The Facts
Ward “Lauchie” (pronounced “Locky”) Bird was imprisoned on November 17, 2010, on a charge of criminal threatening. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence since 2006, when he encountered a trespasser, Ms. Christine Harris, who refused to leave his Moultonborough property.
Who is Ward Bird?
Ward Bird is lifelong resident of the Lakes Region, known for numerous civic contributions including scouts, church, and the historical society. He received the New Hampshire Hero Award in 1990 for helping to save a woman from almost drowning. He is a devoted husband and an active and involved father of four bright and responsible children. He is a farmer, a hard worker, and a man who would quite literally give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.
His supporters increasingly include people who have never met him, but who believe that a flawed legal process, an unclear law, and a punishment out of proportion to the alleged crime are keeping a good man in jail far too long.
Ward Bird is innocent
Ward Bird is innocent; he never waved or pointed a gun at the trespasser as charged. She was informed that she was trespassing (which she already knew, after passing numerous No Trespassing signs) but she refused to leave when asked several times.
A “he said, she said” case
There was no corroborating evidence; it was just one person’s word versus another’s.
Juries can make mistakes
Ward Bird believes our judicial system is “the best that there is.” But mistakes happen. In this case, the jury did not learn enough about the character and backgrounds of these two individuals, so it did not have a good basis for evaluating the separate versions of the incident.
For example, the jury never learned that Ward Bird had major abdominal surgery and had been released from Maine Medical Center shortly before his encounter with Ms. Harris. This would have been critical information considering testimony that he “jumped off the porch” after her and was “running back and forth,” which would have been extremely unlikely, if not impossible, given his stage of recuperation.
This is just one example of numerous inconsistencies and contradictions that marked her testimony.
Updating to the present, we now know that the trespasser is a serial animal abuser, convicted in NH and wanted on charges in South Carolina. She has gone by several aliases.
A case of mandatory minimum sentencing
The sentencing judge recommended a much lighter sentence, which would have already been served by now, but his hands were tied by the mandatory minimum sentencing provision of three years.
Plea bargain rejected – because he’s innocent
Ward Bird was offered a plea deal for reckless conduct, which carried no jail time. He rejected it because he did nothing wrong, and he could not plead guilty in good conscience to something that he didn’t do.
Support from local police
The current and former Moultonborough police chiefs say that Ward Bird does not belong in jail and that they would welcome him back to the community.
A nonpartisan issue
In December, Speaker of the House William O’Brien and 117 members from both parties signed a petition asking for Ward Bird’s release from prison.
Ward Bird does not want to be a “hero” for any causes or agendas. His supporters span the political spectrum and include all ages and walks of life. They are united in seeking justice for an innocent man who has been wrongly convicted.
How you can help
If you are concerned about this gross miscarriage of justice, please subscribe to keep informed of upcoming events and activities.
Please contact the members of New Hampshire’s Executive Council and Governor John Lynch, asking that they grant Ward Bird’s request for a full pardon.
To help support the Bird family and to assist in defraying the costs of the Free Ward Bird Committee’s efforts, please consider making a donation.
Thank you for your interest and support. Working together, we will right this wrong.
The man I know spends his Thursday evenings with me and fifteen ten year old boys for the last 6 years, guiding them down the Cub Scout Path…
But last Thursday night he spent injustly incarcerated.
The man I know steps up when I am ready to throw up my hands and imparts his quiet, gentle knowledge on young impressionable boys who look to a kind but firm father figure,
But last week his guidance was unfairly whisked behind bars, inaccessible to those who need him most.
The man I know can show boys how to be men, can tie knots, demonstrate pulleys, identify rock types, start and cook over an open fire,
But is eating prison food right now.
The man I know will, and has, sacrificed his own comfort, sleep, and dinner to be out doing whatever his kids and scouts need him to be doing,
But he is sleeping in a cell instead of under the stars tonight.
The man I know embodies the Cub Scout Core Values: Citizenship, Compassion, Cooperation, Courage, Faith, Health, Honesty, Perserverance, Positive Attitude, Resourcefulness, Respect and Responsibility.
But he can’t teach any of them from the State Prison…or can he?
I believe Ward did the right think by not taking a plea for something he did not do. I did the same thing, I was fortunate in my case, it was nol proceed because the lady would have incriminated herself for criminal trespass in my case and she refused to testify at the advise of her lawyer. I will never look at Ward as an ex con…..I will look at him as a man that was
was wrongly convicted by a flawed justice system that needs to be fixed. I have no doubt that there are many people in prison that did not do the crime….and there are many running around free that should be there. Our system has many flaws and innocent people and their families are paying the price for it. My sympathy to Ward, his family and friends. We must not give up the fight for justice and change no matter what it takes.
I have just requested the Governor to pardon Ward Bird and sent a message to our State Rep urging him to use common sense and ask the Governor to do the right thing as well. From the facts that I’ve read, Mr. Bird definitely does not deserve to be in jail. I hope this unjust situation will be corrected soon.
Thank you, Carolyn. You are so right, Mr. Bird does not deserve to be in jail. Thanks for taking the time to write messages.
Gov Lynch gave the reason of concern of the jurors for why he did not offer a full pardon…It is my hope that every single juror reads the facts of this case and feels a duty to contact Gov. Lynch asking him to reverse this criminal statis on an innocent man! Ward, you are helping all of us by standing up for your rights. I fell asleep last night thinking of your night of freedom…with your family!
Ward Bird is also a loving brother and son, as well as a husband, father, and generous citizen. I have known Ward Bird my entire life; he is my younger brother; we are four years apart in age. We have three sisters, and Ward is smack dab in the middle, with two sisters on each side of him. We all adore him; he is our only brother and he loves each of us; I sure felt it when we hugged each other several times the last day we all had together before he left for prison.
I am so proud of who my brother has become as an adult; he is kind, persistent, compassionate, caring, full of humor, and loves life and family. We grew up in Meredith, New Hampshire; our connections to this place were established long before we were born, when our great-great-great grandfather first owned what is now known as “Picnic Rock Farms,” having been “Longridge Farm” for generations.
My brother worked the farm as a youngster; he was out in the field learning how to hoe and plant, weed and harvest. I worked in the stand; we worked for our great uncle Marsh. My brother loves that farm like he loves his family. It is his family in a way; it represents his heritage; it is our place.
My brother now manages this farm; a few years ago he rebuilt the stand the “old-fashioned way” to maintain the integrity of the building as a historic marker. No iron nails…pegs; take a look.
I remember watching my brother at seven years of age, reading National Geographic from cover to cover. I guarantee he can fix, create, build, plant, harvest, maintain, sustain, and laugh about anything he puts his mind to; he gets this from his own effort and from the modeling of our father, and his unusually original mind.
My brother is an intelligent, creative and talented man who shares his knowledge, not only with Cub Scouts, but with his nine nephews and one niece. My son is a sophomore in college and he chooses to drive an hour from our home over by Mount Kearsarge, to the farm in Meredith every day in the summer so that he can work beside his uncle and learn from him.
Next summer, my son will be working at the farm again, but unless we are able to bring my brother Ward home, my son will be working with the rest of our family who will be attempting to keep the farm running without his uncle. He and his cousin Tyler will be resources; they have been the recipients of my brother’s farming knowledge for two years now. My sister-in-law Ginny is as talented as my brother, and my brother-in-law Leon is as determined as my brother would be to keep the farm going for my brother’s family as well as its historic significance.
However, my brother is a unique person with a special, rare ability to contribute to his community with a deep knowledge of place and people. He belongs outside in the fresh air teaching our youth about the world, life, and principles. He is one of us, one of the people, and we need him back with us so we can continue to learn from him and with him to make New Hampshire and the world a better place to live.
Ward Bird, my brother, is not a man who would have been capable of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon. He has too much integrity and intelligence to behave in such a way. I hope he will be working on the farm again next summer so that my son will be able to continue to learn from him. Ward is a wonderful role model and that will never change. I am proud of his honesty and truthfulness and of his belief in what is good in the world. He trusted our legal system and it failed him, but he will always speak thoughtfully to my son about justice; I have no doubt. I know my brother.
Meredith Bird Miller
I am so sorry that your dear brother Ward and your family is suffering from such an injustice in a so called “free country”! I always thought that we had the right to defend ourselves and our own property against intrusion as was written in the Constitution! I wish you and your family some reasonable justice and hope for the future as it was truly intended by our fore bearers. This is very troubling to me, and I care about you! Good luck, we will be rooting for you all here on Cape Cod! GOD BLESS THE USA AS IT WAS INTENDED and to your family as well!
Meredith’s words are echoing in my heart as well. Ward is my younger brother, but I look up to him. I am so very thankful for his presence in my life and I know that he touches other lives every day in a positive manner. I am sure that he is still doing that as I write this. However, we would all rather have him here with us.
I have known Ward & Ginny for over twenty years, earlier as neighbors, later as fellow parents of Moultonborough students, and always as friends. They are caring parents, very active in the community, and a strong asset to our town….Les Smith Moultonborough
I wrote these poems a few years ago. They feel pertinent this Thanksgiving Day.
Hopeful Magic
Meredith Bird Miller
A fresh
April Wet Snow…gallops
through thickets of
pine and spruce,
hemlock and balsam,
heavily laden with thickness,
warming into cascading clumps…
Thuddingly,
reverberatingly,
finding passage through pungent boughs
drooping with yearning
to spring and bounce
in breezes yet unannounced and unseen.
Deeply drumming winter’s portentous end,
Thumping and throwing melting fits,
snowy clumps make space
for mourning doves whistling up
onto branches warming
to such musical lightness.
All the while,
the stoic robin
Flips
sodden leaves,
Tossing showery snow
in shimmering brightness
over its own head,
Seeking moist warm worms
rising wigglingly
to the surface,
Discovering
Hopeful Magic
in
Mundane Promise.
Yankee Stew
I am from
lakes and oceans,
stone walls and sandy beaches,
Sears Roebuck gone jazz,
…penning
exquisite, innovative designs
upon flimsy paper napkins at the kitchen table.
I am from broad-belled Victrolas singing tinnily from
old card tables set up on
sunshine-bright dusty driveways, outside,
gritty and dry …
merging into the inner darkness of musty smelling barns,
hosting chocolate brown buffalo heads
mounted upon weathered gray planks,
gazing knowingly
into my very soul
with the sharpness of
glittery, black glassy eyes.
I remember
Cape Cod sea bass surfcasting,
White Mountain peanut planting grandfathers
and
ice cream giving grandmothers.
I am from
a hard, cold Yankee stock,
Upon a back burner bubbling…
steamily becoming…
a soft, warm family stew.
I feel that my family has grown exponentially since my brother Ward was imprisoned. Thank you to all who are joining “the stew” and stoically seeking “wiggling worms” to bring this innocent and much loved man home. Happy Thanksgiving.
These poems are beautiful – I can related. Love m
To whom it may concern,
I have known Ward Bird ,” Lauchie”, for a long time, and it pains me deeply to read negative comments about his charachter from people who do not know him or do not agree with the stand he took.
It has been said before you judge a man walk a mile in his shoes. Most do not even know what his shoes look like. Alot of people are basing their opinions on partial truths. I ask you to consider – children are a reflection of their parents and their upbringing. Spend five minutes with any one of his children and it becomes imediatley evident that the enviroment they live in is one of envolved, attentive and loving parents. They teach their children respect, manners and morals. It has been my pleasure to have been included in the annual Bird family vacation in Maine for a number of years, and this is where I personally witnessed the nature of this man and his interaction with his family. We would all do well
to consider his example. Is Ward Bird a Saint ? NO but who among us is? And it is not my intention to protray him as one , but simply a man who loves his family, his friends and his community. In our last conversation just before he turned himself in, his main concern was Ginny and the kids, not himself. I will continue to do my small part to help out until he is released , as much out of love as out of guilt. As a member of this society I feel I have let them down for becoming apathetic to the loss of our personal rights, and not making a stand untill now. He stood on principal, not to keep his guns but to be true to himself and not to admit guilt when there is none. We should all be ashamed to have let things slip this far, and to have this family
pay the price for our laziness. To Ward, Ginny, Emily, Ian, Aberdeen and Will I apologize. Love Caleb
Caleb, on behalf of Lauchie, I want to say that you do not have a thing to apologize for because we all know how much you care for the children, the families, and the community. We all share equally in responsibility for our involvement, or lack thereof, in our system of government. I think this situation is lighting a fire among us all; it affects us personally. I think that there is a quote by someone somewhere that the political is always personal, and the personal is always political. There’s always room for us to become, and I know that we are all “becoming” more of who we are meant to be. Thank you so much for responding to the needs of Lauchie, Ginny, and the kids, but none of us who have spent family vacations with you are surprised. You’ve always been involved and so supportive of all the kids and we have always appreciated it. We’ll keep working on this project and your involvement and support always makes a difference. Thank you, Merry
I dont know Ward know but i remember him back in the day when we were in our teens. My friend and i were stranded on the side of the road, our car had broken down he picked us up brought us to our destination then brought us home! My point, he didn’t even know us he did this and asked for nothing in return. The man had morals and integrity even back then and it seems to me that he grew into an even better person. It makes me wonder what kind of justice system we have that would put a good person behind bars.NH needs to fix this injustice!!!
I am just a concerned citizin of moultonborogh. i heard about Ward’s unfair trial. and I along with many people in town are outraged. I proudly wear a free ward bird pin. I also have stickers on my car always supporting the cause. Ive had people ask about my pin not knowing the story, Im constantly explaining the situation and im just glad to be helping spread the word about Wards story!
Today as i sit here writing this i am so heart broken that a very nice man is sitting behind bars because he was defending him and his property. Its sad to think that the woman is still on the loose when she is a criminal it makes me feel unsafe and i am sure others too. This man should not be in jail i hope police and the governer and everyone else realize he is innocent.
I don’t usually get on the internet for anything but have been following Lauchie’s situation quite a bit and have to agree with Caleb.
When I read some of the comments from the papers and the response to some of the articles I became very upset. How can people be so cruel to someone they don’t even know.
I more or less know lauchie in passing and short conversations.
When all this started and I went to help at his home I met the family for the first time,although I’ve seen them before in passing.
My first impression was of awe, I was impressed with his children and the way they acted. Respectful, hard working,pleasant and family oriented. Lauchie and his wife seemed more concerned for the people helping than their own situation. I saw that in the first 10 minutes I was there. I made sure I told Lauchie before I left how impressed I was.
As a Vietnam vet, who joined the army, I know first hand how it feels to stand up for something you believe in and get spit upon and degraded for doing it. Although that war was’nt popular it was our duty to defend our country and stand for our, and others, freedom. Obviously many people do not agree with Lauchie’s stand but at least have the curtisy to be cival about it.
I have to commend Lauchie for his stand as so many would have caved in and taken the plea bargain.
In the Revolutionary War John Stark made the comment LIVE FREE OR DIE wich is our state motto. Patrick Henry’s statement say’s it all “Is life so dear or peace so sweat as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but for me,GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH”. We need to stand for our rights and our constitution as passed to us from our forefathers or we may end up with out any.
I don’t know where this quote came from but I find it apropriate,’ The only thing neccasary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’. What are we doing?
I believe Lauchie has done that and it is our duty to stand for him and with him. I, as Caleb, apologize and thank him for his stand. I will support him and his family as best I can until he comes home.
Tim Cahoon
Ward could have taken the easy way out,but decided to stick to the path of truth,and for that he is paying the price…God bless him.He is a brave man who’s actions speak volumes……Joe Droukas…..Moultonboro nh
I don’t know Ward Bird personally, but have had personal experience with the liar and weird woman who brought charges against him.
Several years ago she attacked me in several Email responses to our attempts to find out who she was before sharing information about client listings with her. She alleged that she was buying millions of dollars worth of property, accused me of not representing clients effectively, and made a variety of other accusations about our business practices, and threatened my real estate license. I did a little investigation of her circumstances and stopped responding to her Emails, and we ended up telling all our Associates not to respond to her.
However after that a new Associate who had not been around to get that message introduced her to a large property she claimed she wanted to buy. She ended up leasing a part of the property, with equipment in it to run a food service operation, and the owner caught her removing all the equipment before the end of the first week.
That is the kind of liar that the prosecutor listened to and used to bring the charges against Ward Bird.
This has to be a real miscarriage of “justice”.
That sounds like her persona to a T. Have to wonder where she keeps getting money to move around, buy properties, buy animals, cars etc. She supposedly owns a large property in NH or RI still. You would think they can confiscate that for the money owed animal shelters.
I would imagine owning animals after her conviction in NH should at least put her in for that six months she is due! Has anyone been able to find out about the deal she made with South Carolina? It’s strange that there is no media reports about the SC arrest other than the report about it from NH. And no sign of what happened to those poor animals, did she get them back?
I hope this woman is put to an end soon. She has hurt enough people and animals.
What about the woman who was a repeat trespasser? She must have known she was a liability to a private property owner. She clearly doesn’t respect the law.
Why was she not arrested on the warrant from the Carolinas by Mountonboro (unless it was after the "purported" tresspassing. Had she not trespassed, she would have suffered not one curse word from Ward Bird!! Doesn't the "credibility" of the supposed victim count for anything. Just saw that a defendant in armed robbery got only 1 year – where's the justice. Do homeowners have no rights from people like the "victim"?
The NH animal cruelty incident was after the tresspassing. She was ordered not to own animals. She moved to other states and got obviously around 44 more! SC then arrested her and charged her with 44 counts of cruelty.
Her NH sentence was reduced from 6 months to 1 for good behavior. I would assume going back to her cruel treatment of animals would negate the “good behavior”. Then again the NH laws seem to be a lot of the problem and obviously are helping breed this victim mentality that she has been portraying so well.
And now she has the nerve to right a two page letter about why they should not pardon Ward Byrd? She belongs in a mental institution is the real problem.
Jennifer gave me this website which I checked out since she seemed visibly up set by an injustice caused by the erosion of our system of justice. My prayers are withy you and you will be exonerated and the evils which caused this to happened will be addressed and corrected to the benefit of all….Sincerely Richard Aulicino
Some information I found today:
Christine Harris, a breeder and seller of “Carlin Pinschers”, rants about the New Hampshire animal cruelty case from her website:
“AND NEVER DID GET THEIR DOGS BACK THANKS TO THE CORRUPT TOWN OF SALEM WHICH HAD NO RIGHT TO KEEP THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. OR NOT TO LET ME BACK IN MY HOUSE TO TAKE MY DOGS OUT OF THERE . THEY ARRESTED ME TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY ON THEIR TRUMPED UP CHARGES SO THEY COULD HAVE A THREE RING CIRCUS AT MY EXPENSE”
http://castlecarlins.com/page26
This woman belongs behind bars!
Beth, I would be interested to know how you came across this. Given her upcoming court date, it would be good to know where she is now.
I spent five hours researching her today. Here is my trail:
A complaint about a dog scam:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/dog-breeders/dean-delorean-harris/dean-delorean-harris-delorean-72a5c.htm
Christine Harris, a breeder and seller of “Carlin Pinschers”, rants about the New Hampshire animal cruelty case from her website:
http://castlecarlins.com/page26
Info on above website:
http://whois.domaintools.com/castlecarlins.com
An expired posting regarding puppies for sale by castlecarlins.com:
http://www.usfreeads.com/2055468-cls.html
Castlecarlins.com posted a message on an online dog forum about sick and stolen dogs. She is searching for information about Deb Flanagan of New Jersey and Gretchen Post from Virginia.
http://www.gotpetsonline.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=7305&sid=1e1182a0358329c0b3f07a7876179114
The “Deb Flanagan” that Christine Harris is looking for:
http://www.grassshoppingminpins.net/index2.php
Debra’s warning about Christine Harris:
http://www.grassshoppingminpins.net/page34
I believe this is the “Julie” Christina Harris rants about:
http://carlins.info/id5.html
“Jamie Burg” from Christina’s rant:
http://www.luckyladysminpins.com/Index_LuckyLadysCarlins.html
I read about Ward Bird’s plight in today’s Boston Globe. I am distressed to read that this could happen to a man defending his posted land in the state of NH. However, I am glad that Mr. Bird did not cop a plea and had the courage to go a prison for his convictions. May God bless and defend Ward Bird!
The NH General Court will start their 2011 session in Concord on January 5th. I will be there at 8 a.m. to greet them with the message; Free Ward Bird.
Statutes have been put in place to replace Law, it’s time to get back to Law.
I never met Mr. Bird hand in hand and my only experience is waiting on him from behind a convience store counter and seeing him and his family at the Sanwhich Fair. I’m late to jump the bus however now that I’m on and comfortably seated I will go the the whole way. I started my letters to the officals this morning at 3:30 am, I will pray that this will end soon. Mr. Bird and his family have our support & prayers. This incident is a small piece of evidence of what is slowly happening to our rights as Americans. We’re losing them to foolish people like Ms. Harris who can’t find their way out of a paper bag and feel like the world owes them something because they’re to lazy and dishonest to get where they want to go.
My prayers go out to Ward and his family. I have been following this case very closely and still can’t believe this has happened to a good honest man. I have emailed and written to Lynch and my state reps and hope it helps. To think you can end up in prison because someone claims you waved a gun is crazy!
Was Ward a NRA member? If so where are they? I thought members would get help for situations like this?
Dear Adam, I am an NRA member and I had a similar situation where an ex GF criminally trespassed inside my home after being told to stay outside. She smashed some of my property and I escorted her out and called police. She said I hit her (not true) and I was arrested for simple assault…even though I was inside my own home confronting a criminal trespasser and stopped her from destroying my property. My property was searched for weapons after the fact but I had removed all my guns and most of my ammo, the state police seized some property and to date, my property has not been returned. The case was nol proceed 3 Dec 2010 because she would have incriminated herself if she testified, she refused to testify and the state had no case. I could have easily lost my freedom and my firearms because she was willing to lie and the police choose to believe her and disregard my right under the law to protect my property.
I contacted the NRA by letter….Wayne LaPierre and to date have had no response. This can happen to anyone of us and Ward Bird is living proof that we need tro safe guard our personal freedom or we will lose it.
i recently went to north conway,NH and i kept seeeing these signs FREE WARD BIRD.ORG…….and i learned from a older lady at L.L Bean that this man is NOT GUILTY!! and from what i see this is not A felony crime..(i work at NYPD i am head of major crimes) this man has rights and the article clearly states that "mrs harris refused to leave the property after passing NUMEROUS no tresspassing signs AND being asked to leave." MRS.HARRIS should be charged with tresspassing and refusing leave. as for mr.bird he should merely be charged with asking someone to leave, wich is NOT A CRIME.mrsmswMs. Harris was informed that she was trespassing (which she already knew, after passing numerous No Trespassing signs) but she refused to leave when asked mrsmrs mrs
If I had the monetary means, I would make a donation. All I can offer are my prayers from here in Utah that Mr. Bird and his family will be reunited soon. It's heart breaking. However, I'm inspired by his integrity and example. I also believe the community is being blessed by coming together and expressing love for one of their own.
Good luck
when its a he said she said case,both parties history and character should be allowed in court. harris has had run ins with the law.her animal hoarding shows mental problems.that alone should have been enough to sway the jury in wards favor.
I find it ironic that our state legislature has just assured for themselves the very thing that Ward is jailed for – carrying a gun. It’s time to let that “Live Free or Die” motto go, it doesn’t represent the citizens of New Hampshire any more (except for a chosen few).
Unbelievable, that Christine Harris is still on the loose and Ward Bird is jailed !!!!!!!!!
Something is horribly wrong with this picture.
Just Unbelievable!
Live Free Or Die = false advertisement !
Kevin Houle
It is very clear that Christine Harris has a problem with almost everyone she encounters. This womans character should have been able to be brought into this trial. It seems like anyone who even tries to be a friend to her turns out to get stabbed in the back and lied about by her.
I pray for Ward. Let justice ring.
I am a property owner of approx 53 acres and I have trespassing problems too. Old ATV trails cross the lower end of my property where people feel free to yank down my no tresspassing signs repeatedly (I’ve video taped myself putting them up and a week later the signs are torn down). My husband has gone so far as to fell small trees over the path to keep people off our property and these trespessers remove the trees and trespass anyway. I’m grateful to mother nature, who in a nasty summer storm felled a huge pine tree across the path that is most difficult to remove unless someone actually cuts it up with a chainsaw.
I say all this because I am a married, mother of two boys, a land owner and a law-abiding firearm owner and I felt up until this case, that I had rights to keep strangers off my property (especially after the horrible home invasion that killed a mother and nearly killed her daughter in NH last year). I had trespessers that the police in my town would do nothing about. I also have been a victim of a mentally unstable woman who was court ordered to stay off my property but didn’t and even brought trumped up charges against me to court involving my property. I was forced to take time off of work to defend myself against her lies TWICE because she never showed up to the hearings she started.
NH courts are messed up. I pray that truth and justice find their to NH soon. I understand Ward Bird’s plight and I stand with him. May God bless him and his family.
Sincerely,
Stephanie S.
I e mailed the governor yesterday and urged him to strongly consider a full pardon. Actually, Mr. Bird should be given an apology and repayment for his time, trouble, and expense, but a pardon is the least the state can do. I just found out about his situation yesterday via an NRA post on Facebook. I don’t sign onto things like this without looking into them. I read newspaper and other accounts expecting to hear a “but” but there wasn’t one. He should not have been charged, much less convicted. I’m curious if his accuser was ever prosecuted for trespassing. A felony stigma follows a person for life, and second amendment rights are very precious to some of us, so I’m hoping for a full pardon. Wayne M, northern Maine.
It seems to me, that this law is Wrong, when a man on his own land, cannot tell the truth without being a criminal, had he killed the woman, and claimed self defense, he would not have gotten convicted, we would have gotten off a free man.
Why is this so Wrong that a Criminal can accuse a innocent man, and the innocent man now be the criminal?
Letter sent to executive council member Dave Wheeler
Dave,
I have been a longtime supporter of you in your role on the executive council and a have donated to your campaign in the past , as I have felt that you fairly represent me and my views on gun ownership and the rights of individuals to protect life and property. I am disgusted by the travesty of justice that occurred in the Ward Bird case and the precedent it sets for NH citizens. The results of the trial are very troubling on multiple points. I took the time to read all of the court transcripts and I’m flabbergasted that a jury could convict this man for criminal threatening based on the testimony I read. This man was convicted on the word of a woman who’s character at best could only be described as “very questionable”. Without rehashing all the documents, what woman gets out of an automobile in the middle of the woods when she hears screaming and then proceeds to stand there and argue with a man waving a pistol and pointing it at her? What experienced gun owner “waves” a pistol. Under oath, she made statements about mister Bird’s movements that were entirely inconsistent with her sworn statements. I am a reasonable person and I do not support irresponsible actions with a firearm, but Ms. Harris’ version of the account is so unbelievable, it boggles my mind as to how a jury could convict on this evidence. I hope that the executive council carefully reviews all of these types of facts as it considers it’s pending recommendations and decisions.
Lastly, The rights of NH gun owners and the citizenry in general have been trampled in this case. Under this decision, how can an honest citizen protect themselves against serious trespass with criminal intent. If suspicious activity is going on at my property and I come to my front door with a sidearm in a holster, all a criminal has to do is to say “he pointed a gun at me” and I will have the police at my home arresting me for criminal threatening, removing all firearms from my home, and a judge handing down a felony conviction that strips my rights to own a gun for the rest of my life. Somehow, this is considered to be acceptable legislation in the “Live Free or Die” state.? This is not the NH that I thought I knew and loved. For the sake of us all and the preservation of the rights of our children, you guys need to act to get this fixed.
Carlton T. Creamer
50 Westview Rd.
Brookline N.H.
My fiance and I were in NH this past weekend and saw the bright yellow signs, Free Ward Bird.org, and came home to research the background of this situation. First, I applaud Mr. Bird for not agreeing to a lesser sentence, at the same time, it takes a great man to stand behind his convictions and he must be suffering from missing his wife, children, family and job. What the heck is wrong with the court system in that both parties weren’t fairly represented? Where is the backbone of the NH legal system to not recognize that this is an injustice? Personally, if I found someone on my property in NH and they refused to leave, I’d call the police and stand my ground too, gun in hand. Thank you to his family & friends that are supporting him and getting the word out …every journey starts with the first step.
Thank you, Nancy for noticing the signs and researching further. A great injustice has been served Ward, but we are so thankful that his sentence has been commuted and he is now home with his family. Our efforts are not over, for we will not stop until his name is cleared and he has been issued a full pardon. It is a travesty that a man of his integrity and conviction is walking around with a felony on his shoulders.
Melissa: Thank God he is home … and thank God he has family and friends that stood behind him. That, in itself, is worth all the money in the world. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and we question why? But I am a firm believer that NOTHING happens without a reason. Please send my well wishes to Ward & his family. Nancy
From just what is written here, it looks like Bird took the hit. What happened to the woman who refused to leave after being told that she was on private property and was illegally there. Was she charged? Hope so or shame on the police. Let me guess, the female an activist, or gay was let go do to no evidence. Bird you had a crappy lawyer. The female should be behind bars by the looks of it. But for me there is two sides to every story and I don’t know hers.