for more
reasons than I can shake a stick at. I so much enjoy sharing
coffee, tea, and fruit juice with the both of you, because I love
both of you so very much. It is for this reason that I enter
this plea, on Neil's behalf, that you get him immediately into an
alcohol rehabilitation program. The choice is yours, but I know
from experience that if you allow this problem to continue, that
death is waiting just around the corner for Neil.
Thank you very much for everything. Please don't shoot the
messenger, as so many people are wont to do with me. I trust you
enough to know that you will do as I ask.
Sincerely yours,
Paul Andrew Mitchell, B.A., M.S.
copy: Mark and Rose Nordbrock
=================================================================
At 06:08 PM 11/13/96 -0600, you wrote:
>Paul Dear:
>
>Sarah Flemming posted several of your recent broadcasts at the
>Republic of Texas newsgroup. Two postings on the Oregan train,
>situation, and one on the NNWO in and around Pheonix.
>
>I came across this article several nites ago, but did not want
>to burden you with too much data. I find this, "Ghost Train,"
>article intriquing. There is a parallel here. The Oregan train
>scenario and this bit of info is fascinating.
> (Deliberately ambiquious here.)
>
>I will email you later this evening about personal stuff.
>
>Take Care.
>
>As Ever,
>Electra
>Message-ID: <3283E096.7660@texas.net>
>Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 19:38:30 -0600
>From: Electra Briggs <electra@texas.net>
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>To: electra@texas.net
>Subject: [Fwd: Ghost Train Derails Conrail Merger]
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>Content-Disposition: inline
>Status: U
>
>Path: news.texas.net!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!feed1.news.erols.com!panix!news.panix.com!not-for-mail
>From: impzabin@panix.com (Fred Zabinski)
>Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy,alt.society.sovereign
>Subject: Ghost Train Derails Conrail Merger
>Date: 2 Nov 1996 21:53:27 -0500
>Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC
>Lines: 93
>Message-ID: <55h1f7$cbj@panix2.panix.com>
>NNTP-Posting-Host: panix2.panix.com
>Xref: news.texas.net alt.conspiracy:77438 alt.society.sovereign:5831
>
> The following is a true story about a man in Upstate New York who
>bought half of Conrail for a buck.
> He learned railroad law as a kid, and managed to get Conrail to sign
>over a deed, under corporate seal, granting him all rights to operate,
>and half the material assets, for the old New York Central Railroad, to
>which Conrail is an assign.
> A lease in perpetuity between Wallkill Valley Railroad (the branch he
>bought from Conrail) and the New York Central, signed in 1899, allowed
>him to obtain title to the whole kit & caboodle. Railroad barons at the
>time foresaw eventual merger takeovers; they placed encumberances on the
>deeds, which allows a clever lawyer back-door access into monopoly
>control.
> Like I said, it's all true. I researched the information for several
>months. The Wall Street Journal sat on the story for six months; most of
>the mainstream media has ignored it so far. The CSX-Norfolk bids may
>bring more attention to the issue.
> My name is Rob Walters; I can be reached at 914-687-9646. This story is
>for sale. Permission is granted to transmit this abridged version for
>purposes of perusal.
>
> Boo! Ghost Train Derails Conrail Merger
> by Robert E. Walters (c) 1996
> A mystery train, hauling freightloads of cash, manifested itself
>between the ten billion-dollar Conrail takeover battle. It is an obscure
>corporation called the Wallkill Valley Railroad Co., which may possibly
>steer CSX and Norfolk Southern -- contenders for conglomerating Conrail
>-- towards a head-on collision.
> John Ethan Rahl purchased Conrail's Wallkill Branch, line number 1435,
>ten years ago. Unbeknownst to conglomerate officials, they deeded Rahl
>all the rights, and half the assets, of the old New York Central
>Railroad, to which Conrail is an assign.
> As a kid, Rahl's father Philip, a railroad lawyer, together with lawyer
>Barnett Dornbush, mentored him in railroad law. The old men taught Rahl
>everything they knew, later ordering him to forget that knowledge 'till
>he was older. Rahl kept quiet.
> Now, he's the country's leading expert on railroad law, and arguably
>its wealthiest individual. Norfolk Southern tendered Conrail a $9.15
>billion cash takeover bid late last week; CSX is offering about eight
>billion. Rahl owns more than half the shares, a fact Conrail refuses to
>acknowledge.
> Wallkill Valley Railroad Co. was chartered in 1866 under statute,
>enjoying full rights and powers during "robber baron" days. In 1952, it
>merged with New York Central Railroad and a handful of other lines. 1968
>saw Penn Central absorb the company, only to be snatched by Conrail
>after Penn's 1973 bankruptcy.
> "Boo!", says the ghost. In 1899, the railroad barons writ a lease in
>perpetuity between Wallkill and New York Central; a year later, it
>would've been illegal. The contract stipulated all rights revert to
>Wallkill if New York Central, or any of its assigns, ever abandon
>service on the Wallkill line.
> The lease of 1899 tied all railroad rights for New York Central, and
>its assigns, around Wallkill, under the pre-existing railroad statutes
>of the day. Cue scary music.
> Conrail abandoned service to the Wallkill Branch in 1978, breaking the
>lease. Rahl was nearby, waiting. He purchased the branch, with all
>right, title and interest, for one dollar in fee simple. Under railroad
>law, all right and estate "run with the land." Therefore, through land
>title he acquired the Wallkill Valley Railroad Co., together with all
>vested rights and statutes of use.
> Conrail's deeding of the Wallkill Branch separated the 1952 merger,
>making Rahl full partner with New York Central, and its assigns, which
>today includes Conrail.
> "If you don't use it, you lose it," bragged Rahl, paraphrasing railroad
>law's primary tenet. Many have argued that Wallkill ceased to exist upon
>merger in 1952. Instead, Wallkill merely "disappeared," dwelling dormant
>in its place of creation under a perpetual 1866 charter; with the right
>to re-enter itself via unique reorganization in 1878. "What disappears
>can reappear," he explained.
> Currently, the railroad line serves as a rail trail, or linear park,
>which is considered "transportation use" under Federal law. "They think
>I need a 'choo choo' to own a railroad," said Rahl of his critics. In
>fact, Legal railroads only require ownership of a right-of-way or a
>railroad bridge; Rahl owns both.
> Officials were reluctant to take his claim seriously, despite
>impeccable title. Rahl recently entered his assets as Conrail
>stockholder into Federal Bankruptcy Court proceedings. "It's mine," he
>said, "and I want control." Rahl refused further comment.
> Additional Info:
> Conrail has no counter-claim available against Rahl's 1986 property
>acquisition under law; his contract is between Wallkill and the New York
>Central. The perpetual lease is apparently a trap set up by 19th-Century
>railroad barons, to prevent future takeovers. Rahl's ownership is
>automatic under operation of law, and there is no appeal -- modern
>regulations notwithstanding. Original jurisdiction is in the U.S.
>Supreme Court.
> Norfolk Southern did not call back. A spokesman for CSX referred the
>matter to Conrail. A representative of Conrail's corporate
>communications office said "Conrail does not comment on any such
>matter." The Interstate Commerce Commission is dead...
> Spooky, isn't it?
>
>
>
>
>
>
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