WINKLER COUNTY JAIL BOOK

Jail Book One 1938-1932

Jail Book Two 1932-1936

Jail Book Three 1936-1940

Winkler County Law Enforcement Officer
Jeff Worley OBIT 10-9-1962

(printing off the news article) Sinners Beware - Bad boys in the early days of Wink often ended up in this formidable structure, the jail house. As far as has been determined this was the first jail in Winkler County. The original courthouse did not have one. the picture from which this was reproduced is a small brown one, taken at a considerably more tilted angel than is shown. Note the sign over the door. (photo courtesy Eddie Mae Mosley)

Since Winkler County including the Cities of Kermit and Wink were part of the Oil Boom Era, there was a lot of migration in and out of the county. I have received many requests for any information that we as local researchers can find on these migrant families. In an effort to assist researchers, I have transcribed the Winkler County Register of Prisoners that were booked into the County Jail during September 1928 to January 1932 which includes the Cities of Kermit and Wink.

This Jail Book covers persons booked into the County Jail during 1928-1932 My intentions are only to help others in their research and not to cause harm, humiliation or embarrassment to anyone. Sometime this is the only footprint left behind on where these folks were during these years.

Also remember this is time of prohibition you will find many entries of gambling (gaming) and of whiskey stills, bootlegging, and drunkenness, prostitution and general lawlessness. The first county jail in Winkler county was located in Wink, Texas. Although Wink was not the county seat, when oil was discovered this is where the majority of the population was concentrated. The jail was moved to Kermit, the county seat in late 1929 by order of the commissioner's court. (See article I found in the Odessa American pertaining to this move. )

Since this area grew so rapidly in population, records were poorly kept. The original residents (both of them) were surprised when the population swelled to 3,500 by late 1927. By 1929 the population was 6,000 and that even surprised the newcomers.... Many folks were transient living in tents and on the streets. Folks say that Wink was a the largest city build in two years. The jail records, were relocated when the jail was moved from Wink to Kermit. At different times, the City of Wink and the City of Kermit maintained Jails besides the County Jail. In looking at the records you will notice a major drop in bookings after the jail was moved to Kermit. If records from the Wink City jail exist, they are stored and inaccessible.

In transcribing this book I have corrected the spelling of some common words. Many of the names you will find spelled with many variations, nick names, and some with first names only many names are misspelled or were illegible it is my hope that I have transcribed this book as accurate as possible.

Book two contains a fingerprint numbers. If there is a number listed in the INDEX for that individual this means there is a card made that will contain a photo and other information about this person, sometimes including names, ages, and residence of relatives. see example

I have created an index in alphabetical order by the surname to assist you in your search The page number refers to the original book page number. If you find any names and/or words misspelled, it is my hope, that is the way they were written. Please refer question, comments, and lookup requests on these books to Charlene Beauchamp

Book One: September-1928 to January-1932

Index by Surname - Book-1

LARGE FILE FULL BOOK

Winkler County Jail Booking Record Book 1 - 1928-1932

Winkler County Prisoners, Page 1-20

Winkler County Prisoners, Page 21-39

Winkler County Prisoners, Page 42-89

Book Two: January-1932 to November-1936
Book two contains a fingerprint numbers. If there is a number listed in the INDEX for that individual this means there is a card made that should contain a photo and description of the person. It also may contain other information about this person, sometimes including names, ages, and residence of relatives. see example

large files may take a while to load

Winkler County Jail Book 2 - Index by Surname

Winkler County Jail Book 2: 1932-1936

Book Three: 1936-1940

Book three also contains fingerprint numbers. If there is a number listed in the INDEX for that individual this means there is a card made that should contain a photo and description of the person. It also may contain other information about this person, sometimes including names, ages, and residence of relatives. see example
Transcribed by Diane woods long of wink, Texas

Jail Book Three: 1936-1940