The Johnson-Sims Feud: Romeo and Juliet, West Texas Style

10. Aftermath and Redemption

143 Chapter 10 Aftermath and Redemption “I sometimes think of the long ago as the most harrowing terrible dream imaginable….” Rocky Higgins Johnson An important element of classic tragedy is redemption. In Romeo and Juliet the Capulets and Montagues reconciled over the corpses of the young lovers. But there would be no Johnson-Sims reconciliation in West Texas. Kelly Sims remained so unreconciled to the murder of his older brother, Ed, that he refused ever to set foot in Snyder. Kelly was certain that if he ever sighted Sidney Johnson that he would kill him. Although his wife could not be deterred from occasional trips into Snyder for shopping, Kelly insisted that she carry a gun in her purse. Kelly always packed a pistol, a .45 automatic that was the deadliest handgun of the time. At night the .45 always went beneath his pillow, and before going to bed Kelly propped an automatic shotgun beside the bedroom window. Many years later Kelly refused an opportunity to buy a four-section parcel of land because it belonged to Weldon Johnson, Sidney’s son. Laura Belle Sims remained so bitter over the death of her oldest son that she found it hard to accept the overtures of Trix Johnson McMullan, her granddaughter. Trix was the daughter 144 Chapter 10 A �i��l�n� r�n����, K���� S�m� n��e� �i� s�� ���� �i� ��r���e� �l��� ������. C���e�� E� �n� A��� S�m�. Aftermath and Redemption 145 Aut�ma�i� �ist�� c�r��e� a� � ��ec�u�i�� �� S��e� S�m�—e��e�i���� ���� ��� ��n� �h�p��n� �� S�y���. H�� s�� , E�, n�� ��n� ��� ��� . P�ot� �� ��� �u�h��. 146 Chapter 10 of Gladys, and Laura Belle could barely bring herself to be civil to Trix or to her little son and daughter—Laura Belle’s great-grandchildren.1 If redemption would not be achieved through reconciliation between the Johnson and Sims clans, individual family members could—and did—restore honor to their families. Numerous Johnson and Sims descendants continued the ranching traditions that had brought prosperity and identity to their families. And each family produced an individual who achieved widespread recognition of a positive nature. Frank Hamer, a Sims son-in-law, became celebrated through his law enforcement exploits. When the Hamer family—Frank, Gladys, baby Frank Jr., and Trix and Beverly Sims—returned to Scurry County from California in 1918, the violence of the Johnson-Sims Feud had ceased. Although Frank’s bullet wounds were healed, the deeper wounds of loss and blame and hatred remained raw among members of both families. Frank Hamer re-enlisted in the Texas Rangers on October 1, 1918, and four days later he engaged in a wild shootout against liquor smugglers along the Rio Grande near Brownsville. Sgt. Delbert Timberlake of Company C was one of the casualties, and Hamer was elevated to the sergeant’s vacancy. For a year and a half during 1920 and 1921 he served the United States Prohibition Service, before rejoining the Rangers as captain of Company C. “There is not a criminal in Texas who does not fear and respect him,” asserted Walter P. Webb.2 While Hamer battled smugglers in South Texas, Gladys and her children made their home at the big Johnson ranch house. Trix and Beverly had attended school in California, and now were in elementary school in Snyder. Frank visited his family at the Johnson ranch whenever possible, and in 1921 Gladys gave birth to Billy Hamer. Nannie, as critical as ever, was openly abrasive toward her son-inlaw , and Frank Hamer responded to her in kind. During one of their squabbles, Nannie became angry. “Oh, I wish I were a man for one minute,” she snapped. “Believe me, Madam,” said Hamer meaningfully , “so do I.”3 Aftermath and Redemption 147 In 1922 Frank Hamer was made captain of the Ranger Headquarters Company in Austin. Captain Hamer bought a house on Riverside Drive. Putting his saddle, boots, and spurs in storage, he wore business suits and ties and shoes. But Hamer always carried Old Lucky, the single-action colt .45 that was a dependable throwback to the nineteenth century. Gladys and the children moved to Austin. Trix and Beverly enrolled in Austin High School, a large brick facility just west of downtown. Any time they went out after dark, Hamer insisted that they carry guns. Trix and Beverly kept their pistols...