MANOPATA 

One day my grandfather and I were driving around and we drove past the jail house on the northwest side of Encinal and he said, “Look they have Manopata (hand foot) locked up.”   He was a big guy, six foot five, big square box body.  “Let’s go talk to him.”  My grandfather said, “Hey Manopata, what happened?”  “I was over here at Reyes Café, across the street and I guess I drank a little too much and they called the deputy.

When he locked me up last night, he said that he would leave it unlocked and I could go home at 5:00 today.  What time is it now?”  My grandfather said it is 4:30.  “Oh, it’s almost the time that I can go home.”  He lived a block away. “He said that it wasn’t locked, is that right?”  My grandfather said, “No, it’s not locked.”  It had a big lock, real wide at the top and must have weighed 10 pounds.  No, it’s not locked.  My grandfather asked him if he wanted something to eat or drink. Manopato said, “Yeah, I’d like some coffee and a hamburger.”  “Okay, we’ll go and get you that.” 

We went over to Reyes Café and brought that back to him. He was sitting there eating.  My Grandfather asked him, “When did you get locked up.”  “Oh around 1:00 last night. But the deputy lives out on a ranch 15 miles away and he said he was not going to lock the door if I promise not to leave before 5:00 that way he doesn't have to come back into town.  So I’ve been sitting here all of this time and I haven’t gotten out.” 

Encinal One Room Jail House
Reprint from the Tejas News, produced by John and Pat Harvey

There were some kids sitting on the other side playing marbles watching the man in the jail.  Just a one room jail made of concrete.  One iron-bar jail door in the front and a window over there.  That’s were the kids were at looking at him.  The Deputy said I could just walk out and hang the lock on there that way he didn’t have to come back from the ranch to let me out.  At 5:00 he left and went home. 

Before they built that little jail in Encinal, they used to tie them up at the mesquite trees in front of the Mercantile.  They would tie them up to a tree with handcuffs on for a certain amount of time.  Or if there was a more serious offense, they would take them to Cotulla. 

The corrals were right across the street from the jail house.  That's where they brought the cows during the cattle drives. 

Back to LIFE IN ENCINAL