| |
Three-legged
Willie limped into Texas in 1827, a young man in
his early twenties, already a capable and respected lawyer.
Born Robert
McAlphin Williamson, Willie came from a Georgia family of lawyers.
When
he was fifteen, his school career was terminated by an illness which confined
him to his home for two years and left him a cripple for life. His right leg was
drawn back at the knee; the wooden leg which he wore from the knee to the ground
resulted in his widely-known title of "Three Legged Willie." Williamson read much
during his illness, was admitted to the bar around the age of nineteen, and likely
practiced law in Georgia for more than a year.
In the late 1820s he migrated
to Texas and settled at San
Felipe de Austin.
Willie’s deformity did not make him a weakling.
On the other hand, the deformity was tough on him. His reputation as a judge became
legendary in East Texas.
Willie
was a circuit court judge for the Shelbyville
district and made his first appearance in East
Texas on the third Monday in September of 1837.
The night before he
opened court, a group of radicals decided that the idea of submitting to a Republic
of Texas judge was distasteful and made plans to break up Willie’s court session.
The judge and his entourage arrived and set up court under the shade of an oak
tree at Shelbyville and
used a wooden box as the court’s bench.
When Willie seated himself, the
band of ruffians walked in and informed him that no such court would be held.
When Willie asked the man what authority he had, the man pulled out a large knife
and said: “This is the law of Shelby County.”
Willie pulled out a long-barreled
pistol and slapped it on the table beside the knife ”If that is the law of Shelby
County, this is the constitution that overrides your law.”
As the ruffian
slipped away, Judge Williamson said,”Mr. Sheriff, will you please call the grand
jury.”
Some people living in those days said Willie was so tough that
he could have tried and convicted the devil himself if the sheriff had brought
him to court.
Willie reportedly gave a sentence to a Shelby County man.
“Sheriff, take this man across the Serbian River, and if he ever comes back, or
even wets his toes in the river, shoot him.”
©
Bob Bowman
October 23, 2011 Column
More
Bob Bowman's East Texas >
A weekly column syndicated in 109 East Texas newspapers
More
People
| Columns | | |
