FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS

FREESTONE COUNTY MUSEUM AND JAILS
  Recent dedication of the new and impressive Neal and Barbara Bass 
Wing at the Freestone Co. Museum a facility to be proud of. There are plans 
I am told to work on the Old Jail that served as our Museum for the last 40 
years. We are fortunate to have this old building and that it can now be 
restored.
  There have been 5 Freestone Co. Jails, the first built in l852 of logs with a 
plate steel floor, ceiling and cell in the center at a cost of $600. The second 
Jail was built where the present Museum building sits of heavy timbers and 
homemade brick at a cost of $3,000.There were three legal executions by 
hanging during its use.
  The third Jail constructed in l879 at a cost of $5,000 of brick construction
and was used as the Museum, the fourth legal hanging was “within the 
walls” of this structure on March 26, l880. The fourth Jail located on the 
Courthouse Square built in l912, cost not known. There was one legal 
hanging in this facility. The gallows built in the Jail was donated to the 
Freestone Co. Museum when the building torn down in l976.
  The fifth Jail built in l94-75 is the one still in use today. The Texas Jail 
Commission founded in the late l970’s with the Freestone Co. Jail one of the 
early one’s certified. When I went out as Sheriff it had one of the longest 
continuous certifications in the State. 
                                          ***
               Past Original Sheriffs Reports l970
  Leon Co. trying for murder capital per capita with two more over weekend, 
one to stop man with knife, other by wife who shot husband five times and 
advised she just intended to sting him. Large turn out for search for two year 
old girl missing north of Wortham, found two miles away by Navarro Co. 
Deputy Bob Owens with her requesting chewing gum.
  Small  plane crashed south of Teague near Board Bottom with two Houston 
men blown to eternity, wasn’t enough left of plane above ground to fill a tow 
sack, wolf been cried so many times concerning plane crashes get where you 
don’t believe it when does happen.
  The “Peace Sign” which popular at this time with hippies and flower 
children actually the mark of the anti-Christ, the sign of Satan which during 
the Middle Age’s known as the “Witch’s Foot.”
  One of favorite red headed twins here for trial advised the wife done left 
him again, went to Cotton Bowl game and was seen on the TV instant replay 
by wife snuggling up to another woman in the end zone.
  Guess there no end to a mothers love as she sat wiping tears from her eyes 
as Judge sentenced son saying that boy didn’t need to be jail but should be at 
home with wife and little children, the son been to Gatesville (TYC) only 
five times and this the third trip to Huntsville.
  Grand Jury with J.D. Hudson, foreman, Mildred Simmons, Sect. and 
members Milford Brooks, Roy Casey Jr., Mrs. I. W. Whitaker, W.G. 
Moody, Cannon Awalt, W.S.Bosley,   G.W. St. Clair, Mrs. Aubrey Childs, 
W.T. Myracle and Eugene Johnson members. Eleven indictments returned 
for burglaries, murder, assault to murder, theft and forged checks. Spared a 
deal where church split and one side locking it up when one didn’t show.
  Notified by Rusk State Hospital that mental patient delivered there last 
week went to Canteen for coffee and didn’t return, found at home. “Moses” 
member of prison band here last summer released from prison and by later in 
day to visit friends. Wife hospitalized after husband shot her with #4 shot in 
Long Tom .12 gauge shotgun, man jailed.
  New bridge across I45 on US 84 opened for travel. Reserve Deputies to 
referee side lines at basketball game where visiting team quit at half time
requesting repeat game on more neutral ground. Once called to same 
location where large gate receipts put in old safe which stolen the next night, 
damaged when unable to get in and tried to throw in Reds Lake.
  While had plumber here on new portable office building begged him to 
work on old Jail plumbing, having never seen any thing like this before as 
none like it been available in over 50 years. Sign on door of home visited 
recently with civil papers read “Bang On It”   
                                   ***
  Freestone Co. Historical annual Xmas Dinner and program held this year	
at Moody-Bradley House Fairfield with delicious meal, great visitation and a 
interesting history of this old house presented by Patrica Tate.
  Due to our next meeting falling on New Years Day there will be no 
meeting until February with election of officers and program as this Black 
History Month.