|
|
|
The
1927 Classical Revival Courthouse is the county's third. You can't
miss it, but the address is a memorable one - Main and Broadway.
It's constructed of limestone and concrete according to The Courthouses
of Texas by Mavis Kelsey Sr. and Donald Dyal.
|
The
San Augustine County Courthouse
1939
photo courtesy of TXDoT |
|
|
The
courthouse today
TE photo, 2000 |
Scrolling
Through History by
Bob Bowman
"The search system -- which has brought unbridled joy
to genealogists and historians -- is believed to be the most comprehensive
county archive system in Texas.
It took two years for Murphy and three employees to feed every county
document into the $450,000 system that holds everything from slave
sale records to current court cases." ... more
|
San Augustine
County Forum
Shooting
of Rangers in San Augustine County
In July 1918, a squad of Texas Rangers was sent to San Augustine
county to round up deserters from the army. Two Rangers went to
the farm house of Samuel Williams to recover his son Sam Williams
and Daniel Evans. In a gun fight early in the morning, Ranger White
was killed and the other Ranger wounded. A massive manhunt pursued
in the coming days lead by twenty Rangers and more than a hundred
volunteers from surrounding cities. The two deserters were surrounded
and turned themselves in after four days. The two were taken to
Camp Travis and tried in a military court. They were both found
guilty and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted
to life in prison and eventually they were released from Fort Leavenworth
in the Thirties, I believe.
I have been researching this account and would like to know if [anyone
has] information on this case and the reasons surrounding the commuting
of sentence and release of the two men. In interviews with family
members of the young men I have unconfirmed tales of presidential
pardons resulting from the actions of the fallen Texas Ranger and
his partner.
This is a very interesting part of the history of San Augustine
county and is a reflection of the attitude toward the Great War
among Southern families whom felt no connection with the U.S. Government.
Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
- John D Carrell, Mesquite, Texas, October 25, 2006
|
|
|
