.44 Hand Ejector, Wolf & Klar

[Summersteel]

Yesterday I received a nice little package in the mail……
I bought this 3rd model from another forum member who was kind enough to part with it. It came with a S&W letter that says it shipped to W&K on Nov. 20, 1928 as part of a 100 gun shipment of which 25 were in the configuration of my gun with checkered walnut grips.
What I find most interesting is that I also received a notarized "Letter of Provenance" from 2005 written by the great grandson of the owner, RD Lee, of Midland County, Texas. I have searched for the great grandson, and have found out that he passed away 2 years ago.
I would like to try to find out more about the event contained in this letter, or about RD Lee himself. I have no information about when the event in the letter occurred, or where exactly it occurred. Have any of you possibly heard of this man? I'm a bit new to doing this kind of research, but I've been googling like crazy, and may start with a call to the Midland Historical Society to see if they have any information.
What other sources would you suggest I check?
Thanks for your help and ideas.

 

[Flygas]

As you already seem to be aware by your correct description of the gun as a Third Model, it is not a Triple Lock (or "Triplock") as he describes it in the letter.

 

[LLOYD17]

I've had great luck buying a monthly subscription to newspapers.com (I think I pay up for the premium one). Then do a search that focuses on that timeframe in the Midland area and just try different key words to pull articles. Historical societies are great and local LE museums are good too.

I've posted a few threads on guns that only came with a star on the butt that went on to reveal a ton of history through this research.

 

[SS336]

Very nice W&K, that revolver with notarized "Letter of Provenance" makes it very interesting. There are some inaccuracies in it but the stories are kinda cool. Hope your research proves it to be true.

 

[quinn]

Newspapers.com is your friend and a great place to find info about law enforcement activities. I find the research fascinating and can be eye opening. Happy hunting!

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I'd take the last paragraph of that letter with a big old grain of salt . I'd bet at least part of that never happened .

Congratulations on the fine gun .

 

[Muley Gil]

Try checking here for more info on Constable Lee:

Midland Digital Newspapers - MIDLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

[DWalt]

This may be of some assistance. No idea if this is the correct R. D. Lee (or R. D. Lee, Jr.)
---------------------------
Richard D Lee
Principal
United States Census, 1920

Birth 1878
Texas, United States

Census 1920
Midland, Texas, United States

Spouse
Viola Lee
Children Brookie W Lee, Roy R Lee, R D Lee, Jr

Richard D Lee's Spouses and Children

Viola Lee Wife F 40
Arkansas

Brookie W Lee
Daughter F 19
Texas

Roy R Lee
Son M 18
Texas

R D Lee, Jr
Son M 12
Texas
-------------------------
The 1930 census shows the family living in Lovington NM (not too far from Midland), but census records do not show R. D. Lee Jr. being with them there at that time.

The 1910 census shows the entire family as living in Midland.

 

[handejector]

Newspapers.com is your friend

A quick search there showed numerous references to Constable R. D. Lee regarding elections and tax levies.


That "Letter of Provenance" has the duties of sheriffs and constables exactly BACKWARDS. It is the constable that is more of a tax collector and property ordnance enforcer. The sheriff was always the primary law enforcement officer.
I would like to have been there when you told a Texas Sheriff in the 20s or 30s what that "Letter of Provenance" said-

the constable's office was the primary law enforcement agency for the area with the sheriff's office more that of a tax collector.

I would also have liked to have had ten minutes to draw a crowd before you told him that.

 

[DWalt]

I don't know what a Texas Constable did back at that time, but certainly today they have relatively little in the way of responsibility for typical law enforcement duty. While they must be certified as Texas Peace Officers, their main duties are serving civil warrants, subpoenas, restraining orders, eviction notices, etc. They typically do not perform traffic stops, crime scene response/investigation, or anything else usually done by city cops or Sheriff's deputies (although they legally could). In no respect can they be considered as being "Crimefighters." Here in my county, there is often talk of eliminating the Constable position as a useless expense (they make pretty good pay) and just have the Sheriff's deputies do all of those things. At least in Texas, being a Constable is an elected office, not hired. And Constables can hire deputies.

We had one female Constable here who was a notorious shakedown artist. She was a real embarrassment to the office, but was ultimately fired (with considerable difficulty) by the county commissioners after numerous complaints. I think she is still in legal hot water facing several corruption charges.