Years ago, in another city, I was in the visitors' waiting room at a county jail. I was talking to the girlfriend of a guy being held in connection with a killing.

I had come to know the couple while reporting an unrelated story.

Anyway, the woman said her boyfriend was being accused of this crime just because he had a criminal record. She said it was like the song "Branded Man," by Merle Haggard.

Only all I heard her say was that her boyfriend's predicament was like in "Branded."

You know, the TV show.

"All but one man died, there at Bitter Creek."

I was puzzled. Didn't see the connection.

I don't know how long it took me to figure out what she was talking about. But it didn't make much difference.

I'm pretty sure her boyfriend was guilty.

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