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Mattox criticized for Lucas probeAUSTIN AP) Attorney Genera! Jim Mattox has been criticized and praised for his part in a Waco probe into the murder confessions of Henry I^ee Lucas.Williamson County District Attorney Fd Walsh, a possible Republican candidate for attorney general next year, told a Capitol news conference Tuesday that Mattox, a Democrat, and Waco District Attorney Vic Feazell were jeopardizing unsolved murder cases by listening to Luca’s claim he was led” to confess by enforcement officers.Mattox had no immediate comment He was due in Waco Fridav for a resumption of the grand jury probe into Lucas confessions.However, the father of a Lubbock woman believed to be a Lucas victim aid the attorney general seems to be the only official interested inquestioning Lucas’ mass murderclaims.' What I think is it’s about damned time somebody paid attention,” said Rob Lemons of Gainesville “I think Mr. Mattox has.”Deborah Sue Williamson, 18, was killed Aug 24, 1975. Lucas w’as indicted last year after confessing Rut Lemons, who mounted a personal investigation, said he does not believe Lucas was the killerThe fact is they messed up 1 emons, 50, said of investigators who have worked on the I ,ucas caseLucas has been questioned by aWaco grand jury and another session is scheduled Fridav.Walsh said his comments about Mattox had nothing to do with a political campaign in 1986 because he had not yet decided if he will run.Walsh successfully prosecuted Lucas in the slaying of an unidentified woman near GeorgetownLucas was assessed the death penaltyI am here today to respond to what I feel is irresponsible actions, unprofessional actions, not only on the part of Jim Mattox but on the partof Vic Feazell.” Walsh saidWalsh said Lucas has recanted confessions before.What is new is that never beforehave elected public officials come outand questioned the integrity of lawenforcement agencies, including the Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety and local agencies in dozens of states,” Walsh said.Walsh said Mattox was trying to t urn the Waco grand jury session into a ' statewide grand jury” to investigate things he had no power to inThe attorney general in Texas hasonly limited criminal jurisdiction,” Walsh said. *‘He’s supposed only to help local authorities.'lemons and his wife, Joyce, called a news conference later Tuesday to talk about their efforts to find out who killed their daughter.' We went out and investigated for ourselves, and we determined that there’s absolutely no way that Henry did all these things he lias beencharged with,” said lemons.“Now we entering the phase of what are we going to do about it now that we know it,” he said.Lucas’ confession included numerous errors about the Williamson slaying, according toLemons.“If we are going to charge someone and indict someone for Deborah’s murder I just have got to know it’s the right person,” he said.
Newspaper Details
Herald Zeitung
New Braunfels, Texas, US
Wed, May 01, 1985
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Jennifer B.
CO, USA 28 Jul 2021
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