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house. Go straight to the police station. Bring a few people with you, so you have witnesses and for your protection. Hopefully, you get there before they discover the bodies.”
    “What do I do when I get there?”
    “Tell them what happened. Tell them the truth. They’re not going to believe you, though. They’re going to probably arrest you, interrogate you, and rough you up.”
    “Why am I turning myself in—to get roughed up?”
    “I know it doesn’t sound good, but you will get roughed up no matter what you do. This way we can kind of control it.”
    “How?”
    “Well, first of all, make sure you let them know you have a lawyer from the ACLU on their way, and that the ACLU has notified the newspapers.”
    “You’re going to drive down here?”
    “Yes, I plan on leaving right after we end this call.”
    “Your last name is Goldstein, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “So you’re Jewish?”
    “Yes.”
    “I hate to break the news to you, but the Klan almost hates Jews more than Negroes. They’ll lynch you just like they tried to lynch me.”
    “I’m not coming down there empty handed. I’m bringing a state trooper down with me that I can trust.”
    “He must be the only one in Texas.”
    “There’s a few. Plus, I have contacts with the newspapers. I will have an Austin newspaper reporter down there later today, and I will contact some national outlets as well.”
    “Okay, so what do I do when I get down to the police station again?”
    “Again, tell them what happened. Don’t mention my name or that you have an attorney until they take you into custody. But once they do, tell them my name, Howard Goldstein, and that I’m from the ACLU and will be there later today. They won’t give a shit and won’t be impressed, but I suspect they won’t make any immediate moves until they meet to discuss their options.”
    “Wow, you really know the Klan.”
    “Yes, unfortunately, I have a lot of experience with them tormenting other Negroes in Texas.”
    “What are they going to do with me?”
    “They will want to hang you again.”
    “Shit, I can’t go through that again.”
    “That’s why it’s important that you put them on notice that you have an attorney. Despite their arrogance that they’ll display, they will be concerned that you have a Jew lawyer coming down from the ACLU, which they despise. They hate the ACLU, and we receive death threats daily.”
    “Okay, so what are they going to do with me?”
    “That is a good question.” Goldstein paused to think. “I suspect that they will arrest you and keep you in custody. Then, they will either charge you with the murders and put you up for trial, or release you until they can get more evidence.”
    “Really?”
    “Don’t get a false hope, though. You’re almost safer in jail then outside of jail. If they release you, they might plan to hang you again or retaliate some other way.”
    “Man, you’re just a bundle of good news.”
    “Hey, I’m just telling you like it is. But I would get to the police station right away.”
    “Okay, I head over there right now. When do you think you will get here?”
    “I expect to be there in about five hours. Be careful.”
    “Hey, Mr. Goldstein, thank you so much.”
    They ended the call, and Leon felt that he was getting ready to walk the plank off a ship.
    ~~~~
    About a half an hour before sunrise, Ryan and Finley pulled up to relieve the Sheriff and Junior. The Sheriff had relented and agreed with his son to go to the approximate designated lynching spot. The Sheriff radioed in for Ryan and Finley to camp out at the house and wait for Leon to show up. A crowd of Negroes was forming on the street watching the police with curiosity and suspicion.
    The Sheriff drove and parked off Route 12, just north of the lake. They sat there and discussed their strategy.
    “Okay, Junior, before we go, I want to think about our strategy.”
    “Okay, Dad. What are we going to do? What do you think we’re going to