JIM BENNETT . SHERIFF RUSSELL

Jim Bennett used to live at Lamesa. When there 28 years ago That his brother was sheriff there at this time. That the first two or three sheriffs they ran under the bed.

That thieves and rough fellows took them in. There was a fellow named Russell, Jim Russell, a brother of Bud Russell. (Was this the same Uncle Bud who used to come and get men to be taken to the penitentiary). He used to get drunk and ride through and shoot up the town. He would ride by a church and shoot and run people home.

Some of the people got the idea of electing Russell sheriff and sent Jim Bennett to him. He asked Russell if it would appeal to him, and he said, "... yes, it would." but said that nobody would vote for him surely not the gamblers and thieves and of course not the church people. The promise was exacted from him that he would not let liquor pass his throat if elected. He was elected and served six years (from about 1913.)

When he first went in office the sheriff before him, who was tough, came up and slapped him on both checks, and told him that they were running the town. They would let a sheriff collect the taxes but not anything else. He walked over to the north side to this tough and said, "Sid, come here! I am sheriff and the first one of you that causes trouble I am going to take to that jail over there, dead or alive." He said, "Yes, sir." and went on. Didn’t have any trouble. The bunch soon left Lamesa. Drinking had been his only fault.