I read of a guy who lived in Tennessee in 1889. His name
was Chadsworth. He apparently was a scoundrel, and
was finally hanged for horse stealing and train robbery.
The only known photo of him shows him standing on the
gallows. The inscription informs us: "Chadsworth, horse
thief, sent to prison in 1885, escaped in 1887, robbed
the Tennessee Flyer train six times, caught by Pinkerton
detectives, convicted and hanged."

Well, the family didn't really want that on the record so
they changed the story just a bit.

It read: "Chadsworth 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 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 by
the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889,
Chadsworth passed away during an important civic
function held in his honor when the platform upon which
he was standing collapsed."

And some wag has recently added, "And thus passed
the very first hanging Chad."

See, the family didn't really change any of the facts of
poor old Chadsworth's life--they just put a different "spin"
on them.