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

ORIGINAL SHERIFF’S REPORT

    In l968 after requests from area newspapers for news on our activities 
decided to keep a short report weekly and send each a copy to use, as 
they wanted. Local papers the Fairfield Recorder published by the 
Kirgan’s and Watson’s, the Teague Chronicle published by Ralph 
Massey, the Mexia Daily News published by Blake Smith and the 
Wortham Journal published by Delores Fuqua were the first to use it.
I don’t know of another such column at that time. Today they are 
common and some quite windy.  It so well received other papers picked 
it up, Corsicana, Palestine, Hubbard, Farm and Ranch Weekly, 
Coolidge, Leon Co. papers and others I don’t remember at this time
   Columnists in Houston, Dallas and Waco papers quoted it quite often. 
Dallas News writer Frank X. Tolbert visited several times and we 
became close friends. Local paper reported advertisers paid extra to 
have their ads on the same page as the column. Correspondence was 
received from readers all over the US and construction workers and 
military all over the world. 
  I always tried to keep them short and to the point, many times things 
were left out to keep it that way. I am by my reading like my preaching, 
needs to be short and sweet. I tried not to use dog/cat calls too much as 
usually the same thing. This article was published for nearly 33 years 
with about l850 weekly columns. I liked using the humorous side as 
much as possible many times you had to laugh to keep from crying.
  As most of this occurred some 40 years ago intend to weekly go back 
and present some of the interesting things, many can be better 
addressed today than then. Don’t know of anything happening today 
that we didn’t have something like or similar.
                                Sheriffs Report 5/4-5/11/68  (This the oldest found)  
  Leon Co. man arrested for hog theft. Deputy Gregory arrested two 
males in stolen car after high-speed chase, turned over to Leon Co.
  Two runaway Houston boys on stolen bicycle armed with .22 cal. 
pistol, said they enroute to Virginia, carried to Anderson Co. Jail as 
ours condemned at this time.  James and Sue Gregory my only Deputies 
at that time left early Saturday morning on trip to Florida to return 
prisoner. 
    When Mr. Cole and Stroud went to open the Streetman Bank (It 
opened on Sat. mornings then) told by sitters on Main St. bench there a 
strange car parked in alley behind the bank and bank robber waiting 
inside for them, proved correct but no one had even taken the license 
plate number. Robber later identified by Falls Co. Sheriff Brady 
Pamplin, arrested and sent to pen. FBI met him as they came from 
Waco. Mr. Cole a very elderly man quite upset about it all, for several 
years he received a Xmas card from the robber, which really upset him.
  Harris Grocery in Donie burglarized, mostly edible foods and meats 
taken. Several other rural stores in other counties burglarized, there 
been a gathering of Gypsy’s near Buffalo and all departed at the some 
time, feels sure they involved but unable to locate.  
                                  ***
               Grandpa’s Report
  Wortham School Seniors Project Graduation sponsoring “Big Money 
Raffle” with dinner and drawing for prizes up to $8,000.00  (a total of 
$10,000.00 given away). Due to the schools locations they really need 
help for this class. The tickets are $100 each.
  Wortham Girls Basketball team won Bi-District Game with Perrin 
Whitt played in Midlothian Gym. They play Ivanhoe-Rayburn next in 
Wills Point, Cooper’s Junior High Basketball team finished season with 
win, real impressed with Coach Anderson, lets every kid play some 
every game, wish you could say this for all of them.
  Teague Vol. Fire Dept Chili Fund Raiser for new building, great crowd 
and success. Kirvin Vol. Fire Dept. Chili Dinner and Cake Sale big 
success also from most who attended, funds raised be used for new 
building….