Up The Creek Without A Paddle
Dirty Harry would be proud
by Terry Toole

This week seems to be setting up for a steam winder, but that seems to be the norm for the past weeks and months.

There have been lots of firsts since June 6, when a supposed friend stormed into my office and proceeded to choke me for something he had been told I had done at a meeting that he or the person who told him did not attend. He also almost scared a 93-year-old lady to her death along, with two other ladies in this office.

We all wish it had not happened, but it did, and this does not need to be condoned in this county.

A few days later, this office was shot up by a drive-by shooter or shooters, along with a classroom in the building next door. The Colquitt Police did their best to investigate the incident. Every law officer there knew who was responsible. There was more evidence collected than there has been in most criminal cases. As late as Sunday evening before the Grand Jury met on Monday, no one had been arrested. The G.B.I. was requested by the Chief of Police to assist on the case of shooting up a newspaper office and a classroom. It declined. The reason given to Chief was not enough agents. This should not be allowed in our community, no matter who does it or how much they are worth.

Speaking of Grand Jury, I think I have a case coming up that was made by Leroy Bush several months ago and dropped the case by him for "threat," according to the Probate Judge. Wrong!

The G.B.I. sent one of their top agents to investigate a dropped incident that I begged to go before a magistrate. I understand in a newspaper article quoting Chairman Leroy recently that the charge has been changed to "harassment."

As it stands now, I may be the only one true billed for reporting the news.

According to some law officers and officers of the court, "there might not be enough evidence to try the suspects." I was reminded that I had a case coming up that could be true billed if for no other reason but "Politically Correctness."

I have been warned by attorneys not to put some of the "news" that I have put in this newspaper. It might have been good advice for the sake of my health and well being.

As late as last Tuesday, August 14, when I was placing the new edition in the boxes around town, a friend picking up a newspaper came up to me warning me to be very careful. He stated that the possible shooter suspect was showing off his new 50 cal. pistol with a scope stating that it could take Terry Toole out from almost any vantage point in the city or county.

I had never heard of a 50 cal. pistol, so I figured that it was a scare tactic. Since I was in the Boys Scouts, I like to be prepared, so I reported the incident to the Colquitt Police and the Miller County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff had never heard of a 50 cal. pistol, but his chief deputy, who had just come back from Iraq confirmed that there most certainly was a 50 cal. revolver, one Dirty Harry would be proud to own.

It has been established that the suspected shooter of my buildings and the classrooms does now own a new 50 cal. pistol with a scope and cartridges that will take off an arm if the bullet hits your hand, not to mention a vital area.

I am writing this before the Grand Jury meets on Monday. Maybe the most powerful body of citizens that meet might want to do something about this lawlessness going on in our community.

I'm getting a bit old for having to watch my back, but I guess that goes with the job. I intend to keep doing mine until I can't do it anymore, or one of the Colquitt Mafia fellows do what they keep bragging about.

Someone recommended me go to the top law officer in the state, or since the G.B.I. is short-handed, I wonder if the F.B.I. might have someone who could checkout our fair city before a death occurs, especially mine. I can think of a number of murders that were never solved in this county. It may be a trend.

These are my supposed friends and church members doing this dirt, bless their hearts.

Pray for us all!

Monday evening: The Grand Jury hasn't heard the case, yet. Guess someone needs to talk to some of them. Seemed like election day with all the squeezing and patting in front of the courthouse.