A Matter of Will

By James Dwight Patterson

Will Pearson, the Sheriff in Brownsville, Texas, is tenacious in his determination to deal with the murderers of his only son. His passionate response to the murder is clouded by whether he is driven by his need for justice or simply vengeance. Brownsville, being on the border with Mexico, has significantly different legal issues and attitudes that compound the problem of law enforcement. His zeal in pursueing the killers weighs heavily on his wife Betty and their two daughters. He must face compromising his personal values as well as his vows as a police officer. This story was inspired by an actual murder in 1936. The events following are pure fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Dwight Patterson
• Release date: Aug 8, 2020

James Dwight Patterson

James Dwight Patterson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His parents were both born in Texas and the family made numerous trips to Texas, especially Brownsville, where his mother graduated high school. Texas made a fond and lasting impression on James which is reflected in his writing. A Matter of Will was inspired by an actual murder that occurred in 1936. The fictional Sheriff of Brownsville, Will Pearson, diligently pursues the killers who have sought sanctuary in Mexico. His efforts are frustrated by conflicting laws and attitudes in the bordering countries. The events in the zealous pursuit of the killers are pure fiction.James is the author of a trilogy of books titled Dire Circumstances - The Great Depression; Dire Circumstances - The War; and Dire Circumstances - The Aftermath. He experienced the decades of the 1930's and 1940's, two of the most troubled and devasting periods in American history. The stories follow a smalltown Oklahoma family as they deal with the challenges of financial calamity, destructive war, and the adjustments to peace and an uncertain future.He received his BA in Industrial Psychology from Tulsa University and his MS in the same field from Purdue University. His writing skills were honed through numerous business publications and 5 film scripts. DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES is his first novel. He now resides in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife Judith. He can be reached at [e-mail].

Book preview

A Matter of Will

By

James Dwight Patterson

Published by James D. Patterson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 James Dwight Patterson

SMASHWORDS EDITION, LICENSE NOTES

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or It was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 1

Brownsville, Texas

1932

At a mere 5 foot seven inches carrying only 142 pounds, you wouldn’t say Will Pearson was imposing, especially for a sheriff. It wasn’t just his below average stature that fostered such thoughts. From his sweat stained Stetson hat down to his worn, scuffed cowboy boots, he appeared to be just another well- traveled cowpoke. Two clues gave rise to another image. One was the brass star pinned over his left breast pocket and the other was the Colt revolver slung low over his right hip. The pin said Sheriff and the sight of the Colt invoked caution.

Before becoming Sheriff of Madison County, headquartered in Brownsville, Will was a well- calloused Texas Ranger, with an almost legendary standing among law men in southern Texas. Texas Rangers were a famous or infamous group, depending on your approach to law and order, who dedicated themselves to enforcing the law along the Texas/Mexico border. They all too often handled the complete law enforcement cycle, meting out their form of justice on the spot.

Tenacious was a word often attached to Will. When he went on a hunt, little mattered until the outlaw was captured or killed and justice served. His skill in tracking killers and delivering justice became somewhat notorious following a shootout near the small town of Meridian, Texas. The Quivera gang killed a teller and two patrons in a failed bank robbery some 200 miles from Meridian. They then embarked on a fragmented journey, committing crimes along the way to fund their escape.

After an armed robbery of a low end Mexican bar on the outskirts of San Antonio, Will picked up their trail. The rattled barkeeper gave Will an emotional, almost unintelligible description of four Mexican men driving a black sedan they had driven in their escape. That was enough for Will to have a bulletin describing the car distributed throughout Texas. A week later, a gas station attendant in Austin reported he had fixed a flat tire on a black 1931 Chevy that matched the description of the car described in the bulletin. In questioning the middle aged attendant, who clearly wanted to be helpful, Will learned the occupants of the car were four Mexican men. Will grilled him further hoping to learn their destination. The attendant nodded his head as he tried to recall any conversation and finally said the only town he overheard was Meridian. Confident the men he described were the killers and headed for Meridian, Will used the pay phone at the gas station to call the sheriff of Bosque County and alert him that the gang could be headed his way. Sheriff Gunther Schmidt quickly agreed to set up road blocks on the 2 highways entering Meridian from the south.

Will promptly slid into his 1929 Ford and lit out for Meridian. It was nearing midday as he approached Waco and his stomach was crying ‘feed me’. Not wanting to waste time at a café, he stopped at a small neighborhood grocery and picked up a banana, some peanuts and a candy bar.

An hour later, he pulled up to the road block on the Waco to Meridian highway and asked for Sheriff Schmidt. A youthful deputy raised his hand and waved frantically. Will turned to see a portly but spry man in a white, clean Stetson sauntering in his direction. After introducing himself, Will asked for the details of the situation. Will quietly listened to the sheriff’s description of what he had done and came to his conclusion that the sheriff was a lightly seasoned lawman who had little or no experience in capturing hard killers. Will shook his head in understanding and said, Sheriff, the way it’s set up, if I was them, I’d spot the roadblock a way’s back and turn and get as far away from here as I could. He hesitated then continued, If we hide a couple of cars back down the road a piece and a couple ‘a more right here, we can get ‘em in between so they can’t get away. Whatta’ ya think?

Dang, I never thought of that. We don’t have much crime round here. This here’s the first road block I ever set up. Hell’uva’ plan. Let me get over to the other road and set it up likewise. Will can you take charge here and I’ll take over the other road?

Will beckoned to the two deputies, he assumed would be working with him, to come join him. A man looking to be in his later years with long grey hair and a beard that barely covered his oblong face approached and stuck out his right hand and exclaimed, I’m Claude, senior deputy. He turned back and pointed to a man/boy who looked like he was fresh out of puberty and said, This here’s Wally. He don’t look like much, but he’s reliable, ain’t ‘cha, boy.

Wally dipped his chin and mumbled, You – you can count on me, Mr. Pearson.

Boys, have you ever had to confront real killers? Will asked. An almost simultaneous No. came back at him. You probably already know these hombres killed three people down in McAllen and they’ve been on the run ever since. I don’t expect ‘em to give up all too easy. That means have your firearms at the ready. I want both of you in your cars, one on each side of the road and parked so they can’t see you as they approach. When I signal by raising my left arm twice, I want you to pull your cars on to the road, angled nose to nose, so they block both lanes, then quickly get out of your cars and take a position usin’ the car as your shield. Your firearms should be loaded and ready to fire. Is all that clear?

Claude meekly asked, You want us with rifles or shotguns?

At the range I’m expecting, your shotgun is more likely better. If there’s need for shootin’, I’ll go first, but after that, if need be, feel free to join in. Will directed.

Wally nodded and turned to go to his car, then stopped and asked, If there’s shootin’, do we shoot to kill?

Will answered emphatically, Whenever guns are firin’, always, always shoot to kill. Are you okay with that?

Yes, sir, I can do that.

The sun was sliding behind the hills outside Meridian creating a shimmering effect on the blacktop road when Will spotted the two police cars edge out behind a black car that was headed his way. The black car was about a football field away when it suddenly accelerated, the driver apparently spotting the police cars behind him. Will pumped his left arm twice signaling the police cars behind him to move into place blocking the road. The driver of the black car that was approaching became suddenly aware of what was happening and made a quickly calculated decision to run the road block. He stomped the peddle to the floor and the car lurched forward and swerved to the right in an attempt to skirt the rear of one of the police cars. At that point, Will felt his heart rate drop and an inner calm transfix him. He stepped out of the shadows and directed his Colt squarely at the driver’s head, and with no hesitation, pulled the trigger. The windshield shattered and the car lurched and struck the side of the police car and came to a stop. The right rear door burst open and one man came out firing a pistol until Will’s bullet caught him in the upper chest. The occupant in the passenger’s seat attempted to escape but was felled by Will’s third shot.

A sudden quiet fell in the twilight haze. The shootout was over. No one moved. A serene peace descended. Slowly, both Claude and Wally rose from their crouched positions and moved zombie-like toward the bodies. The deputies who were trailing the fugitives pulled their cars to a halt and in slow motion got out of their cars to survey the bloody scene. They found two dead men and one man with a gaping hole in his right shoulder. A fourth man was curled in the back seat whimpering.

Will holstered his Colt and sat down on the fender of the nearest police car, his left thigh, where he had been shot in an earlier fracas, suddenly throbbing in pain. A tinge of guilt suddenly struck him. It had not been his intent to kill, but, as he saw it, that was his only option.

As happens with most notorious cases, word spread rapidly about the shooting that downed the gang of murderers. Will became an instant hero among lawmen.

When new Governor Miriam Amanda Ma Ferguson took office in January, 1933, one of her first actions was to disband the Texas Rangers, mostly because they had supported her opponent in the last election. Despite his renown, Will was suddenly without a job. Brownsville, where he and his family lived and the main town in Madison County, was plagued with criminal activity. Committing a crime in Brownsville then hastening back to sanctuary in Matamoros was all too easy.

Border towns, unlike inland towns, have unique characteristics that compound law enforcement; two different cultures, two different legal systems, two different languages. In addition, there is an unspoken class system. Whites most often consider themselves to have a higher status than those of Mexican heritage. This belief is supported by the fact that almost all the businesses are owned by Anglo’s and people of Mexican heritage do the vast