Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


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

TEHUACANA BILL POSEY

Our area blessed (or cursed) with outlaws following the Civil War.  There was
John Wesley Harding, Frank Polk, and Simp Dixon, the horse thieves who murdered
Freestone Co. Sheriff J.B. Rogers from ambush and other including William 
Tehaucana "Bill" Posey.  Little is known today about Posey except he probably
[is] as bad as they came.  Over the years[, I ] heard bits and pieces of stories
regarding him.  Tom Chatham once wrote about his exploits, others mentioned him.
The most I have seen done by Dallas Morning News writer Kent Biffle in his 
Texana article in early 2001.  Posey has family still living in the area but
don't have a lot to add.

Biffle thinks he wasn't famous[,] as the old dime novelists weren't sure how to
spell his name as there are so many different versions of Tehuacana.  A native
of Tehuacana he is now all but forgotten, though well known for spectacular 
mayhem in his time.  It is said he killed a Deputy Sheriff in a saloon shootout
on the Guadalupe who he then scalped with his Bowie knife and rode off with his
bloody souvenir. 

Posey and his gang rustled whole herds of Texas cattle and they shot up rural 
towns just for the fun of it.  Posey hanged his brother in law in th man's 
front yard in front of his screaming folks.

No record found in old Freestone Co. criminal records on Posey though feel sure
he made tracks in Freestone Co. around Wortham and Mexia.  Posey somehow became
involved in a 1872 political dispute between McLennan Co. District Judge John
Oliver and the Commissioners, the Judge was indicted for helping Posey escape 
from jail where he [was] being held on 29 indictments, the Judge died before
being tried.

A story in a 1988 True West magazine tells that in 1873 Posey was captured and 
sentenced to prison for five years, escaping after 20 month and fleeing into
Indian Territory.  The Tahlequah Cherokee Advocate described the escape[:] 
"While working one day with a 12 pound ball attached to his leg, he watched his
chance, struck down one of the guards with a stone, snatched his gun and stood
off four of the guards.  He called on the prison authorities with oaths to come
out and re-arrest him and he would kill them all for their cruel treatment.  He
slowly retreated toward some horses feeding near.  Getting a horse between him 
and the guards.  He cooly picked up the ball, slung it over the horse, mounted
and rode off."

In Indian Territory he carried 3 revolvers and a 16 shot Henry rifle.  He used 
them in a gunfight to shoot two U.S. Marshalls.  He was tracked down on Polecat
Creek near Eufaula with the law men getting the drop on him they opened fire.
Posey's right arm was broken with a load of buckshot, another buck shot load
broke his left arm after Posey able to get off a couple of shots with his 
revolver.  "The Cherokee Advocate" reported "Riddled with bullets and shot, the
flesh torn from his hip, both arms broken, he continued the fight trying to 
ride down the officers... A well aimed shot tore off Posey's nose completely."

On foot Indian Police Captain Sunthlar-pee fired his six-gun at the desperado
on his plunging horse.  The bullet struck him in the chin, breaking his jaw and 
crashing up through the brain.

Managled almost beyond recognition, game to the last, he fell dead from his
horse.  He was buried by citizens July 15, 1876.

The Advocate reporter praised the lawmen for ridding the world of one whose 
crimes are seldom equaled, and whose daring bravery, if directed in another
cause would have been worthy of admiration.

****************

Grandpa's Report

The January meeting of the Freestone Co. Historical Comm. will be January 2nd,
2007 at the Freestone Co. Training Center.  Former Chief Deputy Charles 
Nicholson a United State Marine and veteran of Korea will be the speaker.  The
Korean War is often called the Forgotten War, as it didn't get the recognition
it should have.  All are invited.
...