FREESTONE PAST/\PRESENT J.R. (Sonny) SESSIONS “CAUCUS” IN KIRVEN Recent news media extreme handling of this in Iowa and New Hampshire concerning the coming presidential race ended like most of their predictions. All had their own ideas of what happening or going to happen and none completely correct. Fortunately a very small portion of those involved can’t influence the outcome of so important an office. President Harry Truman about 60 years ago asked about this replied “Its just so much eye wash” and that’s all it should be. l think most were like me, not real interested in how others vote. Am not real sure I understand a Caucus, Texas seems to operate under different rules. The only Caucus I know of in this area was in the l950’s in Kirven and it was held on Election Day after the polls closed and the vote counted, it seems they were not obligated to follow the voter. A politically inclined man named Mood Landrum who I think was a Yankee move in married a lady from a locally respected family; they moved to Kirven and purchased a home. Mr. Landrum became involved in Kirven City politics and accepted the Mayors job; he decided to start collecting city taxes from the citizens. For many years Kirven citizens I imagine had less income than the poor and no one paid city taxes except the railroad and a pipeline with the money used to mow some in the summer. Mr. Landrum decided that if all didn’t pay none should and notified those that did who stopped also. He promoted a “Caucus” meeting in a vacant service station in Kirven for that evening; I attended along with many others who like me didn’t know what we were doing or what for. As I remember we voted on who to support in the General Election, to my knowledge there was never another one anywhere locally that I knew about. *** Past Original Sheriffs Report May 1968 Man reported being beaten, robbed and left bare footed several miles from town. Wortham hit and run, suspect arrested Wortham. Two children declared dependant by Judge picked up by Deputy Sue Gregory and placed with Wortham Chief OF Police Bueford Owens. This period probably the busiest the Sheriffs Office ever seen as just hitting the high spots. Sheriffs Office never had fulltime or even part time office and radio dispatcher. Ronny Alford a Teague youth with disabilities and friend showed a great interest and asked to volunteer, he did this for several months until a Federal grant received to fund it part time, Ronny a good dispatcher worked for me for several years. At night Bi-Stone Fuel in Teague equipped with radios took and dispatched calls for SO and THP, this done several years until company became concerned about liability. For many years the SO had no one to call many times late night, THP did have contact with Waco DPS. All of us made many calls with no back up or anyone to call. Man reported wife and several gun missing, wife and another man located giving information they hid guns, guns recovered not sure about wife. Man charged with Streetman bank robbery arrested, stolen car used found by McLennan SO in Waco. Oaks Store, Donie burglarized. Aycock Motor Co. safe taken during break in found mutilated in Leon Co. Magazine sales people in Teague using false information were asked to leave, all picked up later in Wortham by Chief Owens who hates magazine sellers. One of new County cars back in shop for repairs. Unknown subject seen in eastern part of County for over a week living in the woods located by Constable Hollis Daniels brought to Jail, mental that escaped from Terrell State Hospital been living on road kill and small toad frogs that abundant. Returned to State Hospital. Charges filed on two Houston men for burglary and theft of safe from Aycocks. Writ of Habius Corpus hearing that I holding them illegally Writ denied and both returned to Anderson Co. Jail. Houston PD officers up for Examining Trial hearing before Judge Young who made rulings between swats at fly’s, with fly swatter, told me they wished they had some like him. After eight months of using the Anderson Co. Jail and having to transport prisoners back and forth Judge Williford ordered to start using the Freestone Co. Jail. It was originally shut down by Judge Ferguson at the request of the Grand Jury who inspected it with two youths incarcerated and unable to keep warm as most window out. The Grand Jury thanked for trying to get some repairs made. Four subjects who escaped from Jail in Louisiana arrested in New Mexico admitted recent Oaks Store burglary in Donie. Deputy Gregory suspicious of youths near Butler walking on hot afternoon with heavy coat buttoned up; found eggs, bacon and other food taken from nearby house, just a load of Hippy’s enroute to Florida out of gas, money and food. One a runaway from California held and sent back on bus, bought others five gallons of gas and pointed towards Florida.