The Oklahoma Kid

By Kenneth Orr

If you like to read about early western history and at the same time read about the real people who were making it happen, this is the right book for you.

This fictional story is a combination of many stories that were told to me by residents of east central Oklahoma during the years I lived there. It covers law enforcement, selling whiskey , Indians, love and family, circus tent preachers,medicine men and the oil company's takeover of much of Oklahoma's natural assets. It is also about how society was reacting to the trials and problems of the common man.

You will need to put yourself back int history and forget modern day events to enjoy reading this book. As you read you will soon find that you are identifying the same kinds of events that happened then with similar events that happen everyday in our current world. It is a fact, history does repeat itself. The only differences are the people and the more modern way things are being done today.

My first two books were centered on Texas. This one was just waiting inside my head to jump out. I wanted to tell a tale of the early days in the wonderful state of Oklahoma. The "West" as we refer to our country today, was based on several states and the extreems found in all of the areas. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456758752

Kenneth Orr

Several years ago I lived in Oklahoma. My family has Cherokee bloodlines and living among a population who were primarily Indians was an enjoyable experience. A older man who I met at work told me several stories about his grandfather who was a Cherokee medicine man. He had made his own medicines, traveled the area and sold them to waiting customers. The same man told me several stories about the oil business and how it had been such a big change for the Cherokees living in Oklahoma. One of hisolder brothers became an executive with one of the major companies. Much of theOklahoma history were centered around the growth of the local legal system and the State of Oklahoma being admitted into the union. These stories and the rocords from history that went with them have been the basic background for this book. I had to write it. These stories were too wonderful to let die. Last year I turned my 74th birthday. Over the years it has become clear that everything that happens between man is either directly or indirectly caused by man. Thr politics of a country and the wisdom of the officials in power always set the tone. Under all of thisumbrela are the common, everyday working people who always end up paying the price for the top man's decisions. Some authors write about these top level individuals. That's fine. Their history is vital to retain. However, I choose to identify more closely with the people who are out in the real world doing their everyday jobs and looking to have a good life. Age does open one's eyes to the realities of life. I am trying to share some of the best traits and ambitions of the people who I have been privleged to live with. I do not use vulgarity in my books. There are already too many books out there that cover this portion of the everyday language. My wife of 48 years tells me that I write while she reads. So be it. I am doing what I enjoy. My younger years were spent living in a rough neighborhood and learning how to overcome hard times. Dad was a farmer and he had also been in the Army. I grew up in the depression of the 1930's and having a good life was difficult. During WW-2. Dad gave me a lot of wonderful background stories to remember. We had mules and a wagon for transportation and never had an automobile. This was reality and so is the story in these pages.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1873

Morton White was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee on January 13, 1873. He was an only child. His father, Nathan, was a cotton farmer and part time auctioneer at the local sale barn. Every Tuesday Nathan would work for the local auction barn selling cattle, sheep, goats and horses to who ever wanted to bid. Everybody in the surrounding community knew him. He was respected as an honest and fair man. Nathan’s strong and commanding voice was a familiar sound and ‘Mort", as most people knew him, was always in awe of his Dad.

Morton’s mom was a typical dependable southern housewife. She took good care of her family and made sure that everyone enjoyed their simple but adequate home. As a part time effort, she took in sewing jobs for other local women. The three of them were very happy. Having enough money to keep the family going was always a problem. The cotton, corn and beans crops would have some good years but always seemed to be followed by some bad years. Nathan was always very thrifty in the management of the family’s money. Somehow, he always made ends meet and kept a good supply of food on the table.

Everyone went to church each and every Sunday. The local church was as much a social gathering as it was a place of worship. The White family had a lot of friends who were also good church going folks. The church was a mixed denomination comprised of several basic Christian beliefs. The preacher was supposedly an ordained graduate of a seminary school somewhere back in Virginia. He never showed anybody any paperwork to support his claim but the local congregation liked him. That was good enough for everyone. He was accepted as their religious leader by most.

Others looked at him as a slick preacher making a fast buck any way he could. He preached about the fire and brimstone of hell that would torment anyone who was a suspected sinner. The reverend was also a smooth man with the ladies. His wife had left him sometime before he came to Dyersburg, so he said, and run off with another man. He was lonely and liked to go out with the women of the church and supposedly have dinner. That story was good enough for most people. However, two of the single women and a married lady that he had dated came up pregnant. They were quick to move away and the stories about them were quietly downplayed by all of the church folks. The preacher never mentioned them or anything about them to anyone. He knew when to let well enough alone. Those women were quickly labeled as sinners and never brought up again.

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Photo by K. Orr

Many of the leading citizens from the community were included as congregation members. Only a few of these prominent people came to church on a regular basis.

Mr. Benjamin R. Willingham was one of the more regulars and he was always seated in his regular pew right up front near the preacher’s pulpit.

"Mr. Ben», as the locals called him, was never one to be still and he would regularly call the preacher aside after a service and «advise» him on what he was saying and was doing that was wrong. Mr. Ben had a way of slanting things to fit his personal interests. Using the preacher as a voice to the community was one of his well-used methods.

Mr. Ben had a serious dislike for «darkies». Any sermons that even suggested that they were part of the real world were against Mr. Ben’s likings. He was a controlling and divisive man. His exact words and advice to the local congregation was often woven into the fabric of the preacher’s sermons. The result was that Mr. Ben actually was controlling the church

Mr. Ben owned a local factory that made hand tools. They were the tools that were commonly used on farms and in factories. Pliers, screwdrivers and hand tools of all types were included in his product line. Ben’s family had built the business from scratch and the iron hand of tight management had been in place a long time prior to Mr. Ben becoming the last living member of the family. His tools were of good quality and he personally was in the manufacturing plant every day to review exactly what was happening. The workers feared him, as he was always prone to pick on anyone who made any kind of mistake.

He ruled the business with a stern and often swift hand. If someone were not doing what he considered a good job he would be fired on the spot and sometimes physically removed from the property. The entire community recognized Mr. Ben as the key member of the local business culture. They often had fears that were founded concerning his sudden and often unfounded decisions. His dislike for «darkies» and an equal dislike for white people who were not willing to work guided his workforce makeup. The factory was known for low pay, sweat shop practices and dangerous working conditions.

When somebody would get hurt Mr. Ben would immediately find some way to get the involved person removed from his business and then publicly advertise they were careless and lazy. His «blackballing» practices were well known and rejected people were often unable to find work anywhere else. If somebody would hire them Mr. Ben would make sure the new employer was going to be «blackballed» as well.

Morton’s Dad, Nathan, was a big strong man. He was over six feet tall and weighed over 250 pounds. He always kept his personal appearance very neat. His part-time auctioneering sale barn job was easy work. Every Tuesday the local farmers would bring their livestock to the sale barn. Nathan would always try to get top prices for the sellers. The sale barn would charge a 10% sale fee to sell the animals and Nathan was paid a standard one percent of that fee. It was not a lot of money but it helped tide his family over when the crops were growing. Daily living costs were still a basic part of everybody’s life.

The Tuesday sale was a normal part of the family’s life and young «Mort» soon was going to the barn with his dad every week. Mort loved the rhythm in Nathan’s voice that he used to auction off the livestock. On occasion, Mort was allowed to auction off goats and crates of chickens. Over time Mort was gaining an auctioneering ability like his dad and when Nathan would need a break, young Mort would sometimes sell livestock for a few minutes.

Nathan had a strong deep voice. He often would sing solo Christian hymns at Church. Mort was also gifted with a great voice and sometimes he would accompany his dad in song. Both were skilled guitar players and together they would often be requested to pick and sing for local benefits.

The sale barn owner, a lady named Mrs. Helen Stutz had inherited the business from her dad when he died. Her husband was an invalid and was suffering from a terminal sickness. He had no capability to help her with the business. Mrs. Stutz had taught school for over 20 years and had little knowledge of how to run a sale barn business. She depended on her staff, and especially Nathan, to keep things in good order and to make sure the business was run on an honest and respectable basis. Things were going well.

In 1895 Mrs. Stutz lost her husband. In the following restructuring of her life she decided to sell the sale barn business. She called Nathan into her office and told him of her decision. She asked him to suggest a buyer who would continue to run the business in a pattern similar to the way it was currently being operated. She told him that he could handle the sale of the business and to make sure as a part of the sale, he was able to keep his job as the auctioneer. She told him he would receive 10% of the selling price for his services and services in selling the business.

Nathan was pleased to be included in her consideration. He immediately knew that Mr. Ben would be very upset if he was not allowed to buy the business. He already controlled most of the local business within the town and Nathan knew the sale barn was a direct link to the farmers and livestock growers in the surrounding area. He would use this business to reinforce his ability to control the entire area.

Mr. Ben had already told several local folks that he wanted to run for the Governor’s office. He bragged that if he could control the Dyersburg area he would be able to make a strong political run. Mr. Ben was on a personal mission. He had laid his plans to gain the control of all of the potential political and business connections he could.

Good things sometime happen in series. So do bad things. Nathan’s wife, Martha became very sick and was running a high fever. She became bedfast. She was normally a healthy lady but this sickness was a surprise and major setback to her entire family. Nathan had the local doctor come by and review her illness. The doctor took some blood, gave her some pills to keep her sedated and told Nathan that she was very sick. He said he would send the blood to a laboratory in Memphis to have them run some tests and try to determine what was wrong. He then went on his way. Mort was told about his mother’s sickness. He was devastated. He knew her as his strongest supporter and he loved her dearly.

In about a week the doctor came to their home and asked to see Nathan in private. He told him that Martha had an incurable blood disease. All they could do was to make her comfortable and keep her warm and well fed. Martha was never a big eater but her appetite had really gone down over the past week. She had quit eating.

Martha became very weak. The doctor took Nathan and Mort into Martha’s room and had a similar but honest talk with her. She cried a little and then sat up and said she was not giving up just yet and that she was appreciative that she knew the truth. Everybody was in tears and the mood was full of gloom.

After the doctor left Nathan and Mort sat down with Martha and they talked about the good times they had shared together. Martha told them of the pride she had for both of them. In about 30 minutes she drifted off to sleep from the medication the doctor had left. Nathan and Mort went to a neighbor’s house that was close-by and told them of the situation. They were close friends and they offered support and concern to both men. The neighbor lady, Mrs. Worthington, said she would be glad to set with Martha and cook meals for Nathan and Mort. They thanked her and went home.

Nathan contacted Mrs. Stutz and told her about his bad situation. She was saddened and offered to help anyway that she could. She also said to hold off on selling the sale barn business until Nathan‘s life at home was more stable and he understood.

Martha held on for about three weeks and passed away on April 1, 1895. They buried her is a local cemetery in the country near the Halls, Tennessee community. The cemetery is located about 10 miles south of Dyersburg. Their farm was nearby and Martha had requested the location personally prior to passing away.

Nathan and Mort were now alone and both were looking for the page of their life. Their past life had been comfortable and predictable. Their future was very unclear.

Chapter 2

Decisions and Adjustments

Two weeks passed. Nathan was starting to recover from the loss of Martha and he decided to go see Mrs. Stutz. He wanted to see if she was still planning to sell the sale barn business. She had brought in a replacement auctioneer for the past month to fill in for Nathan while he was home tending to his family. She told him that his old job was waiting for him when he wanted to go back to work. She also said that the market for livestock was up right now and it would be a good time to rethink selling the business.

Nathan agreed to come back the following Tuesday and sell livestock. He also had thought over the sale situation. He discussed the problem that Mr. Ben might cause if he was not offered the business. Mrs. Stutz just looked at Nathan and smiled. Then she said, „I think we can attract some respectable current sale barn owners down by Memphis to buy this business." She elaborated on the fact that Memphis is a much larger livestock market and several of the sale barns in the Memphis area were always doing very well. Business was strong.

Mrs. Stutz discussed the idea and asked Nathan if he would go to Memphis and look into the opportunity that she was making available. Nathan told her that he wanted to take Mort with him so he could learn some of the things about business. He added, «Mort is still somewhat lost without his mom and he needs my company.» She agreed and said she would pay all expenses and give him a few dollars for his time. It was spring and the farmers needed to be working in the fields right now. She knew that the lost time plowing might slow down his spring planting.

Nathan got up on Thursday morning. He got Mort and himself ready and they rode horses all the way down to north Memphis. There were several large sale barn businesses on the north side of town and the first one that was of a substantial size was in the Millington community. The road went right in front of the sale barn offices and Nathan told Mort, «Lets go see what we can cook up». They stopped outside and tied up their horses. Upon entering a soft-spoken older gentleman greeted them with a big «Howdy Friends» and offered them a cold drink of ice water. They accepted the offer and sat down across from the man. He asked, «What brings you to our fair town today, our next sale is not until next Monday?»

Nathan told him he was the auctioneer from up in Dyersburg and he had a special assignment from the business owner. The gentleman said, «Tell me more». Nathan went on to define that the business situation in Dyersburg and added that the sale barn business there was profitable. He added, «The sale barn itself is in good repair». He discussed the potential problem with the local business tycoon, Mr. Ben, as he knew there would be some bitterness if he found out about anybody from outside of town of Dyersburg was getting involved with the business. Nathan asked that this discussion be kept very private. The ole feller’s ears open up and his eyes were trained on Nathan.

The ole feller said his name was Mr. Parkins and he owned the local sale barn business. He also told them that he had two other sale barns in the area and he was always ran them on an honest and fair basis. He added, I have heard a lot of good things about your sales and your reputation up there in Dyersburg for quality animals, fair prices and honesty. I am surprised to hear this news the business is for sale. I knew Mrs. Stutz’s dad. He was a wonderful man, I want you to know right now, and I am very interested to talk business. Nathan said he wanted to have his son set in on the conversations as he was learning about business and had started thinking about what he wanted to do with his life. Mr. Perkins agreed.

Mr. Parkins pulled a blank piece of paper from his desk drawer and started asking questions and taking notes. He wanted to know a lot about the size and mix of the weekly sale traffic, financial debts, which there were none, and the customer base that normally attended the sales. He took all of the numbers and looked them over very carefully.

Mr. Parkins then pulled out a sheet of paper that had similar data about his other business performances. He showed it to Nathan and said that the business in Dyersburg was actually doing a better job in turning a profit than his best location in Memphis. He added that he had no reason to hide any information. He said, Everybody probably already knows what was really happening in the sale barn business. What we do is always open to the public and everybody talks about what we do.

He then asked Nathan what Mrs. Stutz wanted for the business? Nathan said, „We have discussed a price of $25,000 for the land, buildings and good will of the business. He added, „We want an agreed to condition in the sales contract that I stay on as the auctioneer for no less than three years working for the same percentage as I am now making. This amounts to one percent of gross sales, after expenses.

Mr. Parkins said, „That seems like a fair price and the condition for you is absolutely not a problem. However, before I can do anything I would like my lawyer to meet with you and Mrs. Stutz and also review the courthouse records just to assure everybody that the whole deal is clean." He said he would buy the business and associated property if everything was as it had been represented. He said that after he had seen all of the information he would come to Dyersburg and personally finalize the deal.

Mr. Parkins stood up pushed his chair away from his table and said, „Nathan, I hope we can work out something. You look like a good man and your son is certainly listening very well. He will probably be a good businessman someday. In the meantime, can I buy your supper and show you the hospitality of my home for a good nights rest?" Mort looked at his dad and smiled. He knew that Nathan had opened the right doors to help Mrs. Stutz sell her business.

The day was growing short on sunlight at the full sunny days of summer were still a few weeks away. The next morning Mr. Parkins made sure they had a good breakfast and told them the a lawyer would be in Dyersburg within a couple of days to proceed with the next step. Nathan agreed and he and Mort headed back toward home. Their mood was on a high level for the first time since Martha had become sick. Both had started to realize that life would go on, no matter how bad things get or what might happen.

Chapter 3

Sales Trip Results

Nathan got home about an hour after noon and went to the farm to check of some work that the hired hands were doing. All was well so he went on to Dyersburg. Mort stayed at home and worked in the fields. Weeds were always a problem.

Mrs. Stutz was home and Nathan went to see her. Mort knew Mrs. Stutz very well. He knew that she would be happy to see his dad. She was glad to see that Nathan. She was anxious to hear what he had come to discuss. They went into the kitchen and Mrs. Stutz poured everybody a cup of coffee. She loved coffee. She always drank a lot of coffee to calm her nerves when she was doing business.

Nathan opened the conversation by saying, „Mrs. Stutz, I think we are on the right path. I found a man in Millington who has a series of sales barn operations around Memphis. He sounded interested is looking at your business as an expansion of his current sale barn business. He is going to have a lawyer come to talk to you and me within a couple of days and see if we are on a common path. Mrs. Stutz was elated and immediately took a big drink of black coffee. Then she said, „What do I need to do to get ready for his visit? Nathan said, „We need to get all of our recent records together and have them available for review. The price of $25,000 did not turn him away and he is willing to keep me as the auctioneer if he buys you out."

Mrs. Stutz said, „Remember, you get 10% of the sale price if this happens." Nathan just smiled. He knew that his work over the years and made the business grow and the cash for him would certainly help with his plans for Mort. He had often told Mort that he needed to go to college and get a profession. This money would make this possible.

Nathan went home, by way of a good restaurant. He had a great meal and soon was home and ready to get a good night sleep. Mort had a dinner out of the icebox and was glad the day was over.

The next morning a man came to the Dyersburg sale barn and asked to see either Nathan or Mrs. Stutz. Mrs. Stutz was in her business office and welcomed the visitor. He identified himself as a lawyer, representing Mr. Parkins, from Memphis, and he was there to learn more about her potential sale of the sale barn business. He exchanged business cards. Mrs. Stutz was then sure that he was the lawyer that she was looking for.

His name was Wilford Cane. She asked to be excused and went out into the barn and sent a runner to get Nathan. She returned and told Mr. Cane that she wanted Nathan to be present before they got down to business. In the wait period before he would arrive she took him on a tour of the entire facility. She told him, „I really love my business and have invested a lot of hard work and money into keeping the buildings in good repair, well painted and the sales arena easy to manage." The lawyer saw that what she was describing was accurate and took a lot of notes as they walked.

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Photo by K. Orr

Nathan arrived shortly. He had on his work clothes and there was dust all over his boots and trousers. Nobody was concerned. The lawyer was seeing reality and he knew that the people he was about to set down with were real people, not a bunch of business slickers.

Mrs. Stutz got out the books that covered the past four years of business. She answered his questions and allowed the lawyer to see first hand what had happened. Mr. Cane was more familiar with cotton gin transactions but his knowledge concerning business matters and accounting practices was far better than either of Mrs. Stutz or Nathan. After all, he had gone to school and trained in his field and he should know more.

Mr. Cain was a serious kind of guy and had a rather dry and matter of fact approach to everything. The only thing he laughed at during the whole meeting was when Nathan said he had manure on his boots as he had been working with a sick cow.

It was lunchtime and Nathan suggested a good restaurant. They all went to the restaurant and Nathan suggested a booth in the rear. After all, this was private business and if anything they might say was overheard by the wrong people, the whole deal just might fall through. The meal was great and Nathan paid the bill. His dirty clothing was not uncommon in Dyersburg. Dyersburg was a farming community. People who tilled the soil would often come to town to do business dressed as they are when they work.

After lunch Mr. Cane wanted to go over to the courthouse and look at the current property records. It was a short walk and Mrs. Stutz led the way. Upon arrival they went straight to the county‘s records room. She asked the clerk to pull out the records on her sale barn property and make it available for review. The clerk did as he was requested. They took the records into a private room and Mr. Cane saw that all of the ownership records and survey data were exactly as Nathan and Mrs. Stutz had represented them

He made some additional notes as to file numbers, dates of transfer and other Legal data that was all necessary to draw up any papers that would be used to transfer property ownership. They then closed the book, returned it to the clerk and proceeded to go back to the sale barn. Mort was not involved with this meeting as he was back on the farm working in the fields.

Chapter 4

The Dyersburg Kingpin

As soon as the three people had left the county clerk’s office the clerk, who was a close friend of Mr. Ben left the building. He went straight to Mr. Ben’s office, which was about a city block away, and told his secretary that he had to see Mr. Ben at once. It was absolutely urgent.

The clerk’s name was Buford U. Norris. Mr. Ben came out of his office and asked Buford, What’s so urgent Buford? Buford told him about the visit to the courthouse by Mrs. Stutz. He said he had listened through the door and he thought that Mrs. Stutz was looking to sell her sale barn. Mr. Ben asked Buford if he recognized the man who was that was with Mrs. Stutz? Buford replied, „I never saw him before but he looked like some fancy lawyer from the big city".

Mr. Ben gave Buford a nice tip for his good work and told him thanks. He said keep this quiet for right now and I will see what all of this means. Mr. Ben called his good friend, the local Sheriff, and asked him to come over at once. Within five minutes the Sheriff was setting in Mr. Ben‘s office

The Sheriff asked Mr. Ben what was wrong? He replied. „I think that ole crazy woman, Mrs. Stutz is up to no good. She and Nathan White just took some big city lawyer over to the courthouse and have Buford show then the property records for the sale barn. I don‘t know what‘s happening but knowing her, she is up to no good. She knows her Father and I were never good friends and always had a different way of looking at things. She is aware that I have always wanted to buy that sale barn. I would not be surprised to find out that they are trying to alter the documents to make it look good to some outsider".

The Sheriff said, „I will have my deputy watch the sale barn at once and if that feller is still there we will find out why he is here. We can arrest him on suspicion of criminal activity and hold him for three days without doing anything illegal."

The Sheriff left immediately and went back to his office. He got a deputy who had just come on duty. He told him, „Something funny is going on over at the sale barn. There was a man in a fancy suit over there right now doing no telling what. Get over there right now and when he comes out pick him up on suspicion of being a criminal and bring him in".

The deputy left at once. He was there in about five minutes. Just as he pulled his horse to a halt Mr. Cane came out of the sale barn. The deputy hailed him and asked him. „What was his business in Dyersburg? Mr. Cane was completely surprised at the deputy being there. He told him he was there on business. The deputy said, „You look very suspicious to me and you are under arrest. Mr. Cane hollered for Nathan and he and Mrs.. Stutz came running out of the building to see what was wrong.

They asked the deputy, who both of them knew, „What‘s the problem? The deputy said, „There was a report that a suspicious man was in town and that he was a possible threat to public safety. Nathan said, „I know this man and he is a lawyer from Memphis, he is not a criminal." The deputy just listened and continued with the process of putting handcuff on Mr. Cane. Soon a second deputy showed up. Nathan and Mrs. Stutz both continued to defend Mr. Cane.

The second deputy watched for about a minute and told both Mrs. Stutz and Nathan they were under arrest for causing a public disturbance. All three people were marched about two blocks to the jail and locked in separate cells.

The Sheriff called Mr. Ben and told him about the whole situation. They said that Mr. Cane had a lot of paperwork on his person. The Sheriff had confiscated the papers and reviewed what was on them. He told Mr. Ben that it looked like he was about to buy the sale barn. Mr. Ben asked him to bring it over to his office so he could see what was happening.

Back home on the farm Mort was still working in the fields at 5 o’clock and was wondering why Nathan was not home.

Chapter 5

The Dyersburg Confrontation

The night came early and the jail cells were not warm. The three new inmates were fed a simple supper and told to keep quiet so the jailer could get some sleep. Mr. Ben had reviewed the documents that Mr. Cane had on his person and he knew that Mrs. Stutz wanted to sell her business.

Mr. Ben had a „bill of sale" for the sale barn property drafted that evening that would allow him to buy the sale barn and all of the associated property. His buying price was $5,000. The lawyers in Dyersburg had pulled a lot of slick deals for Mr. Ben before and this was almost a duplicate set of documents as compared to ones that had been previously drafted for other slick deals.

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Mort was confused as to what was going on. About 7:o’clock he went to town to find his dad. He got wind that Nathan, Mrs. Stutz and a man from Memphis were all in jail for causing a disturbance at the sale barn. He went to see for himself. The jailer told him that they were in the jail and there were no visitors allowed for these three.

Mort knew that the third man had to be the Lawyer from Memphis. He knew that Mr. Ben was controlling the Sheriff and the jailer. He had no idea as to what to do so he went home and fixed something to eat. About midnight he came up with an idea.

He got on his horse and ride south to Millington. He knew that Mr. Parkins needed to know what was going on. By dawn he was already half way there and by 8:30 he was setting in front of Mr. Parkins office. Mort told him as much as he had learned and told him about the lawlessness and past slick dealings that Mr. Ben had been pulling.

Mr. Parkins just looked at him and sat there in amazement. Then he stood up and said, «Mort, you are a credit to your dad and to the great state of Tennessee. A lot of folks here have known that the

Dyersburg area of the state was full of crooks and lawless officials. This kind of activity really takes the cake. I would gladly pay the asking price for the sale barn and the services of your dad. Now, understanding the situation that would be present in Dyersburg I am not sure it’s worth the trouble. However, if we can get some help I think we can get some of this mess straightened out.»

«Lets you and I get a snack. Then, I will get some of my friends in the Tennessee legislature working on this immediately. We will get our folks out of jail. Then we will do what ever it takes to get you and you dad a job here or in Dyersburg a job in one of our sale barns. Is that OK with you?» Mort had a better feeling knowing that somebody with some real clout was looking into this situation.

Back in Dyersburg the wheels were turning quickly. The Sheriff called Mrs. Stutz, by herself, into his office and told her he had a bill of sale and a check for $5,000 for her. He told her that she and the others could go free if she signed the document and took the check. He told her that if she was not willing to sign the document she was going to remain in jail until she did. She looked at him and said, „Go to hell mister. And on the way take Mr. Ben with you!"

The Sheriff, seeing her strong position, said he was going to condemn the property and turn it over to the county for public auction. Mrs. Stutz just looked him in the eye and with a strong and very clear voice said, „Mister, you heard my answer. You and Mr. Ben Willingham can go straight to Hell. And by the way, I already have a verbal sales agreement and the new owner will be calling you soon. Now, get your puppet police force off my back and let us out of this damn old rotten jail".

The Sheriff marched her back to her cell and told her she had better reconsider the offer, and do it soon. He reminded her that time was going to run out quickly if Mr. Ben lost his patience. He reminded her, „Your business is going to be worthless if you do not sign this bill of sale".

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In Millington the wheels were also turning. Mr. Parkins had personally called upon a Tennessee State Senator who lived in Memphis and informed him of the situation. The Senator was not surprised to hear of the situation. He was deeply upset that there were innocent people in jail in Dyersburg. He equally concerned that a crook in a white shirt and a Sheriff who was supposed to be protecting the public were controlling the Dyersburg local law officers.

The Senator called the Sheriff in Dyersburg and personally told him that the three people in jail were to be released at once. He reinforced his demands with a promise that if he refused his request that the State of Tennessee Military Reserve would be dispatched immediately to assure that this request be honored. He did not wait for a reply from the Sheriff but hung up the phone right in the Sheriff’s ear.

The phones from Memphis to Dyersburg were very crude and sometimes phone calls were not clear, but this urgent message, he was certain, was received. The Sheriff was now in the middle between Mr. Ben and a possible major confrontation with the State’s Military forces. He knew that the time to rethink about what he had been doing in the past and he knew that Mr. Ben would want to know about this call.

The Sheriff immediately went to see Mr. Ben and told him about the Senator’s call. He also told him about the refusal of Mrs. Stutz to sign the bill of sale documents. Mr. Ben. Just looked at him and stared him down.

He said, „You are the Sheriff and you are going to allow some crazy old woman and a two bit auctioneer to tell you what to do, Damn you and damn the whole legal system around here. This is my town and I run it. You will take my orders or you will be setting in jail just like a lot of other criminals. Now get out of here and go get ready to stand your ground. I don‘t have time for weak sisters like you anymore. This situation has just become too much for me to put up with."

The Sheriff stood up and backed away from Mr. Ben. He went outside and got on his horse and rode quickly toward the jail. Just as he arrived about 15 men wearing military clothing came riding into view. Mr. Parkins and Mort were riding along behind them. The Sheriff knew right then, the game was over.

He got off his horse and went directly to the jailer. He told him to release all three of the high priority prisoners and to put all of the other prisoners in the large recreation yard out back. He did not anybody to get hurt. He wanted to make sure everyone was accounted for and that nobody was being mistreated. He said, «This even includes the darkies».

The military detachment pulled up in front of the jail and as they dismounted their horses the three prisoners came walking out the front door of the jail. Nathan saw what was happening and wondered how this all came about. Mrs. Stutz was glad just to be back on the street again. She was tired of having the jailer and Sheriff giving her a constant hard time. Mr. Cain was equally glad to be free. He told Nathan that he thought Dyersburg was a „Hell Hole and horrible place to live." He said he would never come back to this town again. He got on his horse and went over by Mr. Parkins. He was ready to leave.

Nathan looked around and suddenly Mr. Parkins came walking up from behind the soldiers. He had Mort with him and they went over and greeted the freed victims. There was happiness in everyone‘s eyes with the exception of the Sheriff. The Military Officer in Charge, a Captain, took the Sheriff to the side and told him he had been relieved of all authority as of that moment and that his men would be in charge until further notice. The Sheriff had to surrender his badge and side arm, was handcuffed and put in a cell in his own jail. He was told he was being arrested on a State of Tennessee charge of misuse of public authority.

Nathan went over to Mort and they had a good talk about what had happened. Mr. Parkins came up to Nathan and told him that he was not sure as what to expect but if he ever needed a job, he had one in Millington. Nathan introduced Mrs. Stutz to Mr. Parkins and they were both glad to see the situation was now over. They went away and with Mr. Cain they quickly agreed on a plan to start the paperwork for the sale barn transaction. Mr. Parkins was agreeable, but he wanted hold off until things were settled down.

Mort told his dad he was sick of Dyersburg and wanted to get out of the area for good. He said his mom was gone and both he and his dad were never going to trust the local law establishment. He was ready to move tomorrow.

Mr. Ben was watching from the front seat of a horse drawn buggy, which he had parked about a block away. He told his buggy driver to head for the ferry that would allow them to cross the Mississippi River. He said he wanted to go to Blythville, Arkansas. He knew that the State officials would be looking at his past business practices and he knew he had better get out of the state of Tennessee as soon as he could. They left town quickly and the rumor had it that Mr. Ben never came back.

All of his holdings were reviewed and his bank accounts were frozen. Within six months all of his holdings were sold at public auctions and the proceeds were invested into local business, charities and public works projects. Mr. Parkins had sat by the side of the road as to whether or not to buy the sale barn business. He wanted to know for sure that a new Sheriff and Mr. Ben were no longer involved with the affairs of the area.

Within a month a new Sheriff was elected and the local government returned to a stable and non-controlled condition. Mr. Parkins then bought the sale barn and hired Nathan to run it for him. Mrs. Stutz kept her promise to Nathan and paid him a 10% commission for helping her sell the business. She also gave Mort $100 for helping with the situation when she was in jail. Mr. Parkins had several good auctioneers in Memphis who were working for him. One of them was assigned to take Nathan‘s place so he could run the business end of the company. Nathan was not as interested in farming as he had been before Martha passed away. He sold the family farm and put the money in the bank. He and Mort rented a small house in Dyersburg.

It soon became clear, Nathan wanted to work less and spend some time doing what he wanted to do. He had always wanted to travel and after a couple years of working in the sale