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by Gary Humphreys
This
is a true story told to me by my mother,
Maudie Belle McNutt Humphreys, during
the fifties…… |
The
Wolfman was discovered around 1924 near Comstock,
Texas on the McNutt Ranch. Maudie McNutt about 10 years of age was riding
with her Grandfather Peter McNutt and several hands of the McNutt Ranch. North
east of the ranch headquarters near a dirt tank, the group rode upon a lamb that
had just been killed. Immediately Pete McNutt said, “look straight ahead and keep
riding”. They rode by the slaughtered lamb not looking down. In the past they
had found other stock dead as if they had been slaughtered. And items have turned
up missing out of the tool shed. Riding straight ahead and going over a hill Pete
instructed little Maudie along with one of the hands to return to the Ranch Headquarters.
After Maudie and the hand had ridden a safe distance, Pete and the other hands
circled around and returned to the slaughtered lamb. Topping the hill again Pete
saw movement at the site. Pulling out their ropes and spurring their horses, they
rode in and roped the Wolfman. Not being violent but scared the Wolfman gave in.
Pete and his men returned to the ranch headquarters with the captured Wolfman,
the dark skinned man was heavily bearded, his hair long and matted, he was unbathed
and half dressed in sheep skin with a foul odor.
Standing out front of
the rock house near the cool box (a spring where Grandmaw Margaret McNutt kept
her perishables in glass jars submerged in the cool water) Margaret, Maudie, Mary
and Pauline along with the hand had all five sets of eyes on the Wolfman as they
approached the house.
When they reached the house, Pete instructed the
men to tie the Wolfman to one of the pecan trees in the yard. Maudie went into
the house returned with a fresh glass of water. Pete said he would ride into Comstock
the following morning and fetch Sheriff M. L. Whistler out of Del
Rio to come and pick him up. That night Pete locked him in the tool shed out
behind the house. Sleep was short that night for all. Margaret prepared a plate
and Maudie took the plate to the Wolfman. He did not talk but only grunted and
ate with his hands. Maudie said other than looks he seemed harmless.
After
about three days the Sheriff arrived to transport the Wolfman to Del
Rio. Over a cup of coffee Pete and the sheriff discussed that they suspected
that the Wolfman had escaped from a mental institution and had probably got off
the train near Comstock. Judging
from his looks he had been living off the land for some time. Researching the
Sheriff’s records from the 20’s nothing could be found as to what happened to
the Wolfman. Maudie presumed he was returned to an Institute and lived out his
life there.
© Gary Humphreys
March
15, 2010 guest column | | |
