The Goldthwaite Eagle (Goldthwaite, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 1, 1999 Page: 4 of 14
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Page 4 - The Goldthwaite Eagle-Mullin Enterprise - Thursday, April 1,1999
The Mills County Jail... some facts and tales
By: Doc Brown
Fact or Fiction, the famous
Texas gunfighter, John Wesley
Hardin was incarcerated in the
old Mills County Jail at one time?
It depends on who you talk to.
There is a "HARDIN" name
etched into the wall of the jail.
Which Hardin we can't be sure.
There are a lot of John Wesley's
shirt tail relations in these parts,
This photo of the old Mills County Jail
was taken before the first courthouse was built.
The jail was completed on May 14,1888.
Bids were opened on Sept. 12,1887.
Very little has been done to the building since.
SILVERADO
STEAKHOUSE
648-6155 - Approx. 1 Mile North on Hwy. 84
Open 11-9 Wed. Sat.
and Beginning on March 29
Open 11-9 Mon. Sat. ^
/ Daily Lunch Specials Ah
• Thursday: Prime Rib Special tie
from 5-8
/ Friday: Seafood Buffet
from 5-8
Bring an old pair of boots for our collection and
you’ll receive dessert FREE!
some in Brown County and some County is not that far away so I were very colorful characters ac-
inMills County. Sometimesmyth kind of think old John Wesley cording to Brooks and Egger,
grows into fact, but in any case was in this area as well. He is a Those stories best told in other
John Wesley Hardin was well colorful legend in Texas, whether audiences.
known at one time to this area. for good or bad, and at the time its Justice was swift in the early
One of his most famous actions sort of the way life was, and gun days ofthe jail. You could virtu-
was the killing of the Brown fighting was a part of life. Actu- ally go straight to prison from the
Charlie ally we are a more violent society county jail m those days if a judge
Vuty deputy sher fardirts now than it was then, only in a thought it was warranted. No
caped, but was a wanted man more sinister way.delays or appeals, just head for
againforthe killingofWebb Mills After a taped interview with Huntsville.
8 former Sheriff Horace Brooks and Escapes from the jail were not
former county judge Cecil Egger, rare. Like the Sheriff says, "when
I learned some interesting things you are in jai and have nothing to
about our old jail. Horace Brooks do, all you think about is getting
was Mills County Sheriff from out". Some still existing holes in
1964 to 1980. He followed C. F. the walls attest to this fact. For a
Stubblefield to the office. The county jail there could not have
sheriff was responsible for feed- been a more sturdy and escape
ing the inmates from his home, proof prison, but they still sur-
and he made all the rules. Today prisingly managed. I'm told the
the state and federal government guy who built the jail ended up in
make the rules. It took a mini- it one time as a prisoner. Guess
mum of three people to make the it's true.
jail work. Most of the time the We are still collecting stories
jailer worked for food and a place and facts, and fiction about the Retired Teachers
to stay, which was right in the jail jail, so if you have any please rp A1-I 9nd -----------------—— ------
living quarters on the first floor, share them with us. The painting 1 - 411 4 .
In some cases it was a rather of the downstairs is shaping up. The Mills County Retired
friendly place. It served as afree We have a nice display case for Teachers Association will meet Mt. Olive Cemetery
hotel for a night or two for hoboes items of interest now and a gen- Friday, April 2, 1999 in the A 1 Needs
who drifted into town and had no eral cleaning is in order. No physi- Mills County State Bank A58001a0lo
place to stay and no money. The cal changes can or will be made. Community Room at 2:00 p.m. Addresses
sheriff would provide shelter and We want it to be presentable as a Jason Williams will present a The Mt. Olive Cemetery Asso-
a bed, on the house. Drunks were tourist attraction. We will keep program about floral
the biggest problem and they the residents of the county in- arrangements,
fought the sheriff vigorously to formed of progress from time to The hostesses will be Jerol
keep from goingup those steps to time. Daniel, Jan Fischer and Gladys
the lock up. Sheriff Brooks was , ________________________Cockrum.
young and strong and determined ‘ ==. The State TRTA Conference
in those days, however, and dem-
onstrated to me how he persuaded
them up the stairs. Once Sheriff
Brooks got an unruly fellow in
the cell and slammed the door
shut Later, he went back up to
check on him and he hadn't
moved. He said, "Sheriff, I'm hung
f Goldthwaite
Lunchroom
Menu...............I
BREAKFAST
Thursday, April 1
Cold cereal, cinnamon toast,
up". It was then Brooks noticed
he had shut the door on his thumb fruit or juice, milk
The next morning the prisoner
faced Judge Egger with a large,
bruised thumb.
Judge Egger was in the up-
Friday, April 2
Holiday
Monday, April 5
Holiday.
Tuesday, April 6
Sausage wrapped in pancake,
stairs lock up one day and a
plumber that was working up
there went to lunch and accidently fruit or juice, milk
locked him in when he left. One of .. Wednesday, April 7
the prisoners he had sentenced Biscuits, sausage, fruit or juice,
the day before to a cell said "how milk
do you like this place, Judge?" Thursday, April 8
The embarrassed judge was set French toast w/maple syrup,
free afterlunch when the plumber fruit or juice, milk
, returned.. 1 Friday, April 9
G women prisoners Donut or bagel, fruit or juice,
come 01 Wo P ilk 0 7 -
Pearle Long of Goldthwaite
funeral held Friday, March 26th
Pearle Long of Goldthwaite,, son, Sidney Long of Robert Lee;
Texas, died Tuesday, March 23, five grand children; and eight
1999 at Fort Stockton, Texas, greatgrandchildren. She is also
She was 87 years of age. survived by one brother, Billy
Pearle was born March 4,1912 Hale of Goldthwaite, and five •
in Mills County, Texas, the sisters, Vera Mae Murchison of
daughter of J. H. and Annie Buchanan Dam, Dora Dean
Laura (Woods) Hale. Knowles, Anna Gene Moreland,
She married I. M. Long on and Ruth Dumas, all of
August 24,1935. He diedin 1941. Goldthwaite, and Ina B, Booth
She married Adrian Long on of Sinton. .
February 12, 1951. He died The funeral was Friday,
October 29, 1995. March 26,1999 at 10:00 a.m. at
She was a life long resident of the First Baptist Church in
Mills County. Goldthwaite with Rev. Doug
She was a registered nurse at Holtzclaw officiating. Interment
San Saba Hospital and after she was in the Big Valley Cemetery,
retired from that she was an Mills County, Texas.
artist. Serving as pallbearers were
Survivors are a daughter, Richard Long, Scott Long, Marc
Judy Minter of Fort Stockton; a Minter, Doug Hafer, Mervin Lee
---------- Hale, and Gerald Hale.
will be in Dallas, Texas on April
11-14. Betty Smith will
ciation is compiling a mailing list
for the annual May Homecoming
and the dedication of the histori-
cal marker for the Cemetery and
Primitive Baptist Church. Per-
sons desiring for their families to
be on this list please send names
represent the Mills County
Retired Teachers Association.
All members and retired
school personnel are encouraged
to attend.
and addresses to:
Dale W. Crawford . □
411 Shady Glade Dr.
Houston, Texas 77090
3/25/2 times
FOR ALL YOUR LAWN CARE NEEDS
CALL
CARL WESSON
648-3842
IF NO ANSWER, PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE
bevele
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LUNCHES
Thursday, April 1
Chicken nuggets, gravy,
mashed potatoes, mixed veg-
etables, bread, apple, milk
Friday, April 2
Holiday
Monday, April 5
Holiday
Tuesday, April 6
Corn dogs, pinto beans,
ketchup, coleslaw, fruity gelatin,
muffin squares, jelly, milk
Wednesday, April 7
Oven fried chicken, white rice,
broccoli, cheese sauce, rolls, ba-
nana, milk
Thursday, April 8
Spaghetti w/meat sauce, tossed
salad, ranch dressing, garlic toast,
apple, milk
Friday, April 9
BBQ sandwich, carrot sticks,
pickles, crackers, cobbler, milk
1 SPRING FLING!
1 Easter Portraits
f Leon Sutherland Photography
i FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND
Key to Willpower
The key to willpower is
'wantpower'. People who want
something badly enough can
usually find the willpower to
achieve it.
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2-5x7
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10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A
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Goldthwaite, Texas 0
915/649-3498 ■
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(Prepaid at time photo-
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CRISTO TE AMA
IGLESIA BAUTISTA
VAMOS A CELEBRAR CULTOS EVANGELICO
DE 31 MARZO A3 ABRIL 1999
A LAS 7 EN LA TARDE Y 4 ABRIL A LAS 11 DE LAS MANANA
EL LUGAR:
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GOLDTHWAITE, TEXAS
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Offer valid April 1,1999 thru May 31,1999. Available from participating dealers.
TODAS BIENVENIDOS
EVANGELISTA:
HMN MARGARITO BARBOZA
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Bridges, G. Frank & Bridges, Georgie. The Goldthwaite Eagle (Goldthwaite, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 1, 1999, newspaper, April 1, 1999; Goldthwaite, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1658735/m1/4/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Jennie Trent Dew Library.