Journal of the Reconstruction Convention, Which Met at Austin, Texas, June 1, A. D. 1868. Page: 673

                                
RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION JOURNAL.            675
LETTER FROM REFUQIO COUNTY.
REFUGIO, Refugio county, Texas,
July 20, 1868.   t
To Editor Flake's Bulletin:'
It is with a heavy heart I write to narrate another atrocity, and
this time the victim is my own son. I send you for publAication the
following letter, just received from  Judge William  Sheriff the
father-in-law of my son, who formerly resided in this county, but
now of Fort Bend county:
PITTSVILLE, Fort Bend county, Texas, 1
July 8, 1868.
To Judge E. P. Upton:
DEAR JUDGE : I have the sad task of relating to you the murder
of your son Wheelock.  Within the last two months Wheelock
has made some trips between this neighborhood and the vicinity of
Millican, driving beeves.  On Monday, 29th ult., he left this place
for Millican with a small drove of beeves, and on reaching Navasota
he was arrested and put in jail on a warrant for stealing beeves
from one Brookshire, of this neighborhood.  He then sent for Mr.
Gill, my brother-in-law, who went on his bond for $500, and he was
then released. From there he went to his home, seven miles fiom
Millican, where he was again arrested on another charge of same nature.
In the night a band of men surrounded the house, and caused
him and the sheriff, in whose charge he was, to go with them to Millictn.
 At Millican the next day he was informed that he would
have to return to Navasota to be tried, and )a guard was appointed to
take him there, and about 3 o'clock they started with him. Near
close of day the guard returned to Millican, and reported that near
a creek they were met by a large band of men who took their prisoner
from them and liberated him. Then the authorities at Millican
sent out to have him re-arrested.  Mr. Gill, who remained at
Millican, suspicious of circumstances, got one of the guard to show
him where the pretended liberation took place, and was led by this
man to a place where they found Wheelock hanging.  A11 of Wheelock's
property has been taken, his widow and child left totally destitute.
 Mrs. Upton and her child are with me here in Pittsville,
where she has been for many weeks past under medical treatment.
I state facts and make no comments.
The perpetrators of this atrocity ought to be punished, but I am
afraid they never will be. I leave here to-day for Wheelock's home,
in order to try and regain anything for his widow and child, I'm
afraid hopelessly. His property is gone. Mr. Gill, who has been