FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
SHERIFF1965-2001

FRIED CHICKEN EVERY SUNDAY
	
  Before Col. Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken and other such fast food 
places fried chicken was a delicacy reserved for guests (usually the preacher 
after Sunday church) and such. Those that remember these  long gone days 
will better understand why more than today’s “now” generation and recall 
how much better it was not only because it not as available.  The chickens 
fried then were usually “spring chickens” only about half as large as the 
“broilers” used today.
  Back then you couldn’t run to the super market and get a frozen whole 
chicken or chicken parts cleaned and ready for cooking.  Many like most of 
ours were raised from baby chicks to the right size to fry.  You could buy, 
chickens at many grocery stores, take them home and dress them ect. before 
cooking.  This usually included wringing their necks by holding them 
around the neck and head and twirling until the head popped off.  The 
chicken then was allowed to flounce around until it stopped and the blood 
drained out (this where the saying flopped around like a chicken with its 
head wrung off came from).  At our house this was my job if available, if not 
it was my mothers.  You then scalded them with hot water and the feathers 
picked off until clean and then cut into the desired pieces, sometimes the 
intestines (entrails) were saved and used for fish bait.  I don’t remember my 
mother saving and frying the feet but have seen this done.
  All this usually done before going to church and ready to fry after.  If you 
had company the children came last, not like today when they the first.  The 
fried chicken then was more tasty and tender.  My mother was an expert at 
frying these type chickens; she later despised the big broilers which twice as 
big and half as tasty but all that was available unless you raised them.  I 
would like to sit down to the old time fried chicken one more time.
  For many years mother fixed turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas, this 
was before the small hen turkeys that prepared and ready today.  We usually 
had a large Tom Gobbler Turkey brought a few weeks early by Boney Cox 
that was fed grain until ready.  Turkeys too large to wring the neck so it was 
placed on a stick of firewood and chopped off with an ax.  The birds usually 
left in one big piece and baked with the dressing and giblets inside of it.  
These were big birds and went a long ways.  Chopping the head off was 
always my job if around.  All the family usually came for these dinners and 
went home with plenty for several meals.
 From the Original Sheriffs Report 1970
  Commissioners Court approved office building to be attached to old Jail to 
cost $3,245 with the understanding it to be repaid with additional fine 
money. (It was with the help of the Sheriffs Reserve Deputies and other 
personnel doing extra work). New office found to have misplaced some in 
different ways- federal building can’t see what’s going on at Courthouse and 
Jail and Courthouse couldn’t see who getting their mail and interfered with 
some going after their mail and parking messed with. So turned the wheels 
of progress. (This building later sold by the County to County Surveyor Jim 
Raymond and moved to Teague.)
  My personal pickup driven while County car in shop (without any 
compensation or pay) parked behind the Jail it broken into and property 
`hidden by Leon County Sheriff Wilson who stated he wanted to make the 
papers.
  Levied and sold at Sheriffs Sale 110 acres of land with peach trees on it to 
satisfy $20,000 judgment that appealed all the way to the Texas Supreme 
Court.  This suit could have probably been settled at a fraction of this 
originally. (Land sold at a fraction of its worth as most scared of bad 
problems with gentleman involved to all’s surprise he accepted it and 
assisted the man buying it).
  Elderly victim of recent house fire north of Fairfield finally laid to rest after 
family and friends let their emotions run away with them in accusation and 
other, until autopsy confirmed she died from the fire and smoke.
House sided with 18931-31 Texas license plates burglarized and .38 cal S& 
W break over type pistol taken.
  French Ballet Dancer in this country our tour involved in US 75 wreck.  
Investigation of Clovis Hodge murder an ongoing thing along with rewards 
offered.  Although long and tedious it been an education an experience, but 
never dull. Been suggested to write a book on it, told them it be easy but 
couldn’t publish it as too much dug on about to many folds. There more 
possible suspects that imaginable.
  Sue helped Cousin Butch with Houston Co. ticket for no fishing license a 
Lock & Dam on the Trinity River.
One of our favorite little customers back after complains from family, 
located in bed under the covers with part of six pack hidden in his shirt and 
wanting to be left alone.
**

Grandpa’s Report

Memorial services for longest and oldest friend I had, J. R. Manahan. We 
became friends when I was four years old and we moved into the old County 
Jail and J. R. a teenage soda jerk in Johnson’s Drug Store on the west side of 
the Square.  This friendship I believe was mutually enjoyed for nearly 80 
years.  His wife Tigna  Steele and her family also good Streetman friends.  
He will be missed.