FYI: 1944 J. E. Treece takes brother Bill to Mingus, Texas
J. E. Treece takes brother Bill to his home in Mingus, Texas
April 1944 Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Twnety eyars ago in Thurber, Texas, there lived a man Bill Treece then 31 years old. Bill was afflictedwith spinal meningitis, leaving his mind childlike. He was a harmless fellow earning a little now and then hauling wood and doing odd jobs about the town.
He was approached by Paul Perry, who also hauled wood, to work for him. An officer of the law, it seems, joined in the deal and told Bill, “You can either go to work for Perry or go to jail.” Perry took Bill and they wandered about the country.
Twenty years passed. J. E. Treece, brother of Bill, sought to find his brother, searching much of Texas… A few days ago, Treece, now living in Mingus, Texas received a letter from Ardmore. … if you want to see your brother again, … better hurry, he’s sick and the people he lives with treat him worse than a dog… Treece came to Ardmore and asked the city police to help him find his brother.
For 10 years, Perry and Bill had lived in Ardmore. They hauled wood in a wagon owned by Perry and were well known characters in the area. Bill loaded the wood; Perry hauled it.Bill stated that he got enough to eat, but never received any money or nothing. … Treece looked at his brother, but couldn’t recognize him through the filth and rags. … So Bill Treece was cleaned and shaved for the first time in 19 years and left with his brother J. E. for Mingus, Texas. J. E. expressed his gratitude to the city police for their cooperation….
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Re: FYI: 1944 J. E. Treece takes brother Bill to Mingus, Texas
Mary Clegg 12/17/11