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Boosted by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
alwirtes@indieweb.social ("Al Wirtes") wrote:

A fascinating letter in today’s #Boulder #Colorado #DailyCamera #EdgarAllanPoe #Nevermore

Last Tuesday, Oct. 7, was the 176th anniversary of the death of Edgar Allan Poe. He was found in a state of delirium in ill-fitting, mismatched clothes that were not his own in a Baltimore tavern that doubled as a polling place. He was en route to pick up his mother-in-law, Maria Clemm, and escort her to his impending nup-tials, two years after the death of his first wife, Virginia. It was a happy moment cut short by American political malfea-sance. Poe had the great misfortune of being delayed in Baltimore during the week of a fierce municipal election. Voting occurred over a series of days while opposing parties violently debated. Many speculated on how Poe died. Rabies, consumption and alcoholism were all considered. But scholars agree that "cooping" might be to blame. People were kidnapped off the streets, abused with alcohol, beaten and forced to vote. The Dead Rabbits, a notorious Irish American street gang of political harpies, often employed this practice along the East Coast. They would join with the Plug Uglies of Baltimore to commit election fraud and were known as "repeaters." The unsuspecting victim was forced to vote, caged overnight, had their clothes changed, and were made to vote repeatedly. Then, after the election, they were abandoned on the street. Poe had a weak constitution. If he were drugged and forced to consume copious amounts of li-quor, his health would be in jeopardy. So, Poe, who died at just 40, was likely a victim of a political crime. Election