FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS
 SHERIFF 1965-2001

GALVESTON STORM 

  Hurricane IKE brought to mind an incident involving a Galveston storm in 
the l960’s with a couple of Kansas hippy evacuees. The storm then mild 
compared to IKE the most recent which compares with the one in early 
l900’s.
  During this storm a couple of hippy’s sopped in an old ragged junky van 
for some minor traffic violation. The vehicle one that most be scared to drive 
around the block found reported as stolen in Galveston during a bad storm 
there. Occupied by a pair of long haired youth still wet from the rain and 
storm and scared. 
  Asked why they took an old junker here was their story. They said they 
were from  the Midwest where there no jobs and heard about the good pay 
on off-shore drilling rigs and caught  when the storm hit with no money, no 
job, no transportation and no where to stay and get out of the weather. They 
asked a policeman if he knew where they could go who directed then to old 
Fort Crockett on the beach which abandoned after WW II. They found it dry 
but kept hearing like something rattling and moving around in the complete 
darkness.  All they had for light were a few matches which they struck and 
found they were in the middle of a rattle snake den. Running out of Fort 
Crockett they saw the old van parked on the street and got in it to get out of 
the weather. Discovering the keys in the ignition and found it would run 
decided to start home getting as far as Fairfield.
  As Sheriff heard all kinds of stories but this one I believed. Knowing no 
one would come for the old van or prosecute for taking it and not wanting 
them for Jail boarders I decided to release them and the van to try and make 
it back home. I even gave them gasoline and money. I guess they made it 
without incident as never heard of them again.
                                           ***
              From the Original Sheriff’s Report 1971
   Trombone repossessed with court order. Mrs. White called on 75 early 
morning on man in her pasture, found long haired hippy in serape and other 
dress, said just getting little fresh air, been praying and got so happy had to 
dance across the meadow.
  Reservations made Saturday evening for one of our regular customers by 
his family, checked into Jail until Monday morning so be able to go work 
then. 
  Dutch’s Stoar had customer that took $5 from cash register but did spend it 
with him for gasoline, darn few of them that nice.
  Received call from man in New York City with Spanish accent asking help 
in finding his long lost pappy, hadn’t seen since l935, don’t know why he 
thought him here.
  Mexia PD to identify man in Jail there to identify as wouldn’t tell them 
who he was after running into circle at 84 and 14.
  Execution type murder of 3 Dallas Deputy’s, well known and worked with 
them under the same or worse conditions as this.
  Donie Bank burglarized for fourth time to my knowledge, this the first time 
they able to in the vault.
 Man whose wife sold home furnishings to get money to leave him with 
assisted in recovering most with money paid returned.
 Given hot check by man served with execution papers on castle mortgaged 
and probably not owned.
  Mexia alerted for man reported driving around in station wagon with 
nothing on but pair of sun glasses.
  Man with Spanish accent called office several times wanting to know what 
reward paid for illegal aliens, must be mad with some of his buddies.
  I45 opened to Dew, numerous wrecks on the start. 
                                                ***
                    Grandpa’s Report
   Area very fortunate with little damage from Hurricane Ike which destroyed 
the Gulf Coast especially Galveston and Houston areas. Being on the west 
side of the storm helped greatly locally.