One of these was the New Mexican lawman, Elfego Baca.
Man was a serious bad-ass: sheriff, marshal, lawyer, politician, and while he was a lawman, got so respected that, according to the legend, he would sometimes just send a letter to bad guys telling them to turn themselves in or he'd feel justified in shooting them. Apparently, more often than not, they did just give up ...
One of the legends I like was after he got to be a lawyer. He got a wire from a client: Just been charged with murder, I need you at once!
His reply: Leaving at once. Bringing three eyewitnesses ...
Um. Anyway, that sparked old memories and a couple of connections.
There was a short-run TV series done by Disney, back in the late 1950's, The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca and I remember it. It starred Robert Loggia, and in the show, he was called "El Gato," the cat. It being pre-non-violence TV, there where a lot of new residents of Boot Hill after every episode.
Fast forward to 1966, and another TV show, a TV noir series called T.H.E. Cat, about a reformed cat burglar and ex-circus performer turned vigilante, one Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat. This also starred Robert Loggia. Did he get the second role because of the first?
Who knows? I found it interesting is all ...
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