February 1, 1850 somewhere in the highlands of Scotland, into
the Nawkin tribe. (We were Gypsies)
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Our life as Gypsys wasn't terribly hard as we were nomadic so
when we needed a few shillings we'd help out the crofters. In
the Spring of 1878 the local laird caught me in the bedchamber
of his only son upon which the laird persuaded the law that
we were thieves and murderers. The law rounded up as much of
the Nawkin clan as they could (a few managed to escape) and took
is to Liverpool,England. There we were thrown into the hold of
a Cutty Sark Clipper Ship that was bound for America. When
we landed in Galveston, Texas our numbers had been greatly
reduced due to deaths on the high seas. (My mother, father, 3
sisters and 2 brothers were amongst the deceased).
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By the following Spring we survivors had managed to get to
Missouri where I fell in love with a local farm boy,Tom Penn.
Despite strong protests from both families we married and I
moved to his fathers ranch. Immediately becoming the female
head of the house as his mother died some years before. Life was
very bad there as I endured many beatings from his father and
brothers. And shortly after we married Tom took to drinking
and inflicted many cruelties upon me. I survived all this for
nearly a year before relief came in the guise of enraged vigilantes,
who hung Tom for cattle rustling. I took all his clothes and gear off
his still twitching body, stole, whatever I thought I could use, from
the ranch and ran away. I knew of a cave system in the Amarugia
hills were one could live quite nicely. Whenever I did go into
town to ply my Gypsy trade the townsfolk would treat me badly....
there were a lot of women in that town who were abused as well.
Finally I had enough of all the abuses and vowed that from then on
ALL men would pay dearly. Many other women joined with me
and we turned to a life of crime. And I worked hard to lose my
Scottish brogue so no one would know who I was.
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Am I ruthless ? Let's put it this way...my sister outlaws describe me
in one word....MEAN. In fact my name of "Liza Blue" came
from the words of a dying man, whom I had gutshot....
"She has steely eyes of blue." My health is relatively good
despite dodging bullets. Of course I feel I was forced into a life
of crime ! But I don't consider myself a bad girl..merely a cold-
blooded businesswoman that's all. The rest of the gang gets
along rather well with me... I'm pretty much the meanest &
most cold-blooded so they know who leads, and who would back
them up when life gets rough.
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As for being afraid of the law and possible capture...HA ! I know
the land better than them, I ALWAYS know where & what
they're doing. Why should I be afraid of THEM ?
After all.... I am a GYPSY.
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