Arriving in the middle? READ PART 1.
Here is what PAUL JENNINGS WELLS, age 68, oldest Son of William Jennings Wells ( 1898-1937 ), had to say, in a letter to family members on 3/26/02, about his Dad's death:
I know that you have heard a lot of stories about my dad's death. Well, do not believe all that you hear.
This event is one of my earliest memories......
I was 4 years, and 2 months old almost to the day. I remember Mom had gotten us kids ready for bed. I remember that because she always said our night prayers with us.
Just as we finished our night prayer there came a knock on our door. I remember Mom went to the door and I was holding on to her dress, she opened the door and a man was there, and there was a big black car.
The man said, "Are you Mrs. IVA Wells?" Mom said, " I am."
This man said there has been an accident we need you to come with us. Your husband was involved! Mom started to cry and asked if he was dead.
The man said, "If he is your husband he is dead." Mom said that I had to go with her and my sister Mary Alice was to watch my brother who was the baby. She took me with her because I was the one who always caused trouble when she was not around.
It was warm that night and we rode for what seemed like forever to a 4 yr. old boy. The car stopped and we got out. There on the side of the road lay something covered with a canvas. As we got closer I will never forget that I saw 2 feet sticking out from under that canvas. One had a shoe on it, the other did not.
They lifted the canvas and I saw my dad's face lying there. My Mother became very upset and had to be prevented from getting down on the ground where he was. This memory has been with me very vividly through my life even today it seems like only yesterday......................
The newspapers were in error when they said dad was a farmer. You have to remember that the country was in the great depression at that time. Dad took whatever kind of work he could find. He worked on the RUDY FARM when there was work for him, or in the JOHN MCNULTY COAL MINES. Dad had been working at the OWENSBORO CLAY PRODUCTS CO. for about 6 months at the time of his death.
Dad belonged to the Union, and Orville Faught and Old Man L. N. Cecil wanted to get rid of the Union so they planned together to scare Dad so he would quit the Union. They were driving on the Highway and saw Dad, they were drinking a lot and when they drove the truck toward him they lost control and hit him.
He was wearing overall and the straps of his overalls got caught on the truck. They dragged him quite a ways.
I think the rest of the story was a cover-up by a bunch of good ol' boys to keep Orville Faught from going to prison. Remember all of them were in on the cover-up. Delbert Glen was the Coroner, and also owned the Funeral Home, Orville Faught's kinfolk were part owners and big shots at the brickyard.
When they came to my Mother and said sign this, and we will take care of everything for you, Mom signed away her right to do anything about what happened to Dad.
Anyway, I hope this helps you understand just what happened that night so long ago. Some of what I have written are just my thoughts, but what happened that night that Dad was killed is a fact and I will never forget what I saw that night.I have never talked with anyone like I am talking to you about this because it hurt too much.
But I feel you have a right to know what I know. I am the only one left alive that can shed any light on what I saw that night.
Someday, when the time is right, you may want to let your children know what happened to their Great-Grandfather.
There is nothing that anyone can do about it now, it was such a long time ago, but I know there is a Just God that will handle everything in his own time.
Love always, Dad. :-)
Transferred to a WORD DOCUMENT by myself, from an e-mail sent to his children, and I, on 3/26/2002 BY PAUL JENNINGS WELLS.
That story gave me chills! I wonder how Paul Jennings felt carrying his theory around with him all his life. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Melody | April 18, 2009 at 08:05 PM