Freestone County, Texas Reflections Freestone Past/Present By J.R. (Sonny) SESSIONS-Special to The News Frank Dalton Seems many of the outlaw’s and want to be’s since Reconstruction have made tracks in Freestone Co. Recently visited with J.R. Manahan who is 93 years young whom have known and called friend since we moved into the old County Jail on the Courthouse Square in l931. At this time J.R., a high school student working in Johnson’s Drug Store located on the west side of the Courthouse Square. I was 4 years old at the time and J.R. was in high school, graduating in l933 and leaving for college. J.R. told me that prior to graduating he made friends with a stranger who traveled thru Fairfield going south in the fall and traveling north in the spring. Sometimes the stranger spent several days camped west of the drug store and other business here. J.R. doesn’t remember whether the man traveled horseback or how as didn’t visit him here. It was a common practice for travelers to camp here; also citizens in town shopping would hitch their teams here. While in Fairfield the stranger visited often with J.R.. In the spring of l933 before J.R.’s graduation from High School the man made his bi-annual visit. Learning he would probably never see J.R. again the man asked for something to write with. J.R. gave the man writing material, when thru the man gave a sheet of paper with writing on it to J.R. and told him to keep it as it might be worth something to him someday. J.R. filed the paper away for many years until a man named Frank Dalton claiming to really be Jesse James the Missouri outlaw supposedly killed by Mr. Howard, Jesse became or was a fold hero. This publicity went on for years with even some of Jesse’s blood kid claiming it correct. Could this have been the man in Fairfield who later claimed to be Jesse James? The following was given to J.R. Manahan in l933 which well written. “Trail Days” by Frank Dalton The long drives over, the Trail herds in After weary months along the way, Thru sleet and hail and wind and rain The cattle are sold and we’ve got our pay. So fill your glasses, goodbye to care For life is gay in a cattle town, Never mind the corpse lying huddled there, Just a drunken brawl and a boy shot down. A beardless boy and a drunken brute, A brawling bully with a lust to kill, Another notch on a coward’s gun, Another victim for boot hill But what of the folks he left back home Of a waiting mother, old and gray, Who bade good-bye to her handsome son And smiled thru her tears as he rode away. Of a Girl he left on the Guadeloupe Who bade farewell to her Cavalier When he rode away to join the herd And go up the trail-but lies murdered here. **** Pleasantly surprised by visit from one of my favorites of the past while Sheriff as made this work more entertaining and rewarding, street name Fast Eddie which well deserved, always told him he was like a cat with nine lives, he has used every one of them. Remember time Highway Patrol brought him in to office in Courthouse basement for tests. They turned their back on him and all that left was empty billfold with ID card saying “Fast Eddie. I was called to the Butler area early the next morning, on the way found him walking and nearly to Butler, gave him ride back. Believe it or not we been friends many years, he now living a quiet life at Rocky Mount, even brought me some fresh frozen peas out of his garden which Grandma and I really enjoyed. *** Tragic events in Lancaster County Pennsylvania brought back pleasant memories of the past when Peggy and I visited here with friends, Lancaster Co. Sheriff Ted Sadler and wife Mary and given personal tour of the Amish Community and life.