Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


Freestone Past/Present
By J. R. (Sonny) Sessions, Jr.

J. D. Williams
Criminal Investigator


      Short visit recently with friend and polygraph (lie detector) operator J. 
D. Williams who has over 50 years of experience.  J. D. retired some 25+ 
years ago to return to this area where he was born and raised until entering 
the military prior to WWII.
      The polygraph with a good operator can help greatly in criminal and 
other investigations.  The Sheriff’s office and County Attorney had to 
depend on anyone we could find for their service. DPS was used some but 
hard to make appointments.  We had really no finances for this and 
depended mostly on pity, a good operator was in Athens but this became 
very costly in time and travel.
      Visiting with Mr. Williams he graciously agreed to help us.  He 
moved his equipment in the Sheriff’s office and Jail building.  This was 
found to be unsatisfactory as too noisy to use in serious cases.  There was a 
small unused office in the basement of the Courthouse and permission 
granted to use it.  There were no County funds available or used in making 
this into a good working office.
      Mr. Williams agreed to conduct interviews without charge for the 
Sheriff’s office and County Attorney for the use of this small abandoned 
space.  Over many years he performed hundreds of tests saving the county 
untold costs, probably hundred of thousands.  There is no telling how many 
criminal cases and confessions came out of the little office that could not 
have been solved or prosecuted otherwise.
      Sad to learn from Mr. Williams he was asked to vacate the little office 
for another County official and due to his age closed down completely even 
turning in his Polygraph Examiners License (the oldest still in use) to the 
State.
      Today polygraph operators are being used at great expense and time 
consuming travel.
      Thank you Mr. Williams for your dedicated service to Freestone 
County and law enforcement.  You in my opinion were the best.  I 
appreciate your friendship and support more than can be said here.  We 
passed some exciting and interesting times together.  Unfortunately many 
forget to easily.