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."
